Solving The Interconnection Problem,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Solving The Interconnection Problem, Ralph A. Cantafio, Miles C. Nowak
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The distinct three energy grids as such exist in the United States (the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas Interconnection or ERCOT) unnecessarily constrain the United States in addressing its future energy needs, as electricity flow between the three grids is very limited. As our country’s reliance on traditional nonrenewable energy sources like coal continue to decline and the reliance on renewable energy sources continues to grow, the United States should focus on replacing the existing three-grid system with a national energy grid that will benefit energy companies and consumers, as well as serve our future energy needs. …
Alabama,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Alabama, Brandt Hill, Ted Holt
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Between October 2019 and September 2020, there were no noteworthy appellate decisions interpreting Alabama law directly relevant to oil and gas companies or operations. Similarly, there are no statutory amendments or administrative decisions impacting oil and gas companies operating in the state. However, the Alabama Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals each issued an opinion addressing jurisdiction and procedural issues that are relevant to operators in Alabama. We discuss those opinions below.
Arkansas,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Arkansas, John Peiserich
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Does the government have the authority to alter the terms of an agreement between private parties that it deems unfair? At first pass, most Americans would agree that it does not. Of course, exceptions apply. American courts exercise the right to break up monopolies, enforce a minimum wage, and invalidate contracts that they deem unconscionable.
Michigan Oil And Gas Update,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Michigan Oil And Gas Update, William A. Horn, Joshua D. Beard
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
On March 23, 2020, the Michigan Court of Claims issued its opinion in Mannes v. Michigan Dep’t of Treasury. This case considered the meaning of the phrase “expenses of producing oil and gas” as such expenses relate to “taxable income” under the Michigan Income Tax Act of 1967.
Ohio,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Ohio, Gregory W. Watts, Matthew W. Onest
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Ohio courts continue applying the Ohio Marketable Title Act to severed oil and gas rights.1 As with many statutes, there are generally two questions that must be answered: (1) does the particular statute apply to the particular facts of the case and (2) if the statute applies in the first instance, how does a court apply the statute to the particular facts of the case? Both questions about Ohio’s Marketable Title Act and severed mineral interests were further examined and explored in 2020.
Oklahoma,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Oklahoma, Mark D. Christiansen
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The case of White Star Petroleum, LLC v. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. presented two questions of state law certified to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma: (1) Are the “trust funds” create[d] by Title 42 O.S. § 144.2, entitled “Creation and Appropriation of Trust Funds for Payment of Lienable Claims,” limited to obligations due nonoperator joint working interest owners, or do such funds include payments due [to] holders of mechanic’s and materialmen’s liens arising under and perfected by Title 42 O.S. § 144? (2) Does the Oil and Gas Owners’ …
Virginia,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Virginia, Daniel B. Kostrub
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
This Article addresses developments in Virginia oil and gas law for the period from September 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020. During this period, the Supreme Court of the United States heard the Atlantic Coast Pipeline case, providing a significant ruling that allowed the pipeline to cross underneath the Appalachian trail. Additionally, Judge Chadwick S. Dotson of the Circuit Court of Wise County and the City of Norton issued an opinion regarding the mining of uranium in the Commonwealth.
Oklahoma Renewable Energy Policy Encounters A Covid Roadblock: 2019-2020,
2021
University of Tulsa College of Law
Oklahoma Renewable Energy Policy Encounters A Covid Roadblock: 2019-2020, Warigia M. Bowman, Debbie Firestone
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
On the road to energy security, independence, and success, this past year Oklahoma has seen “construction” projects in the works. Renewable energy, however, hit a major roadblock in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, Oklahoma produced most of its electricity through coal and natural gas. In the past decade, renewable sources like wind and solar energy represent a growing segment of electricity generation in the state. In 2019 and 2020, Oklahoma developed a stronger renewable energy policy by enacting legislation, passing administrative decisions, and passing local city ordinances.
Lousiana,
2021
Louisiana State University Law Center
Lousiana, Keith B. Hall
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Act No. 227 of the 2020 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature amends Louisiana Mineral Code article 212.21 (also known as Louisiana Revised Statutes 31:212.21). In particular, Act No. 227 amends article 212.21 to clarify that the article does not apply to claims brought by unleased owners—that is, landowners2 or mineral servitude3 owners whose mineral interests are not under lease.
