Despite the Commonwealth Court's recent decision striking down Act 13’s limits on municipalities enacting zoning ordinances more restrictive than the state’s uniform requirements, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ("PUC") has begun enforcement of Act 13's impact fee provisions. Specifically, the PUC has started to review some municipalities' ordinances that seek to regulate drilling activity ...
On August 29, 2012 the German Federal Cabinet (Bundeskabinett) has passed a draft “Third Bill regarding new Energy Law Regulations” (Drittes Gesetz zur Neuregelung energierechtlicher Vorschriften). Such draft bill shall accelerate the further development of German offshore wind energy ...
Obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for a wind project does not mean that opponents won’t stand in the way of development. Wind development takes years of work. Locations must be evaluated and sites eventually selected. In addition, experts must prepare reports examining every aspect of the wind farm and its impact on the surrounding area, including sound impact stud- ies, compliance analyses and wildlife assessments ...
On June 27, 2012, the British Columbia court of appeal issued its highly anticipated decision in the case WILLIAM V. BRITISH COLUMBIA ...
Despite being home to the first natural gas well in the United States, the State of New York has prohibited the use of hydraulic fracturing within its borders. Since the election of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the question in the oil and gas industry is whether he will lift the ban. Shortly after his election, Governor Cuomo tasked the Department of Environmental Conservation with drafting rules to allow for hydraulic fracturing ...
Wind power offers Finland an attractive means to hit its renewable energy targets. It is estimated that by 2020 some 800 turbines will operate throughout the country, bringing 2,500 megawatts of production capacity. And there are plans for much more wind farms in the pipeline. While the Finnish wind power industry is still in its nascent stage, look for this to change in the near future ...
The Alberta Court of Appeal has denied the Cold Lake First Nations’ (CLFN) application to appeal a decision by Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) that it did not have the jurisdiction to determine the adequacy of Crown consultation in respect of a bitumen recovery project within the CLFN’s treaty territory ...
Since 2009, the Alberta government has reserved for itself the right to exempt electricity transmission projects from review by the Alberta Utilities Commission. Exempted projects have been referred to as Bill 50 Projects, Bill 50 being the name of the law when it was first proposed ...
Enrique Peña Nieto, President-elect of Mexico, and his transition team, have stated in various forums the necessity of promoting a second generation energy reform (the “Reform”) that would have a direct impact on the manner in which the national oil industry operates, specifically “Petroleos Mexicanos” and its subsidiaries (“Pemex”) ...
In Martin v. Hamblet, decided November 21, 2012, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals determined that a surface owner may not appeal issuance of a well work permit by the Department of Environmental Protection for a shallow well targeting the Marcellus formation with a horizontal leg into the Marcellus ...
The new regulation of the Polish Minister of Economy on electricity and heat generated from renewable sources of energy goes into effect at the beginning of 2013. The new regulation will increase the share of renewables in the production of electricity and heat ...
Half a billion people living in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity. Ryan Ketchum a partner in Hunton & Williams’ Energy and Infrastructure practice, explains how Uganda and Rwanda are working to turn themselves into places where electricity investors want to be. Uganda Uganda provides a compelling example. For several years it has suffered from a shortage of generationcapacity ...
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) recently released its Sustainability Commitment report for 2010-11 (Report). The Report sets out the AFCG's key objectives and efficiency targets, described as its 'Sustainability Commitment', for improving sustainability in the food & beverage and grocery industry ...
On January 1, 2013, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the "Act") to avert the "fiscal cliff." The Act includes a number of extensions and modifications relating to energy tax provisions ...
On January 7, 2013 there was published in the Federal Official Gazette a Ruling where by the Energy Regulatory Commission makes an invitation to bid under the open international tender LIC-GAS-019-2012 covering the first permit for natural gas distribution in the western geographical area, formed by the municipalities of Sayula, Tuxpan and Zapotlán el Grande, in the state of Jalisco, and the municipalities of Amería, Colima, Manzanillo, Tecomán and Villa de Alvarez, in the state o
On December 27th, 2012, the Court of Appeal for Yukon released its decision in Ross River Dena Council v. Government of Yukon, 2012 YKCA 14. The case dealt with the Yukon Government’s duty to consult with First Nations when allowing mineral claims to be recorded on land with asserted Aboriginal rights and title claims. The case arose as a result of the “open entry” claim staking system and in particular, as a result of the Yukon Quartz Mining Act, S.Y. 2003, s. 14 (the Act) ...
The mining sector is affected by constant changes in the market, along with exploration results and discoveries. The fast pace of this change results in trends developing on a micro or macro scale, and one of the re-emerging trends seen in the industry today is the use of strategic alliances for mineral exploration purposes. The nature and terms of a strategic alliance can vary greatly, depending upon the objectives of the parties ...
Mining has become one of the largest industries in British Columbia, and Vancouver is considered by many to be the world's leading centre of expertise for mineral exploration, with some 1,200 exploration companies located in the province. As a result, many British Columbians have a disproportionate stake in what lies ahead for the mining industry. In 2011, B.C ...
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued DENR Memorandum Order No. 2013-01 (theMemorandum Order), which increased the minimum capital requirements for mining applicants. Under the Memorandum Order, the minimum authorized capital stock and paid-up capital of mining applicants were increased as follows:Authorized Capital: From PhP10 million; To PhP100 million.Paid-Up Capital: From PhP2.5 million; To PhP6.25 million ...
Here is an overview prepared by Lavery of the highlights of the consultation document (in French) released last Thursday by the Quebec government in connection with the forum on mining royalties to be held on March 15, 2013. Overview of the consultation document entitled "Le régime d’impôt minier du Québec" ...
The Supreme Court of Appeal recently handed down a rare trade mark judgment. The protagonists were Adidas and Pepkor, and the main issue was whether Pepkor had infringed certain trade mark registrations belonging to Adidas for its famous three-stripe mark. Adidas was founded by a German called Adi Dassler in 1920 ...
In continuing our commitment to best serve our clients, we have been closely monitoring legislative changes in West Virginia that may affect the shale gas industry in the state. This update covers a new rule affecting horizontal drilling and the results of a recent pit and impoundment study ...
It’s not impossible for nations in conflict to put aside their differences to coordinate the delivery of natural resources, but it’s unusual. For the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, cooperation is transforming the shared Ruzizi River into a valuable source of hydro power for three peoples ...
