Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century for businesses in the United States and abroad. Changes in global weather patterns threaten supply chains, while an unclear regulatory environment complicates long- and short-term planning. U.S. cities, states, and regional cooperatives have established programs to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and most observers believe that a U.S. federal regulatory program is inevitable.
At the same time, climate change presents opportunities for investment in clean technology, renewable energy, and alternative fuels. Davis Wright Tremaine’s climate change attorneys are ideally positioned to assist U.S. and international clients in this nuanced area of law. Our multidisciplinary team draws from the extensive experience of our energy, environmental, and business transactions practices to offer a deep understanding of evolving climate change policies at the state, national, and international levels.
We assist clients in all sectors of the economy in securing compliance with rapidly changing GHG regulations in the United States and abroad. Our climate change attorneys have helped clients in shaping domestic GHG regulations and developing GHG offset projects. Due to our longstanding presence in China, we are also uniquely positioned to assist clients in developing renewable energy and other climate-related projects in the Chinese market.
Our particular strengths with renewable energy project development, as well as related transactions and regulatory obligations, enable us to comprehensively address the climate change-related needs of stakeholders in the energy sector. Our attorneys are resident in states that have been most aggressively pursuing renewable portfolio standards, and are experienced in handling sales and purchases of renewable energy credits (RECs).
We have accomplished substantial work advising clients on climate change policies and operational issues. Some examples of that work include:
- Advising utilities on the potential impact of future federal GHG regulation on their electric generation assets, with recommendations regarding mitigation of the risks
- Advising an independent power producer on market structure issues related to California’s adoption of GHG regulations
- Representing the entity responsible for acquiring carbon offsets with funds from developers of fossil fuel-fired facilities under Oregon’s energy facility siting law
- Representing an independent power producer in the California Public Utility Commission proceeding establishing a GHG emission performance standard for long-term power procurement by California utilities
- Advising a state governmental agency on the impact of GHG legislation on its contracting for power supply
- Advising an international corporation regarding the development of GHG reduction offsets in China through utilization of the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol
Recent Climate Change Developments |