Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business

Tag Archives: solar

ESG Often Led by Renewable Energy

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Energy, ESG, Solar Panel
Businesses often ask about including green power in ESG efforts. We suggest rephrasing the query such that it is about using renewable energy to reduce the environmental harms associated with fossil fuel energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the supply of renewable energy and foster a just transition to an ESG driven economy. Businesses do … Continue Reading

Historic Church Appeals to Higher Authority in Solar Dispute

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Energy, Environmental, Local Government, Sustainability
The First Parish in Bedford, Unitarian Universalist church has appealed from a decision of the Historic District Commission of the Town of Bedford that denied First Parish’s application for a certificate of appropriateness to install solar panels on its Meetinghouse roof. The complaint filed Superior Court for the County of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts claims … Continue Reading

Solar Panels Mandated for Muscle Beach and ..

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Green Building
This coming Wednesday the City of Santa Monica will begin mandating the installation of a solar electric photovoltaic system on all new building. Santa Monica joins the California cities of Lancaster and Sebastopol which started requiring rooftop solar installations in 2013, and San Francisco which similar law, for building under 10 stories tall, takes effect … Continue Reading

Opportunities Shine in Community Solar

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, Green Building, IgCC, LEED, Sustainability
People across the United States are seeking alternatives to conventional energy sources. Motivations vary from concerns over global warming to increasing energy independence, and hedging against rising fuel costs to because it is chic to be green. Advances in solar technology have made photovoltaics a much sought after energy alternative. But a 2008 study by … Continue Reading

The Wild West of Solar Renewable Energy Credits

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Sustainability
There are few, if any laws in most jurisdictions about solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), including the sale of SRECs by third party marketers. There is no national registry of RECs issued. This law firm has given opinions on RECs transactions that RECs are properly accounted for and no double counting has taken place, but it is the Wild West out there.… Continue Reading

Okay to Kill Eagles with Wind Turbines But Not with Solar Panels or ..

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Sustainability
Last week the U.S. Department of the Interior issued the long awaited final regulation permitting "the take [injure, kill or otherwise disturb] of bald eagles and golden eagles" for wind energy projects. ... What is clear from all of this is that developers of energy projects, renewable and otherwise, and even energy projects not currently subject to avian regulation, need to consider and evaluate applying for take permits.… Continue Reading

IGCC Series: Onsite Renewable Energy Encourages Solar Panels

By Kirk Dryer on Posted in Codes and Regulations
The International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is a model code for cities seeking to promote sustainable building practices through their building codes. The IGCC promotes transition from the current voluntary green construction certifications, like USGBC’s LEED, to mandatory green construction codes. As the most recent revisions of the IGCC are currently under review, Green Building … Continue Reading

D.C. Adopts Renewable Energy Rebate

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, Legal Developments
This week, I want to tell you about new green building developments in the D.C. metropolitan area.  I like incentive programs related to green building.  D.C. recently came out with a solar rebate program that will most definitely increase the installation of renewable energy systems: Beginning February 23, 2009, the program will provide rebates to … Continue Reading

Aspen Codes Ahead of the Green Building Curve

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City
As green building becomes more popular, new green building regulations continue to pop up in U.S. cities.  The Aspen Daily News recently highlighted proposed changes to the Aspen Commercial Building Codes that will incorporate very progressive green building strategies.  Among the green building strategies, the proposed codes will “require either a photovoltaic solar panel system [solar … Continue Reading
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