Green Building Law Update

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Tag Archives: environmental attorney Maryland

From Gas Stoves to HVAC Systems – Proposed Federal Appliance Rule Restores Choice

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, Environmental, Federal
The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed one of the most significant changes to federal appliance regulation in decades. While much of the public debate has focused on dishwashers and gas stoves, the proposal has implications far beyond the kitchen. Manufacturers, builders, retailers, property owners, and businesses that purchase or specify equipment should all be … Continue Reading

Fourth Circuit Raises the Bar for PFAS Injunctions in Citizen Suits

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Federal
Businesses facing PFAS compliance challenges received an important victory in a court decision this month when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that had barred The Chemours Company from discharging PFAS compounds above permit limits into the Ohio River. In West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Inc. v. The Chemours … Continue Reading

Maryland’s 2026 Environmental Laws: What Changed and Where the Opportunities Are

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, State
The 448th session of the Maryland General Assembly concluded on April 13, 2026, after considering 2,229 bills. During the 90 day legislative session, 884 of those bills passed both chambers and are being presented to the Governor for his signature by June 2, 2026. Despite the fact that Maryland is consistently ranked among the most … Continue Reading

Tokenization – Real Estate Reinvented in the Funding of a Maldives Resort

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental
Real estate has long been characterized by friction: high minimum investments, illiquidity, opaque capital stacks, and access largely reserved for institutions. Tokenization challenges that paradigm. A new Maldives resort development provides a real world learning opportunity for how this financial architecture is evolving, and why it matters, including for environmental performance. In real estate, tokenization … Continue Reading

The Right to Bee – Peru’s Recognition of Legal Rights for Stingless Bees

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental
The Provincial Municipality of Satipo, Peru has approved Ordinance N° 33, declaring the rights of stingless bees including legal standing to sue if threatened or harmed. The bees within the territory of the Avireri-Vraem biosphere reserve that spans nearly 16,000 square miles (.. larger than the state of Maryland) from the Amazon rainforest to the … Continue Reading

United States Sues Morgan Hill and Petaluma over All Electric Building Laws

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, Federal
On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the cities of Morgan Hill (Santa Clara County) and Petaluma (Sonoma County), California, challenging local ordinances that effectively ban natural gas infrastructure and gas powered appliances in new buildings. The complaint, docketed as Case 5:26-cv-00056 in the U.S. District Court for the … Continue Reading

Inhalers and the Planet: Breathing Room in Environmental Policy

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, greenhouse gas, Sustainability
The mainstream press was quick to report this week on a startling new study out of UCLA: inhalers used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) produce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 530,000 cars on the road each year. Published on October 6, 2025, the study quantified that inhalers approved for asthma and … Continue Reading

All Electric Future Faces Legal Threat After Supreme Court Ruling

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, Energy
In a pivotal environmental case with wide reaching implications, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last Friday that a group of fuel producers have Article III standing to challenge the EPA’s approval of a waiver under the Clean Air Act permitting California regulations (.. adopted in 17 states) requiring automakers to manufacture more electric vehicles and … Continue Reading

Congress Blocks California’s Gasoline Car Ban: A Legal and Policy Analysis

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, Federal
The Senate has approved three Congressional Review Act resolutions initiated in the House of Representatives that overturn Environmental Protection Agency waivers, which had effectively imposed a de facto ban on the future sale of gasoline powered cars in California and 17 states, as well as Washington, DC. Congressional disapproval of California’s electric vehicle mandates is … Continue Reading

President Trump’s Bold Step to Rein in State Overreach in Climate Change

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Federal, GHG, greenhouse gas
On April 8, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a powerful and consequential Executive Order with the innocuous sounding title, “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.” The impact of that Executive Order will be far broader than the title belies when it targets “burdensome and ideologically motivated ‘climate change’ or energy policies” .. of several … Continue Reading

Greenwashing? Court Says Coca-Cola’s Aspirational Statements May Mislead Consumers

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, Green Washing, greenhouse gas, greenwashing
A recent ruling from a federal appellate court is bringing new attention to claims of greenwashing including specifically that a business’s aspiration statements about environmental matters (e.g., “we will be net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040” or “we will use at least 50% recycled material in our packaging by 2030”) can be actionable. The … Continue Reading
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