Wyoming,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Wyoming, Jeffrey S. Pope, Deanna Sami Falzone
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
In 2019, Wyoming ranked eighth nationally in both crude oil and natural gas production. Sales of crude oil production totaled 101.8 million barrels, up 16% from 2018, while natural gas production totaled 1.456 trillion cubic feet, which was down 8.52% from 2018.1 However, as of August 1, 2020, Wyoming had zero oil and natural rigs in operation for the first time since 1884.
Don't Mess With Texas Solar: Pv Growth Continues Despite Covid-19,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Don't Mess With Texas Solar: Pv Growth Continues Despite Covid-19, Matthew A. Arth
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
2020 was the year of the unexpected, but one constant in the energy industry remained the exponential growth of solar generation in Texas, which largely continued its expansion as predicted. Electric Reliability Council of Texas’s (“ERCOT”) 2019 State of the Grid Report noted that installed solar generation capacity in ERCOT stood at 2,281 megawatts (MW) at year-end 2019, with over 67,000 MW of further solar capacity under study, exceeding even the amount of wind generation capacity under study. By July 2020, installed capacity of solar generation increased by almost 1 gigawatt (GW) to a total of 3,275 MW, representing approximately …
New Mexico,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
New Mexico, Sharon T. Shaheen
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The New Mexico appellate courts issued no opinions relating to oil and gas in the past year.
Montana,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Montana, Stephen R. Brown
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
In 2019, Montana produced nearly twenty-three million barrels of crude oil, up slightly from its 2018 production, and 48.5 million cubic feet of natural gas. Through mid-2020, both crude oil and natural gas production declined by more than 25% when compared to the same period in 2012.
Alaska,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Alaska, George R. Lyle, Adam D. Harki, Traci N. Bunkers
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The Alaska State Legislature was scheduled to convene its Second Regular Session of the Thirty-First Legislative Session from January 21, 2020, through May 20, 2020. However, on March 29, 2020, the Alaska State Legislature, like other state legislatures, suspended its session effective immediately, in response to the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”). While the suspension was initially continued through May 18, 2020, the Alaska Legislature formally adjourned on May 20, 2020. Given the adjournment, the legislature did not pass any substantive oil and gas legislation.
Pennsylvania,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Pennsylvania, Michael K. Reer, Valerie Antonette
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Pennsylvania ranked second among states in production of natural gas in 2018, contributing nearly seven trillion cubic feet. Although the number of unconventional permit applications received by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) remains relatively robust, the number of unconventional well applications continues to decline from the peak of 3,182 received in 2014.3 In 2019, PADEP received 1,475 unconventional permit applications, as compared to 1,868 in 2018 and 2,028 in 2017.
California Community Choice Aggregation Law & Regulation,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
California Community Choice Aggregation Law & Regulation, Ryan M. F. Baron, Glen Price, Benjamin Bodell
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The purpose of this special topic is to provide a summary of the laws and regulations associated with the development of Community Choice Aggregation (“CCA”) in California and the growing impact of CCA in the California energy market.
Federal Legal And Regulatory Developments Relating To The U.S. Pipeline Industry,
2021
Penn State Law
Federal Legal And Regulatory Developments Relating To The U.S. Pipeline Industry, Chloe J. Marie, Ross Pifer
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (“ACP”) was designed as a 600-mile underground, pipeline project transporting natural gas from well sites in West Virginia to end users throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC (“Atlantic Coast”), the developer of the ACP project, began the extensive process of obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for this project by initiating a pre-filing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) in October 2014. In the nearly six years that followed, the project received various permits related to water and air quality as well as other matters from state and federal agencies. At nearly …
The Minnesota Taconite Production Tax: An Alternative Index,
2021
Michigan State University
The Minnesota Taconite Production Tax: An Alternative Index, Peter Kakela, Howard Haas, Dena Draskovich
Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law
No abstract provided.
Southern Ute: Trial Court To Supreme Court,
2021
University of Kentucky
Southern Ute: Trial Court To Supreme Court, Elizabeth A. Mcclanahan, Jill M. Harrison
Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law
No abstract provided.
Lost In Space: An Exploration Of The Current Gaps In Space Law,
2021
Seattle University School of Law
Lost In Space: An Exploration Of The Current Gaps In Space Law, Katherine Latimer Martinez
Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law
Since the 1960’s the international community has made huge advancements in technology and space exploration. However, since that time, the legal and regulatory system governing such advances and exploration has not matched the course. The body of law governing outer space exploration and resources has failed to keep up with advances in the industry. Individual countries, originally thought to not have spacefaring capabilities, are now major contributors to the future of space exploration, each with its own regulatory system. Furthermore, over time there has been an increase in the presence and influence of private companies over the research and development …
