Hodgepodge of Local Climate Laws Challenges Cos., Law360

Law360

March 2, 2009

Without a mandatory federal program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the inconsistent state regulation and local climate laws makes it difficult and expensive for companies to navigate. Malcolm Weiss, partner with the firm's environmental practice, agreed that the overlapping requirements would be a big challenge for a harmonized national system. Mark Menezes, partner with the firm's regulated markets & energy infrastructure practice, said that there would not be federal preemption because the members of Congress working on climate change legislation, including Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Henry Waxman, come from the states that have been the most active, particularly California.

Weiss represents clients with permitting new and expanding facilities, regulatory compliance, rulemaking, defending agency enforcement actions, and citizen suits and has been working on climate change and AB 32 issues for the past 2+ years.

Menezes focuses his practice on issue advocacy before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state regulatory agencies on energy and environmental policies and processes