By: Caroline Lavenue 04/12/2018 I.   CEQA—Admirable Goals, Bad Reputation It is no surprise that the people most calling for CEQA reform are the developers, contractors, and those whose goals are impeded by the complex CEQA process. CEQA, like any law, is in place to dissuade potentially illegal action. It is procedurally complex, demanding time and […]

Cowboy Culture & Sagebrush Rebellions: Who Should Regulate the Wild Wild West? By: Lauren Marshall The mythos of the American cowboy, homesteading, tending to the land, and early mornings running cattle, isn’t quite as bygone as the lawless days of the wild wild west. Though a rare breed in our rapidly urbanizing culture, the American […]

“Ag-Gag” Laws By: Kellen Miller This past September the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit handed down a decision which has the potential to mark a shift in the trajectory of “ag-gag” laws. The term “ag-gag,” which was made popular in 2011 in an opinion piece by food journalist and former columnist for […]

“Clean Meat” Soon to be on the Table By: Axl Kaminski Is this the answer for environmentally concerned citizens, not yet ready to give up their carnivorous ways for a more eco-friendly, plant-based diet? The term “clean meat” can mean a variety of products which may be synthesized from pea-protein-derived heme (the non-protein component of […]

Climate Change Refugees: Regional Agreements Can Better Fill the Gap in Legal Protection By: Kelsey Moe Current estimates suggest that climate change could cause over 200 million people to be displaced by 2050.[1] In a report introduced by the UNHCR, it found that “climate change exposes people to increased vulnerability and creates impetus in driving them […]

Investor-Owned Utilities Strategic Investments to Preempt Grid Defection and the “Utility Death Spiral” By Micaela Harms        “Utility companies and policy makers must take the potential for grid defection seriously when evaluating energy supply strategies.”[1] Utility companies will face increased competition from off-the-grid systems as technological advancements and cost reductions make these systems […]

Administrative Law Acts as a Wall to Trump Administration’s Rollback of Obama-Era Environmental Regulations.  By: Anonymous Since the early days of his campaign, President Trump has promised to rollback Obama-era environmental regulations,[1] and the strides made by President Obama in addressing climate change. Trump’s main soundbite was how “stupid” and “job killing” the Clean Power […]

Juliana v. United States: Do the kids have a chance? By: Olivia Molodanof   In August 2015, twenty-one children ages 10 to 21 from all over the country filed a constitutional climate lawsuit against the United States government in the District of Oregon.[1] The young Plaintiffs claim constitutional violations of due process, equal protection, and […]

United States Moving Backwards: China Takes Lead in Electric Cars By: Joe Dietrich In its pursuit of a tax break for Americans, the House GOP missed a chance to compete with China in the market for electric vehicles. The House tax bill eliminated the $7,500 tax credit for purchasers of an electric vehicle.[1] While electric […]