Environmental and Energy Law Update

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        by James I. Cohen on March 2, 2023

        The Maine Public Utilities Commission is currently considering whether to commence a formal emergency rulemaking process to amend Chapter 324 of its...

        January 24, 2023

        Verrill partner Jim Cohen will be presenting at the Maine State Bar Association’s Winter Bar Conference 2023, on Friday, January 27, in Portland....

        by James I. Cohen on December 6, 2022

        Last month, the Maine Public Utilities Commission initiated a proceeding to identify the priorities to be addressed in an electric grid plan that...

        by Mathew J. Todaro on September 30, 2022

        Earlier this year, Verrill Partner Mat Todaro was selected by American Bar Association leadership to serve on the 2022 Fall Conference Planning...

        by Juliet T. Browne on June 29, 2022

        Verrill attorneys Juliet T. Browne, James I. Cohen, Gordon R. Smith, and Mathew J. Todaro were recently recognized for energy and environmental law...

        by Mathew J. Todaro on June 15, 2022

        The National Safety Council (NSC) of Northern New England recently held its 51st Annual New Hampshire Safety & Health Conference in Nashua. The...

        by Gordon R. Smith on April 21, 2022

        The Maine Superior Court has dismissed all claims against five intertidal landowners represented by Verrill in Masucci v. Judy’s Moody, LLC. The...

        by Gordon R. Smith on April 19, 2022

        The U.S. Department of Justice announced that ESI Energy LLC (ESI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nextera Energy Resources LLC, pleaded guilty to...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on April 14, 2022

        On or before May 2, 2022, the Maine Public Utilities Commission has requested bids for proposed transmission and generation resources that would...

        March 10, 2022

        Verrill associate Kelsey McCutcheon has been selected to join the Environmental Law Institute’s (ELI) Emerging Leaders Initiative. The...

        by James I. Cohen on February 3, 2022

        On January 26, 2022, Maine Governor Janet Mills swore in Bill Harwood as Public Advocate for the State of Maine. Bill was unanimously confirmed by...

        December 22, 2021

        On December 15, 2021, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced the nomination of former Verrill attorney Bill Harwood as Public Advocate for the State of...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on December 20, 2021

        On December 1, 2021, the Maine PUC released a Report on the first phase of its investigation into necessary design and operational changes to the...

        December 6, 2021

        Verrill Attorney Mathew J. Todaro, along with two others, will be presenting at the Maine Rural Water Association’s 41st Annual Conference and...

        by Gordon R. Smith on December 3, 2021

        A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) final rule that presumptively reinstates liability for incidental take under the Migratory Bird Treaty...

        October 26, 2021

        Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced its PFAS Strategic Roadmap. PFAS are a class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl...

        October 26, 2021

        On October 26, Verrill telecommunications attorney Geoffrey Why will be moderating the virtual event, “The Future is Now: 5G Wireless Networks,”...

        by Juliet T. Browne on September 29, 2021

        Maine’s new solar decommissioning law takes effect October 18 and applies to projects that have not commenced construction by October 1, 2021. The...

        September 27, 2021

        We are proud to announce that longtime Verrill Attorney William Harwood has joined the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), after 42 years with...

        August 11, 2021

        In September, William Harwood will be retiring from Verrill Dana in order to join the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) as senior advisor...

        July 15, 2021

        On July 1, 2021, LD 936, An Act To Amend State Laws Relating to Net Energy Billing and the Procurement of Distributed Generation became law after...

        July 15, 2021

        After two years as host of “Eggs & Issues,” the monthly business breakfast of the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce, Jim Cohen concluded...

        July 15, 2021

        On April 22, the Maine State Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Jim Cohen to the board of the Northern New England Passenger Rail...

