An article in The New Yorker features an interview with John Podesta, a newly appointed White House Advisor on energy and climate issues, who claims Republican lobbying efforts against the Keystone XL Pipeline backfired. Podesta said the pipeline was “rolling toward approval,” but strong-arm tactics led by API slowed the approval process long enough… Keep reading →
The largest Wall Street settlement with the US government in history is under threat as JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon faces off against US Attorney General Eric Holder. The financial sector, the housing industry and DC insiders are watching the latest crisis emerge in discussions over a settlement involving JP Morgan’s purchase of Washington… Keep reading →
Breaking Media will hold a tele-press conference on the continuing negotiations between the Department of Justice and J.P. Morgan around legal liabilities related to J. P. Morgan’s acquisition of Washington Mutual. The event, which begins on Wednesday, November 6 at 11am, will feature renowned experts on housing and mortgage finance. WHO: Josh Rosner, Managing Director,… Keep reading →
OLD CROWS CONFERENCE: People fear drones. People fear “killer robots.” People fear death by push button. People need to put away their fears and remember that computing power, coupled with automation and rules-based decision-making, has saved many lives and is likely to save many more than any runaway robot ever will kill. That was the… Keep reading →
The U.S. ranks 5th out of 13 heavily oil-dependent countries that are highly vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. On October 14, 2013, Securing America’s Future Energy and Roubini Global Economics released the Oil Security Index, which assesses the relative oil security of 13 countries including the U.S. The report emphasizes the need for active measures… Keep reading →
CPUC passes controversial mandate for 1.3 gigawatts of batteries, grid storage by 2020 California’s status as the vanguard in pushing energy storage technologies onto the power grid is now official. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved its proposed mandate (PDF) that will require the state’s big three investor-owned utilities to add 1.3… Keep reading →
This week the Supreme Court, via a one-line order by Justice Anthony Kennedy, dismissed an appeal in Brown v. Plata for want of jurisdiction. Thousands of law students enrolled in Fed Jur and Fed Courts classes this semester may argue that there’s nothing sexy about jurisdiction, even by law’s substantially reduced standards for “sexiness.” The dismissal of Plata, though, has some significant… Keep reading →
CAPITOL HILL: While the federal government remains supine and Congress fails to pass appropriations bills, at least one lawmaker is engaged in a classic use of senatorial privilege: placing a hold on the nomination of a senior administration official. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who has made clear her unease with what appears to be the Air… Keep reading →
Starting January 1, 2014, California and Quebec have signed an agreement to integrate their cap-and-trade programs. On October 1, 2013, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement defining the steps and procedures to link California and Quebec cap-and-trade programs. The agreement, a result of more than five years… Keep reading →
WASHINGTON: This summer’s unpaid leave for federal workers was unpleasant enough. If the government shuts down October 1st, though, this fall’s furloughs are just going to be crazy. A patchwork of legal exceptions and grey areas will not only prevent most federal civilians from getting work done but, indirectly, keep many military servicemembers from getting… Keep reading →