by Clark Kauffman (Iowa Capital Dispatch) A long-simmering dispute over biofuels technology has resulted in a Massachusetts company suing Iowa’s Clean
Litigation-State
Back TO HOMEIowa Court: Pipeline Survey Law Unlawful
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Court Rules Iowa Law Governing Pipeline Surveys on Private Land Unconstitutional -- It is unconstitutional
May 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Judge Rejects Attack on Bioenergy in North Carolina
(Smithfield/Biomass Magazine) A North Carolina administrative law judge has rejected a challenge to a general permit issued by the North Carolina
April 26, 2023 Read Full Article
How Truly ‘Green’ Are Electric Cars?
by Nick Landekic (Boston Globe) According to retired biotechnology CEO Nick Landekic, the uncomfortable reality is that EVs alone will
April 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Farmers Sue Minnesota on Zero Emissions
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Minnesota Ag Interests Sue State on Adoption of California Zero-Emission Mandate -- Agriculture, biofuels and
March 15, 2023 Read Full Article
South Dakota Suggests Delaying Summit Carbon Pipeline Hearings to September or Later
by Jeff Beach (AgWeek) Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions wants to start construction in 2023 to benefit the ethanol industry, but
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Pearl Man Pleads Guilty as Feds Tackle Biofuel Business for Illegal Dumping
by Alex Rozier (Mississippi Today) A Pearl man pleaded guilty this week for his role in allowing a Brandon company to
October 21, 2022 Read Full Article
IUB Addresses Request for Environmental Impact Study on Proposed Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 Pipeline
(Iowa Utilities Board) The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) issued an order today that denies a request for an environmental impact study (EIS) regarding
October 11, 2022 Read Full Article
Carbon Pipeline Company Takes Unwilling Iowa Landowners to Court
by Jared Strong (Successful Farming/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Navigator CO2 Ventures, one of three companies that have proposed liquid carbon pipelines in
September 08, 2022 Read Full Article
GM Flex Fuel Engine Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Illinois
by Sam McEachern (GM Authority) A class action lawsuit that was filed against GM in the U.S. District Court for the
August 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Climate Lawsuits Proliferate, Confronting Corporate Polluters
by Sara Schonhardt (Politico Pro Climatewire) Experts predict climate litigation will continue to rise over the next year, with a
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
EMA Lawsuit: CARB Emissions Rule Violates Clean Air Act
(TruckingInfo.com) The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association has sued the California Air Resources Board, saying the agency has not provided enough
June 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Lawsuits Challenge Two Massive Bay Area Biofuel Refinery Projects
(Center for Biological Diversity) Rushed Review Ignored Dangers to Communities, Environment -- Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for
June 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Bombshell: Propel Fuels Sues Phillips 66 over “Year-Long Extraction of Trade Secrets”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Judge Evelio Grillo of the Superior Court of Alameda County has unsealed a Propel Fuels-Phillips 66
May 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Conservationists Sue to Stop SoCal Biofuel Refinery Expansion
by Hillel Aron (Courthouse News Service) Biofuels are considered by some to be an important tool in the fight against
May 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Environmentalists Skeptical about Converting East Bay Refineries into Biofuel Plants
by Wilson Walker (KPIX/SanFrancisco/CBSlocal.com) Two Bay Area oil refineries looking to convert to processing biofuels are facing what some might consider
May 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Protests Pay Off: Students Win Long Climate Change Campaign
by Bella Carpentier (Minnesota Daily/Associated Press) After years of pressure from student groups and numerous resolutions passed within the University
December 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Maine Is in Danger of Losing Some of Its Best Agricultural Land to Solar Farms
by Julia Bayly (Bangor Daily News) Approximately 67,000 fixed-tilt, bifacial panels will comprise a solar farm under construction at the
October 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Lawsuits Target Exxon’s Social Media ‘Green Washing’
by Maxine Joselow (E&E News Climatewire) Two years ago, Exxon Mobil Corp. took to Twitter to promote its research into algae
July 22, 2021 Read Full Article
How a Powerful US Lobby Group Helps Big Oil to Block Climate Action
by Chris McGreal (The Guardian) The American Petroleum Institute receives millions from oil companies – and works behinds the scenes
July 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Minnesota 'Clean Cars' Rules May Move forward, Administrative Law Judge Says
by Greg Stanley (Star Tribune) Judge says governor can bypass GOP opposition. -- More electric vehicles could soon be for sale
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Big Tobacco Had to Pay $206B. Is Big Oil Next?
by Maxine Joselow (E&E News) In 2006, a federal judge issued a scathing ruling that would reverberate across the country. "Over the
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
AG Peterson Files Complaint Alleging Multiple Environmental Violations by AltEn, LLC.
