Air Quality and Climate Change

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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation lifting moratorium on transportation of carbon dioxide by pipeline.

By Joshua T. Bledsoe, Marc T. Campopiano, Brian McCall, and Shawna Strecker

On October 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation aimed at boosting California’s carbon capture, removal, utilization and storage (CCUS) market. CCUS involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from point-sources — such as industrial facilities — transporting it, and injecting it into underground geological formations for permanent storage, enhanced oil recovery…

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The agency simultaneously issued a survey to validate the list.

By Joshua T. Bledsoe, Nikki Buffa, Betty M. Huber, Austin J. Pierce, and Shawna Strecker

On September 24, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) published a list of entities that it believes will be subject to requirements under Senate Bill (SB) 253 and/or SB 261. The list serves as an initial reference point for companies with a nexus to California regarding their reporting obligations. CARB…

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California’s amended LCFS Regulation took effect on July 1, 2025 as the fuel price impact debate and judicial challenges continue.

By Joshua T. Bledsoe, Tal Carmeli, and Samantha Yeager

On June 27, 2025, the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the amended Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Regulation, submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the OAL on May 16, 2025. Following OAL’s approval, CARB announced that the amendments would enter into force on…

Aerial View of a Coal Fired Power Station

If finalized, the rule would eliminate both Obama- and Biden-era limits on GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants.

By Karl A. Karg, Stacey L. VanBelleghem, Nikki Buffa, Devin M. O’Connor, and G. Jack Mathews

On June 11, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule under the Clean Air Act (CAA) titled “Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units” (the Proposed Repeal).

Under the current Obama- and…

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On June 4, 2025, Latham & Watkins and Integral Consulting discussed regulatory, insurance, and litigation developments for wildfires in 2025.

By Marc T. Campopiano, Robin M. Hulshizer, and Steven B. Lesan

In light of the recent California wildfires, companies in the state and across the nation must navigate more complex regulatory regimes when managing and responding to wildfire risks. In addition, wildfires continue to be a serious threat to the public and environment, affecting air quality, amplifying the…

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A preliminary injunction motion is set for May, the judge issued a scheduling order, and CARB announced a public workshop to kick off a rulemaking to implement the laws.

By Joshua T. Bledsoe, Nikki Buffa, Betty M. Huber, and Matthew Green

The litigation over California’s climate disclosure laws has been ongoing since January 2024. In the latest development, the US District Court for the Central District of California is scheduled to conduct a hearing on a motion…

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The order instructs the Attorney General to curb state and local climate initiatives and prepare a report within 60 days detailing those efforts.

By Jean-Philippe Brisson, Michael G. Romey, and Matthew Green

On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Protecting American Energy From State Overreach” (the Order). The Order asserts that certain state and local laws undermine American energy dominance and, by extension, national security.

For a high-level overview of the Order, see this…