VNF News

Van Ness Feldman Helps Secure Approval for First LNG Import Terminal on the West Coast of the U.S.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today issued an order authorizing NorthernStar Natural Gas to construct the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas import terminal on the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon. Van Ness Feldman is FERC counsel for the project and has advised NorthernStar from the initial phases of the project.

Van Ness Feldman Elevates Clean Energy Policy Professional To Firm Membership

Van Ness Feldman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Ben L. McMakin has been elected a Principal of the firm and Managing Director of Governmental Issues.

Former In-House Energy Counsel, President-Elect of Energy Bar Association Joins Van Ness Feldman

Van Ness Feldman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Richard P. Bonnifield has joined the firm’s Washington, DC office as a Member.

Ben Yamagata Testifies Before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Van Ness Feldman's Ben Yamagata will testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials on behalf of the Coal Utilization Research Council.

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish Quoted in E&E Daily Article

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in an E&E Daily article that covers the recent Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) ruling.

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish Quoted in Scientific American Article on Coal-Fied Power Plant

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in an article in the Scientific American.

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish Quoted in Point Carbon Article on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in a Point Carbon article discussing the current Administration's hesitation to include greenhouse gas regulations in the Clean Air Act.

Ben Yamagata Interviewed on the Inclusion of CCS in Future Climate Change Legislation

Van Ness Feldman's Ben Yamagata was featured in an OnPoint interview on E&E TV. Mr. Yamagata, director of the Coal Utilization Research Council, discusses ways in which he thinks DOE should continue to pursue the FutureGen project and how carbon capture and sequestration projects should be included future climate change legislation.

Van Ness Feldman Receives Top Rankings from Chambers USA 2008

The well-respected Chambers USA Guide to the Legal Profession gave Van Ness Feldman’s Climate Change practice its highest ranking, along with continued high praise for five other practice areas including: Renewable & Alternative Energy, Electricity, Oil & Gas, and Environment. Chambers also recognized 11 Van Ness Feldman lawyers as leaders in their fields.

Van Ness Feldman’s Energy Litigation Capabilities Win Praise from Legal 500

Calling the firm “exceptionally capable on the litigation front,” Legal 500 USA praised Van Ness Feldman’s energy litigation expertise. The publication cited the firm’s capabilities in complex proceedings and commitment to clients’ needs.

VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in Argus Air Daily Article on the Greenhouse Gas Bill

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in an article in Argus Air Daily on the subject of climate change legislation stating, "The debate on climate change is not a partisan issue as much as it is a regional issue."

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish Quoted in Article on the Markey Bill

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish was quoted in a Carbon Finance article on the introduction of a bill to the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Edward Markey.

LOBBYING: K Street Getting Hot for Climate Change

It used to be that environmental lobbying followed a predictable pattern: polluters versus clean air and water advocates. Climate change, though, is creating a new type of lobbyist -- like Tom Roberts, who advocates for companies that profit from things like placing methane digesters over animal waste.

VNF's Bob Szabo Quoted in EnergyBiz Insider's Article on Railroad Antitrust Laws

Van Ness Feldman's Bob Szabo, Executive Director of Consumers United for Rail Equity, is quoted and provides insight in an article discussing the fight of interest groups against railroad companies' exemption from the federal government's antitrust laws.

Van Ness Feldman Continues to Strengthen its Energy Policy, Climate Change, and Cleantech Practices with Addition of Two Senior Congressional Policy Advisors

Van Ness Feldman, P.C. has further bolstered its capabilities in the energy and cleantech policy arenas with the arrival of Tracy Nagelbush and Todd Wooten as Senior Directors in the firm’s Government Policy practice. Ms. Nagelbush and Mr. Wooten previously served as senior aides to members of Congress who are leaders in federal energy, energy tax, and climate change policymaking.

Michael McBride Offers Testimony to Surface Transportation Board on Railroad "Common Carrier" Obligation

McBride presented the views of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association for the investor-owned electric utility industry, with respect to rail transportation of coal and other materials for electric power generators.

VNF’s Bob Szabo Quoted in Washington Post Article on Rail Industry

As Executive Director of Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), an umbrella organization whose members include large trade associations that represent more than 3,500 electric, utility, chemical, manufacturing and forest and paper companies and their customers, Van Ness Feldman's Bob Szabo comments on the recent growth of the railroad industry stating, "It's a byzantine system, and it's rigged against the shippers."

VNF's Malcolm McLellan quoted in The News Tribune

Van Ness Feldman's Malcolm McLellan, who serves on the Board of the United Service Organizations (USO) of Puget Sound, is quoted on George Cargill's service to the USO. Mr. Cargill, Chairman of the Board, was awarded the Milgard School of Business Leadership Award.

VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in ClimateWire Article on Key Provision in Climate Bill

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in a ClimateWire article on the new provision to the Lieberman-Warner climate bill which would establish a Carbon Market Efficiency Board. Questioning the level of transparency that would be expected of the board as well as its place among existing judicial review and legislation Mr. Danish states, "These types of boards sit in a very funny spot in our legal system."

