Jacob Hollinger
Subscribe to Jacob Hollinger's PostsJacob Hollinger handles environmental and energy-related compliance and litigation matters for energy, manufacturing and financial sector clients. He is a former high-ranking Clean Air Act attorney for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has handled dozens of government investigations and enforcement actions and has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation. Read Jacob Hollinger's full bio.
Wind Farms and Eagle “Take” Permits – Litigation is Coming Over the New “30-Year” Permit Rule
By Jacob Hollinger on May 5, 2014
Posted In Environmental, Project Development and Finance, Renewables
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently changed its eagle “take” permitting rules to allow wind developers to apply for 30-year take permits; previously, such permits, which allow the incidental killing of eagles, were available for a maximum of just five years. Wind developers had lobbied for the rule change based on concerns that...
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CSAPR Reinstated, But Some Upwind States May Be Able to Bring As-Applied Challenges
By Jacob Hollinger on Apr 29, 2014
Posted In Environmental
The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule, otherwise known as CSAPR or the “Transport Rule,” reversing a lower court decision that had vacated that rule. The decision means that large sources of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions in upwind states – especially coal-fired power plants...
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The President’s Methane Reduction Strategy – Here’s What Energy Companies Need to Know
By McDermott Will & Emery and Jacob Hollinger on Apr 17, 2014
Posted In Environmental, Natural Gas
President Obama recently released a Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions (Strategy) that sets forth a multi-pronged plan for reducing methane emissions both domestically and globally. Domestically, the plan is to focus on four sources of methane—the oil and gas sector, coal mines, agriculture and landfills—and to pursue a mix of regulatory actions with respect to...
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Deadline Extended to Submit Comments on EPA’s Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Limits for New Power Plants
By Jacob Hollinger on Feb 27, 2014
Posted In Environmental
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is extending until May 9, 2014, the deadline for submitting comments on its proposed rule to set greenhouse gas emission limits for new coal- and gas-fired power plants. The announcement came in a Federal Register notice signed by EPA on February 26 and slated for...
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Greenhouse Gas Limits for New Power Plants – Comments due to EPA by March 10, 2014
By Jacob Hollinger on Jan 9, 2014
Posted In Environmental, Natural Gas
Yesterday, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to set greenhouse gas emissions limits for new coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants was published in the Federal Register. This proposal was originally posted on EPA’s website on September 20, 2013; however, the formal publication triggers the start of a 60-day public comment period. The...
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What is the Social Cost of Carbon? OMB is now Taking Comments on that Issue.
By Jacob Hollinger on Nov 26, 2013
Posted In Environmental
The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is now seeking public comment on how the United States government should calculate the “social cost of carbon” – the dollar figure used by federal agencies to estimate the harms associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the benefits associated with reducing those emissions. OMB’s request, published...
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The President’s New Climate Change Executive Order – What Does it Mean for the Energy Sector?
By Jacob Hollinger on Nov 6, 2013
Posted In Environmental
President Obama issued a new climate change-related executive order on November 1, creating a new interagency Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience and directing all federal agencies to focus on improving the nation’s ability to anticipate and adapt to changing climate conditions. The order does not create new obligations for regulated entities, but it does...
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