(Office of Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson) Attorney General Doug Peterson filed a complaint in the District Court of Saunders County alleging multiple
March 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Valero Sues Texas-Based Commodity Group for Failure to Deliver 106 Million RINs
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Valero has filed a lawsuit in Texas state court alleging a Cypress, Texas,-based commodity group
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel Producer Settles with Air Resources Board over Low Carbon Fuel Standard Violations
(California Air Resources Board) $132,500 settlement includes environmental project for Fresno area -- The California Air Resources Board today announced a
January 12, 2021 Read Full Article
“Flim Flam” Biofuels Company Wants to Buy the Largest East Coast Oil Refinery
by Steve Horn (The Real News) ... The little-known company has pitched its proposal to convert the site into a biofuels refinery. It
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Nebraska Environmental Trust's $1.8 Million Grant for Ethanol Pumps
by Martha Stoddard (Omaha World-Herald) Critics of the Nebraska Environmental Trust board’s decision to award $1.8 million to a project
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Change Suit on SCOTUS Docket
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) : The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from oil companies aiming to overturn
October 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Cases Put Big Oil’s Behemoth Trade Group in Bull’s-Eye
by Ellen M. Gilmer (BloombergLaw) American Petroleum Institute named in state, local suits; Legal approach could pay off for plaintiffs,
September 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Delaware AG Jennings Claims Deception by Big Oil in Climate Change Lawsuit
(Delaware Business Now) Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that Delaware will sue 31 fossil fuel companies. “Delawareans are already paying for
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
As Natural Gas Bans Go National, Can Cities Fill the Gap?
by David Iaconangelo (E&E News) ... But efficiency researchers say activists' favored alternative to natural gas — electric heat —
August 04, 2020 Read Full Article
District of Columbia Sues 4 Oil Majors for Misleading Consumers on Climate Change
by Valerie Volcovici (Insurance Journal/Reuters) The attorney general for the District of Columbia on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp,
June 26, 2020 Read Full Article
AG Ellison Sues ExxonMobil, Koch Industries & American Petroleum Institute for Deceiving, Defrauding Minnesotans about Climate Change
(Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison) Claims violations of state and common law regarding consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, misrepresentation,
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
North Dakota Soybean Processors Abandons Spiritwood Energy Park Site
(North Dakota Soybean Processors) After more than three years, $6 million of investment and thousands of hours of management time,
February 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Making Big Oil Pay for Climate Change May Be Impossible
by Erik Larson (Bloomberg) Across America, cities and states are using the courts to force energy companies to address the
January 24, 2020 Read Full Article
The New Science Fossil Fuel Companies Fear
by Zack Coleman (Politico) Researchers can now link weather events to emissions – and to the companies responsible. A string
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Tesoro Fined $1.36 million for Low Carbon Fuel Standard Violations
(California Air Resources Board) Company misreported 1.9 billion gallons of fuel -- The California Air Resources Board today (May 30, 2019)
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
SoCalGas Leak Settlement Includes Biomethane-to-Fuel Efforts
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) The Los Angeles Superior Court has approved a settlement in a lawsuit against Southern California Gas
February 28, 2019 Read Full Article
California Fueling Files Suit over Biodiesel NOx Additive
(California Fueling/Biodiesel Magazine) California Fueling LLC filed suit Dec. 10 in the Los Angeles Superior Court against Best Energy Solutions and
January 04, 2019 Read Full Article
DuPont Will Repay $10.5 Million in State Incentives, under Approved Settlement
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) DuPont will give Iowa a big check — $10.5 million — after closing and selling
November 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Hiring an Expert Witness in Bioeconomy Litigation
by Wayne Lee (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) In August 2017, I published an articlewhich focused on important things that attorneys involved
November 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Bankruptcy Judge Lets Refiner off the RFS Hook
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) A Delaware Bankruptcy judge approved a consent decree between EPA and bankrupt refiner Philadelphia Energy
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Big Oil Faces Big Test in Climate-Change Court Showdown with SF, Oakland
by Kurtis Alexander (San Francisco Chronicle) A San Francisco judge who must decide whether to hold the world’s largest oil companies
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
First U.S. City to Ban Fossil Fuel Expansion Offers Roadmap for Others
by Kevon Paynter (Yes! Magazine) Portland, Ore., climate activists celebrate a win against Big Oil as city- and state-level initiatives gain