        May 26, 2021

        On May 24, Governor Janet Mills nominated attorney Patrick Scully, who was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Bernstein Shur, to serve a...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on May 26, 2021

        Last week, the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) and Office of Policy Innovation and the Future jointly presented to the Legislature’s Energy,...

        by Gordon R. Smith on May 14, 2021

          A group of beachgoers and seaweed harvesters have filed a new lawsuit against several Maine coastal property owners, attempting to overturn...

        by Mathew J. Todaro on May 12, 2021

        Enacted as part of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) requires businesses with ten or more...

        by James I. Cohen on April 22, 2021

        On April 14, 2020, the Nature Conservancy and The Great Plans Institute announced the final report of the Maine Utility Regulatory Reform and...

        by Scott D. Anderson on April 1, 2021

        The energy and environmental landscape is constantly evolving. On Thursday, April 22, 2021, Halfmoon Education Inc. presents a full-day, virtual...

        March 31, 2021

        On March 10, Verrill partner Jim Cohen moderated a virtual “Eggs & Issues” business forum with US Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). The March...

        About the Blog

        The Environmental and Energy Law Update blog provides an analysis and discussion of the most critical and timely legal issues and announcements in the environmental, natural resource, and energy sectors.

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        Verrill’s Natural Resources and Energy law practice group has a wealth of industry-leading experience in environmental and land-use permitting, public utility regulation, and complex energy infrastructure transactions.

        We established the Environmental and Energy Law Update to keep our clients, policymakers, industry professionals, and non-profit organizations informed of recent developments affecting the energy and natural resources sectors. Our goal is to provide carefully selected content, including analysis and discussion of the most critical and timely legal issues and announcements pertaining to the environment, natural resources, and energy.

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        Firm Highlights

        Alerts and Newsletters

        Maine’s New Employer Surveillance Law, 26 M.R.S. § 620-A

        Effective July 14, 2026 Maine employers that electronically monitor employees must comply with a new disclosure law effective July 14, 2026. Under...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Recognized by U.S. News as One of the Best Law Firms to Work for in 2026

        BOSTON, Mass., BANGOR and PORTLAND, Maine, GREENWICH and WESTPORT, Conn., – Verrill has been featured on U.S. News’ 2026 Best Companies to Work...
        Blog

        SECURE 2.0 Roth Catch-Up Rules and the 403(b) 15-Year Catch-Up: What Tax-Exempt Employers Need to Know

        Tax-exempt employers whose 403(b) plans offer catch-up contributions for participants age 50 and above should be well on their way to compliance with...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Quoted in Law360 on SIMAD Summer Camp Bankruptcy Sale

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was recently quoted in a Law360 article examining the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings involving SIMAD Holdings and...
        Media Mentions

        Chris Tsouros Featured in Law360’s Coverage of Sports Real Estate Deals

        Verrill Partner Chris Tsouros was recently recognized in a Law360 article highlighting law firms involved in significant sports real estate projects...
        Blog

        What Maine’s New Employer Surveillance Law Means for Maine Employers

        Maine employers who monitor their workforce, whether through productivity software, GPS, call recording, or cameras, have a new compliance obligation...
        Blog

        Run Don’t Walk: The Implication of “While Supplies Last” Prize Promotions

        This month a big-chain grocery store has been offering daily mystery boxes during specific timed drops on a first-come, first-served basis, to users...
        Blog

        Maine’s Noncompete Statute is Reshaped for Health Care Workers: What You Need to Know

        Employers of individuals who are licensed under state law to perform, or provide, health care services in the State of Maine should be prepared for...
        Media Mentions

        Steven Davis Featured in the Environmental Business Journal

        Steven Davis, President of Verrill Strategic Consulting, was recently interviewed and featured in the Environmental Business Journal, Volume 39...
        Blog

        What is a Bonus for Purposes of ERISA?

        An ongoing dispute about a Department of Labor advisory opinion published last September raises a basic but unanswered question under the ERISA: What...
        Media Mentions

        Verrill Recognized by WMTW for Partnership Supporting Hunger Relief in Maine

        Verrill was recently featured in coverage by WMTW News 8 for its role in a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity across southern...
        Press Releases

        33 Verrill Attorneys, Across Four Offices, Recognized in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide

        BOSTON, Massachusetts, PORTLAND, Maine, WESTPORT, Connecticut, and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Verrill has been recognized as a Leading Firm in 14...