Tag Archives: green building lawyer

From EV Mandates to Building Standards – California Lawsuit Could Limit State Climate Regulation

The U.S. Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit last Thursday that may reshape the regulatory landscape not only for vehicles, but also climate policy, and even energy use across the country. Be assured, this litigation is about far more than only electric vehicles in California. The complaint, filed by the Justice Department on behalf of … Continue Reading

Greenwashing Lawsuits Surge in 2025: Navigating the Expanding Risk

By Stuart Kaplow on November 23, 2025 Posted in Environmental, Green Washing, greenwashing

If they can come after the cows, your business could be next with a bullseye on its back.… Continue Reading

DOE Order to Keep Maryland Oil Fired Plant Running Sparks Energy Environmental Tension

By Stuart Kaplow on August 3, 2025 Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Federal, GHG, greenhouse gas

Last Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a sweeping emergency order under the Federal Power Act, allowing the Wagner Generating Station in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to continue producing electricity, despite having nearly exhausted its annual limit on fuel oil usage under state environmental law. This order, requested by PJM Interconnection, one of the … Continue Reading

EPA Will Keep Current Limits for “Forever Chemicals” in Drinking Water

By Stuart Kaplow on May 25, 2025 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Federal

The agency provided a roadmap as to its intention to continue protecting public health from these so called “forever chemicals” … Continue Reading

Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $667M in Legal Blow to Environmental Activism

By Stuart Kaplow on March 23, 2025 Posted in Energy, Environmental, Legal Developments

Whether or not the Netherlands based Greenpeace survives in the U.S., the outcome of this legal battle will likely influence future strategies of both advocacy groups and corporations, shaping the landscape of activism in the United States, environmental activism, and more, .. from Tesla to Israel.… Continue Reading

A Day in the Life of a Green Building Attorney

By Stuart Kaplow on December 18, 2016 Posted in Green Building, Legal, Sustainability

This blog post is not as epic as A Day in the Life, the last song on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album that Rolling Stone magazine ranked as the greatest Beatles song ever. But rather, this responds to a question I was recently asked when speaking at a law school forum on … Continue Reading

Saint Paul has an Alternative to LEED

By Stuart Kaplow on August 26, 2014 Posted in Codes and Regulations

Many thought green building mandates would spread across the county. But today, with more than 89,000 local government across the U.S., there are less than 200 green building mandates that apply to 'purely' private building. Saint Paul has an alternative to LEED ..… Continue Reading

Green Building Law Update

The Intersection of Real Estate, Science, and Law