February 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Court Rules against Delaware City Refinery in Ethanol Appeal
by Scott Goss (The News Journal/Delaware Online) A judge has breathed new life into a two-year effort to block a major expansion of the
January 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Meet the Lawyer Trying to Make Big Oil Pay for Climate Change
by Geoff Dembicki (Vice.com) The attorney who won a $200 billion settlement from tobacco companies in the 90s has set
January 02, 2018 Read Full Article
CARB Working to Address Biodiesel NOx Emissions: Court Filing
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) Ongoing legal challenges to the way California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard deals with nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel
December 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Judge Rules State Can’t Enforce Inslee Order to Cut Greenhouse-Gas Emissions
by Jim Brunner (News Tribune) Dealing a setback to Gov. Jay Inslee’s climate agenda, a judge has invalidated major portions of
December 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Embattled Utah Biofuel Company with Polygamous Ties Should Pay Millions for Breach of Contract, Jury Says
by Paighten Harkins (Salt Lake Tribune) A Box Elder County biofuel company fined for exploiting federal tax credits by importing
December 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Court Fight Begins over Delaware City Refinery's Ethanol Project
by Scott Goss (The News Journal/DelawareOnline) A court battle over the Delaware City Refinery's plans to significantly expand its biofuel operations
November 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Okla. Supreme Court Rules Electric Vehicle Fee Unconstitutional
by Joseph Bebon (NGT News) On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down H.B.1449, a bill that sought to implement an annual fee
October 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Stanfield Biodiesel Plant Was a Scam
(My Columbia Basin) The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is fining Robert D. “Bob” Doughty and his companies for
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Oakland and San Francisco Lawsuits to Hold Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable for Their Contributions to Sea Level Rise a 'Bold and Necessary Step to Protect Their Communities,' Says Science Group
by Ken Kimmell (Union of Concerned Scientists) Oakland and San Francisco today (September 20, 2017) announced lawsuits against fossil fuel
September 21, 2017 Read Full Article
California’s Supreme Court Denies ARB Petition To Review LCFS Case
By Joshua T. Bledsoe and Kimberly Farbota (Latham's Clean Energy Law Report) In a previous post, we described how potential delays in
September 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Delaware City Refinery Ethanol Project Heading to Court
by Scott Goss (The News Journal/DelawareOnline.com) The battle over Delaware City Refinery's planned expansion of its ethanol operations has been renewed. Two civic
April 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Smoking Gun Found in Biofuels’ Billion Dollar Baby Brawl?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But almost nothing about the Billion Dollar Baby Brawl has been standard fare as
April 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Court Upholds State Environmental Permits for Controversial Fiberight Waste Plant
by Madeline St. Amour (CentralMaine.com) The decision by a Superior Court justice marks the end of the Fiberight project's last
March 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Twin Challenges to LCFS Advance in California Courts
by Joshua T. Bledsoe and Max Friedman (Latham & Watkins LLP/Biodiesel Magazine) Two related cases, advancing in parallel, have the
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Refinery, DNREC Seek Dismissal of Ethanol Challenges
by Scott Goss (The News Journal) The legal battle over Delaware City Refinery’s plans to expand its ethanol operations is
February 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Senate Republicans Suspend Committee Rules to Approve Scott Pruitt, Trump’s EPA Nominee
by Brady Dennis and Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) Senate Republicans on Thursday again used their majority to suspend committee rules
February 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Environmentalists Appeal PBF Ethanol Permit
by Scott Goss (News Journal/Delaware Online) A legal fight over Delaware City Refinery's plans to expand its ethanol operations officially began
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Volkswagen to Recall 83,000 3.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles and Fund Mitigation Projects to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Vehicles
(Environmental Protection Agency) Settlement requires Volkswagen to offer to buy back older vehicles, and spend $225 million to mitigate NOx
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
KiOR: The Inside True Story of a Company Gone Wrong. Part 5, The Collapse
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In 2011, KiOR raised $150 million in its June IPO, claiming that it was generating
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
PERC Sues Maine DEP over Fiberight Licensing
by Faith DeAmbrose (The Weekly Packet) Owners of the Orrington-based trash-to-energy facility Penobscot Energy Recovery Company have filed suit in
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Three U.S. States Plan Lawsuits over Volkswagen Diesel Pollution
