Environmental Law & Justice Clinic

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News

California PUC Orders Utilities to Prioritize Clean Energy over Fossil Fuels

On behalf of Pacific Environment, the Clinic obtained a favorable decision from the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that strengthens clean energy policy in California. The decision clarifies that the utility companies should always consider conservation and renewables before fossil-fuel facilities in supplying electricity to consumers. Student clinicians participated in every aspect of this proceeding, including drafting the briefs and appearing at hearings. "This decision prevents the utilities from undermining California's development of renewable energy. Now California can more effectively move toward reducing its reliance on fossil fuels," said Patrick Sullivan, one of the law students who worked on the case. "This common sense approach should go a long way in helping California meet its clean energy goals," said Aaron Gaspard, another student on the team. Access the decision.

ELJC Sues to Reduce Pollution from Kraft Pulp Mills

The clinic is representing Greenpeace and Port Townsend Airwatchers, which are working with Center for Biological Diversity on the lawsuit. See the press release.

ELJC's 2011 Fall Report

Read about the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic's national and local work in its Fall 2011 Report.

Clinic Helps States Fight Climate Change

States seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks, including the State of California, recently defeated a legal challenge by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Automobile Dealers Association in the D.C. Circuit court. The Clinic represented prominent climate scientists who were amici curiae (friends of the court), providing their opinion on the imminent dangers of climate change. As a result of this victory, states will be able to continue with their steps to reduce greenhouse gases from transportation sources, which account for nearly 30% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Southeast San Francisco Power Plant Closes

This February, the Potrero power plant (the last of San Francisco's fossil-fuel plants) was officially shut down. The facility's closure represents a victory for the Clinic and numerous local community advocates. Potrero's main generating unit was constructed in the 1960s and produced large environmental impacts compared to modern power generating technologies. Over several decades, ELJC assisted groups such as the Morgan Heights Homeowner's Association, the Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice, Communities for a Better Environment, and Bayview-Hunters Point Community Advocates in monitoring the facility's compliance with regulations, in preventing expansion efforts, and in demanding an end to air and water pollution created by the plant. Numerous Clinic students participated in this effort.

Victory at the California PUC

The Clinic scored another victory for communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution. ELJC's participation before the California Public Utilities Commission led to the denial of PG&E's request to build a large natural gas-fired power plant in Antioch, CA (the Pittsburg-Antioch area is already home to 14 fossil-fueled power plants). GGU students' exceptional legal research and writing enabled the Clinic to argue successfully on behalf of our client, Pacific Environment. Students prepared written testimony and legal briefs. The Clinic argued that the plant was unnecessary and inconsistent with California's energy policy and renewable energy goals.

ELJC Wins Appeal on Behalf of Hinkley, CA Residents

The Clinic successfully defended its 2008 lower court victory overturning San Bernardino County's approval of an open-air sewage sludge compost facility in Hinkley, a rural Southern California town, with a sizeable Latino community. The County is now required take a hard look at whether a human waste composting facility should use today's technology and enclose the operation. Our clients said: "No one would help or listen until the legal teams at the Golden Gate University Environmental Law and Justice Clinic and the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment came to the aid of our community." ELJC Graduate Fellow, Lucas Williams, argued the appeal. Lucas is a former ELJC student.

Ongoing...

Working for Renewable Energy in California

California law requires that 20 percent of the state's generated electricity come from renewable energy resources by 2010. Energy providers covered by the law have failed to achieve this important goal. The Clinic, on behalf of Pacific Environment, is participating in California Public Utilities Commission proceedings to ensure that renewable energy resources are integrated into the power grid in a timely manner and that innovative, low-polluting technologies are used for back-up capability.

ELJC Supports Bay Area Coalition to Reduce Air Pollution

The Clinic has been an active member of the Bay Area Environmental Health Collaborative (BAEHC) since 2005. BAEHC is a partnership of six environmental health coalitions (including numerous grassroots community groups) whose goal is to reduce cumulative air pollution in San Francisco Bay area communities. BAEHC advocates for stronger air pollution controls and increased community participation in environmental decision-making processes. The Clinic assists BAEHC with environmental science and policy analysis and houses its staff. Visit the BAEHC web site.

Fighting Climate Change

ELJC works to prevent global climate change, which is causing significant environmental harm and injustice in the US and around the world. For example, as noted above, we represented several respected climate scientists who provided expert testimony in a key federal climate change case (See our amicus brief). The Clinic also submitted a comment letter on behalf of several Bay Area clients which calls on the US EPA to look more closely at environmental justice impacts when it regulates greenhouse gases. The letter advocates against trading greenhouse gases. Read ELJC's greenhouse gas letter.