State AG Database – Energy

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The following is a list of major actions taken by state attorneys general to ensure that laws pertaining to energy development and energy efficiency are fully implemented and enforced:

Lawsuit v. Federal Government

In re Aiken Cty., 725 F.3d 255 (D.C. Cir. 2013): Washington and South Carolina AGs pursued mandamus action to force the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to proceed with the licensing process of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.

Massachusetts v. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com’n (1st Cir. 2013): Massachusetts AG filed an administrative appeal followed by a lawsuit challenging the adequacy of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s consideration of the environmental consequences of renewing the license for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.

New York v. Bodman (S.D.N.Y 2005): Multi-state lawsuit challenging the Department of Energy (DOE)’s failure to create energy efficiency standards for consumer appliances according to the timeline established by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (ECPA).

NRDC v. Abraham (2004): Multiple states joined NRDC lawsuit challenging the DOE’s attempt to lower energy efficiency standards for certain appliances under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (ECPA).

Lawsuit v. Other Public Entities

Illinois Coal Mine Permitting Process Reforms (2014): Illinois AG sued and entered into settlement with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requiring DNR to improve transparency and public participation in the coal permitting process.

Lawsuits v. Private Actors

Kalamazoo River Oil Spill (2015): Michigan AG pursued enforcement action against Enbridge Energy in response to their actions which caused over 1 million gallons of heavy crude oil to spill into the Kalamazoo River.

Defense of Federal Standards

American Public Gas Assoc. v. Department of Energy (C.A.D.C. 2014): Multi-state intervention in support of Energy Department proposed rule setting efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces.

Defense of State Standards

Defense of California Feed-in-Tariff Program (2009): California AG filed brief with the California Public Utility Commission defending the state’s authority to use feed-in tariffs.

Administrative Proceedings

Opposition to St. Clair River Pipelines (2016): Michigan AG submitted letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to deny the permit application for the St. Clair River oil pipelines.

Comments on Tennessee Pipeline Gas Go. Northeast Energy Direct Project (2015): Massachusetts AG submitted comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a study opposing a proposed natural gas pipeline that would have run through New England.

Massachusetts v. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com’n (1st Cir. 2013): Massachusetts AG filed an administrative appeal followed by a lawsuit challenging the adequacy of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s consideration of the environmental consequences of renewing the license for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.

Agreement for DOE to Update Energy Efficiency Standards (2013): Multi-state coalition reached agreement with U.S Department of Energy establishing timetable for updating federal efficiency standards for energy-intensive consumer products.

Defense of California Feed-in-Tariff Program (2009): California AG filed brief with the California Public Utility Commission defending the state’s authority to use feed-in tariffs.

Legislative Inputs

Coal and Coke Regulations, House Bill 5939 (2014): Illinois AG co-authored legislative proposal to regulate bulk materials storage facilities that handle petroleum coke and other refinery production materials in response to air pollution violations linked to several facilities on Chicago’s southeast side.

Other Interventions

Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force (2014): Michigan AG convened the Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force to investigate the safety of the Straits pipelines and other pipelines in the state.