by David Shepardson (Reuters) Three U.S. states plan to unveil new lawsuits against Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) on Tuesday tied to
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
California's Landmark Cap and Trade Program Faces Uncertain Future
by Rory Carroll (Reuters) California's greenhouse gas reduction program is in a battle for its life, and uncertainty about its
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
California Wants Back $1.7M From Biofuel Project
by Elizabeth Warmerdam (Courthouse News Service) California sued a bioenergy company, claiming it improperly spent as much as $1.7 million
April 13, 2016 Read Full Article
CA Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Questioned: Study Raises Doubts About Long-Term Viability of Rule
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) California's controversial low-carbon fuel standard may not be able to survive long term unless
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
A.G. Schneiderman Reaches Agreement With Buffalo Biodiesel Over Lawsuits Targeting Small Businesses
(Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced an agreement with Buffalo Biodiesel, a company that
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Company with Polygamous Ties Spent Big on Utah Politicians even as Frauds Were Found
by Nate Carlisle and Brian Maffly (The Salt Lake Tribune) Federal agents raided offices of Washakie and Kingstons amid claims
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
L.A. County Files Criminal Charges over Porter Ranch Gas Leak
by Paige St. John and Alice Walton (Los Angeles Times) Southern California Gas Co. on Tuesday was charged with failing to
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Air Regulator Sues California Utility over State's Historic Methane Leak
by Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) A California utility failed to protect residents from the largest methane leak in state history at its
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
California Launches New Fuel Policies in 2016
by Graham Noyes (Biodiesel Magazine/ Keyes, Fox & Wiedman LLP) California will be the biodiesel market to watch in 2016
January 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Washington State Judge Rules that States Have a “Mandatory Duty” to “Preserve, Protect, and Enhance the Air Quality for the Current and Future Generations”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, King County Superior Court Judge Hollis R. Hill issued a groundbreaking ruling
November 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Judge Dismisses Challenge to Oregon Climate Change Program
by Jonathan J. Cooper (Associated Press/MMC News) A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by oil companies challenging
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Amyris and Solazyme at Risk of Taint from Volkswagen NOx Scandal, Says Website; Solazyme Says “Heck No!”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, TheTruthAboutCars reported that Amyris and Solazyme risk being painted with the same tainted brush
September 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Oregon's Clean Fuels Law Ignites More Political Wrangling
by Ian K. Kullgren (The Oregonian/Oregon Live) ... One of the law's biggest advocates threatened to join forces with opponents this
September 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Oil companies Can Be Sued by Earthquake Victim, Oklahoma Court Rules
(Thompson Reuters) An Oklahoma woman who was injured when an earthquake rocked her home in 2011 can sue oil companies
July 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Lawsuit Filed Challenging Minnesota's Biodiesel Mandate
(Minnesota Trucking Association) A coalition of vehicle and fuel industry organizations have stood up for Minnesota consumers and small businesses by
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Truckers Sue to End Biodiesel Mandate
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) Minnesota truckers and other interests sued Minnesota on Friday seeking to end the state’s requirement
April 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Mississippi Files Fraud Lawsuit against Khosla over KiOR
by Jeff Amy (The Dispatch/Associated Press) The state of Mississippi has sued billionaire Vinod Khosla and others, saying they knew
January 16, 2015 Read Full Article
How Two Small New York Towns Have Shaken up the National Fight over Fracking
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) The multibillion-dollar Anschutz Exploration Corp., which helped make its founder, Philip Anschutz, one of the
July 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Court Rules to Uphold California LCFS, but Requires Corrective Action
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On July 15, California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal issued its opinion in the
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
AFPM, RFA Trade Charges after Verdict in MTBE Case
by Jordan Godwin (Platts) ...(American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers President Charles T.) Drevna responded Wednesday to a New Hampshire verdict earlier that day
April 12, 2013 Read Full Article
The Information Source for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles
(US Department of Energy) The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information, data, and tools to help fleets and other
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Benishek under Pressure to Block Federal Funding for Ethanol ‘Boondoggle’
by Eartha Jane Melzer (The Michigan Messenger) Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls) campaigned on cutting federal spending. Now some of