Environmental and Energy Law Update

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        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...

        October 15, 2020

        Yesterday, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a request for comments related to the MPUC’s Net Energy Billing Report to the Legislature....

        September 24, 2020

        Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) issued an Advisory Ruling establishing a safe harbor for the determination whether a generation...

        September 23, 2020

        Yesterday, all three Maine Public Utilities Commission Commissioners agreed to adopt a new standard for the determination of what facilities qualify...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on August 14, 2020

        Yesterday, the Maine Law Court deemed unconstitutional a ballot initiative to overturn the Maine PUC’s approval of the transmission line known...

        by Gordon R. Smith on July 21, 2020

          The 100-megawatt Three Rivers Solar Project in Hancock County, Maine has obtained its combined Site Law and Natural Resources Protection...

        April 7, 2020

        On Wednesday April 8, Verrill attorney and Portland Community Chamber of Commerce president James Cohen will moderate the Portland Chamber’s...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on March 24, 2020

        The response to COVID-19 by states across the U.S. has continued to evolve rapidly. In Massachusetts, due to growing concerns over the spread of...

        by James I. Cohen on March 24, 2020

        On Tuesday March 24, 2020, both the City of Portland and the State of Maine issued comprehensive new limitations on business establishments in order...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on March 20, 2020

        Like many states, Maine is quickly imposing a wide range of measures designed to protect the public in response to the spread of the coronavirus,...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on March 12, 2020

        Last year, the Maine Legislature enacted three bills requiring amendments to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Rules in Ch. 815: Consumer...

        March 3, 2020

        The Maine PUC, in partnership with its consultant Enel X, has issued a procurement announcement for the first block of distributed generation under...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on February 27, 2020

        Last week, the Maine PUC submitted to the Maine Legislature its Report, authored by London Economics International (LEI), on the costs and benefits...

        January 27, 2020

        According to the latest interconnection queues for distributed generation projects published by Maine’s two investor-owned utilities, CMP and Emera...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on January 14, 2020

        On January 10, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit acted on the Portland Pipe Line Corporation’s (PPLC) appeal of the district...

        January 8, 2020

        The Commission to Study the Economic, Environmental and Energy Benefits of Energy Storage to the Maine Electricity Industry has issued its report to...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on January 7, 2020

        On January 6, 2020, longtime Verrill partner and energy lawyer Jim Cohen appeared at a legislative symposium hosted by the Maine Chamber of Commerce...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on December 12, 2019

        Recent legislation amending the net energy billing (NEB) rules to include a tariff rate program specifically for commercial customers and directing...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on October 22, 2019

        Transmission and distribution (T&D) utility customers have often been understood to care most about two things: reliability and cost—usually,...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on October 8, 2019

        This past Thursday, October 3, 2019, representatives of regional natural gas distribution companies, energy regulators and attorneys, and renewable...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on August 26, 2019

        This past legislative session in Maine saw a flurry of renewable energy legislation, including two laws reforming and expanding the net energy...

        July 22, 2019

        On July 12, 2019, the Maine Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a long-term contract for the purchase of power from Weaver Wind, a 72.6...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on June 3, 2019

        Supplying electricity during peak demand, the period of highest customer demand for electricity (typically around 4 – 7 p.m.), increases the costs...

        May 29, 2019

        On behalf of Verrill Dana's Energy & Utilities Practice Group, I'm pleased to inform you that Governor Mills has nominated Phil Bartlett to serve...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on May 1, 2019

        According to a Boston Consulting Group report released last week, transmission and distribution (T&D) utilities stand to gain significant value...

        by Juliet T. Browne on April 23, 2019

        Yesterday, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services Office of Marijuana Policy released a preliminary draft of the Adult Use Marijuana...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on April 10, 2019

        April 9, 2019 – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the Trump Administration's plans to propose "a series of regulatory changes later...

        by Gordon R. Smith on April 8, 2019

        After deliberating for a year and a half in Ross v. Acadian Seaplants, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously held that rockweed, a type of...

        by Hans C. Eysenbach on March 1, 2019

        Reports are circulating that Governor Mills may have selected Dan Burgess as the Director of the Governor's Energy Office. Burgess is a native of...

        February 26, 2019

        Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission approved a term sheet for a long-term contract for Three Rivers Solar Power, LLC's 100 MW solar project....

        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

        Press Releases

        97 Verrill Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2027, Including Four Named Lawyers of the Year

        AUGUSTA, Maine, BANGOR, Maine, BOSTON, Mass., PORTLAND, Maine, and WESTPORT, Conn., (August 20, 2026) – Verrill is proud to announce that 97...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        SEC’s Proposed “Reg Crypto”: What Founders Need to Know

        Startup founders and emerging-growth companies have a number of options for raising capital under the federal securities laws, including Regulation D...
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        After 45 Years, the IRS Speaks on DCAP Nondiscrimination Testing – And It’s Good News

        Employers that provide a Dependent Care Assistance Program will be pleased to learn that for the first time in 45 years, the IRS has issued guidance...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Discusses Bankruptcy Auction Strategy in Law360

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach spoke with Law360 article examining the complex bankruptcy auction process that resulted in the sale of 23 summer...
        Media Mentions

        Martha Gaythwaite Featured in Portland Press Herald Coverage of Sig Sauer Trial Victory

        Verrill attorney Martha Gaythwaite was highlighted in media coverage of a federal trial in Bangor involving firearm manufacturer Sig Sauer. As...
        Media Mentions

        Law360 Quotes Robert Keach on Senate Bill Affecting Small Business Restructurings

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was recently quoted in a Law360 article discussing federal legislation that would permanently restore the $7.5 million...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        SAFEs and Preferred Stock – Key Deal Terms Every Founder Should Know

        SAFEs Before negotiating a term sheet for preferred stock, many early-stage companies, particularly at the seed stage, first raise capital through...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Business Restructuring and Insolvency Attorney Nimra Tariq

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Nimra Tariq has joined the firm’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency Group as an...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Provides Commentary on First Brands Restructuring in Law360

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was quoted in the Law360 article, "First Brands' Ch. 11 Plan Revives Angst Over Admin Claims," discussing First Brands...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Construction Attorney Cassie Dufon

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to welcome Cassie Dufon to the firm’s Construction Group as an Associate, resident in the firm’s Portland...
        Press Releases

        Verrill’s Wide-Ranging Private Wealth Law Practice Recognized in 2026 Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide

        BANGOR and PORTLAND, Maine and BOSTON, Mass. – Verrill attorneys Kenneth P. Brier, Anya F. Endsley, Kurt E. Klebe, Mary McQuillen, Nathaniel S....
        Blog

        Update on Status of Maine Packaging EPR

        In December 2024, Verrill published a blog post, Unwrapping Maine's Gift to the Environment: A New Packaging Stewardship Program Set to Launch in...