On Joe Biden’s website he addresses his plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
In summary President Elect Biden says that he will sign a series of executive orders that will reduce our carbon output. Rachael Frazin, of The Hill, describes some of these orders*:
- Higher Fuel Standards - fleets averaging 55 miles per gallon by 2025.
- “Aggressive” methane pollution limits for oil and gas producers.
- Ending subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
Winters, Kacenjar, McIntosh and Sherman of Squire Patton Boggs wrote an article in The National Law Review which included some additional likely orders**:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector through the Clean Air Act, including the development of new fuel economy standards to ensure new light and medium duty vehicles will be electric
- Promoting advanced biofuels
- Adopting appliance and building-efficiency standards
- Requiring that any federal permitting decisions consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
- Requiring public companies to disclose climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains
- Permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, establishing national parks and monuments, banning new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters, and developing renewables on federal lands and waters to double offshore wind capacity by 2030
Please contact me at greg@alkerlawgroup or (925) 465-0460, if you want some help navigating how these orders and the new administration will impact your business.
*https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/528831-biden-to-champion-climate-action-in-2021
**https://www.natlawreview.com/article/looking-ahead-to-2021-implications-change-administration-environmental-policy