Van Ness Feldman Bolsters Transportation, Litigation, Nuclear Practice Capabilities with Arrival of Michael McBride

Van Ness Feldman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Michael McBride has joined the firm as a member. McBride, 56, has significant experience representing rail shippers in contract negotiations as well as in regulatory and litigation matters before the Surface Transportation Board (STB). He is also experienced with nuclear waste transportation and disposal issues, traditional and nuclear energy project licensing, and related regulatory proceedings. He also has represented numerous clients successfully in complex energy and environmental litigation.

Van Ness Feldman Elects Two New Members in Natural Gas, Hydropower Practice Areas

Van Ness Feldman is pleased to announce that Robert F. Christin and Charles R. Sensiba have become Members of the firm, effective January 1, 2008.

VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in Bloomberg Article on Coal Mine Methane

Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish is quoted in a Bloomberg article that discusses the joint venture announced by the U.S. Department of Energy between U.S. and Chinese companies to recycle coal mine methane and use it for electricity. Mr. Danish states, "It suggests some willingness on the part of the Bush administration to use carbon finance as a means of developing a major emissions-reducing project.''

VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in Bloomberg on US Carbon Offsets Policy

In an article discussing US utility companies' quest to gain access to international emissions credits, Van Ness Feldman member Kyle Danish is quoted.

Van Ness Feldman Again Ranked as a Top Emissions Trading Law Firm

For the second year in a row, Environmental Finance has recognized Van Ness Feldman, P.C. as one of the world’s top law firms for emissions trading.

VNF's Tom Roberts Quoted in the Dallas Business Journal

Van Ness Feldman partner Tom Roberts is quoted in this article, which reports on the impact of airline fuel costs if Congress approves legislation designed to regulate emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

VNF's Curt Rich Provides Insight on Ethanol as an Energy Resource

Once heralded as the lynchpin to America’s energy independence, ethanol is increasingly under attack as a flawed energy resource. The livestock and food industries criticize ethanol for the impact it has on the price of corn. Environmentalists point out that corn ethanol takes almost as much energy to make as it produces. Communities in more arid regions of the country worry about corn ethanol’s high demand for water.

VNF's Tom Roberts Quoted in Petroleum News

There was a time not too long ago when the forces that guided what passed for a U.S. energy policy in the corridors of Washington, D.C., could be summed up as a three-statement mantra: maximize supply, keep it cheap and keep the government out of the production and consumption of energy, energy consultant Thomas Roberts of Van Ness Feldman told the Law Seminars International Energy In Alaska conference in Anchorage on Nov. 12.

VNF Clients Announce Plans to Produce 100 Million Gallons of Biodiesel

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Senator Max Baucus, and Senator Jon Tester held a press conference in Helena, Montana today announcing the creation of Sustainable Oils, Inc. Sustainable Oils, Inc. is a joint venture between Green Earth Fuels, a Texas based biodiesel producer, and Targeted Growth, a Seattle-based biotech company, formed to promote the large scale production of Camelina. Camelina is an oilseed requiring low input and producing high yields of oil. It is the ideal feed stock for biodiesel. Sustainable Oils, Inc. will produce and market up to 100 million gallons of Camelina-based biodiesel by 2010.

VNF's Curt Rich and Ben McMakin Offer Insights on Clean Tech and Federal Policy

Curt Rich and Ben McMakin offer insight on why local leaders, companies with promising technologies, and venture capital and financial sectors must engage in both Washingtons if they want the promising clean-tech sector to thrive.

Van Ness Feldman Climate Change Practice Ranked in Chambers 2008

Chambers Global ranked Van Ness Feldman as a top law firm of climate change and emissions trading in its 2008 rankings.

VNF's Kyle Danish is Quoted in Environmental Finance Article on Cap-and-Trade Bill

Van Ness Feldman partner Kyle Danish is quoted in an article that discusses various positions on the cap-and-trade program and allowance allocations in the Lieberman-Warner bill.

VNF's Kyle Danish Offers Comments on Global Carbon Trading in this Carbon Finance Article

VNF's Curt Rich Offers Insight on Biofuels

"It's easy to get excited about this, but this isn't an industry. It doesn't exist, it's aspirational,” said Curt Rich, an attorney with energy law firm Van Ness Feldman in Washington. "All we have is a lot of smart people at the starting line. We're all at the beginning of a new industry.”

Bob Szabo Testifies Before Congress on the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act

Bob Szabo testified before the the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and and Consumer Rights, on the recent examination of the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act.

Van Ness Feldman Helps American Electric Power (AEP) Develop Green Building Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative

Van Ness Feldman Structures Commitment to Offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Clinton Global Initiative 2007 Annual Meeting

Van Ness Feldman Assists Eight Electric Utilities to Structure Major Energy Efficiency Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative

VNF's Bob Szabo Quoted in USA Today on Rail Monopoly Issues

As Executive Director of Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), an umbrella organization whose members include large trade associations that represent more than 3,500 electric, utility, chemical, manufacturing and forest and paper companies and their customers, Szabo comments on the Senate Judiciary Committee's recent passage of a bill to apply certain competition laws to railroads.

VNF's Kyle Danish Offers Perspective on Climate Change Risk Disclosure to Washington Post

A member of the firm's Global Climate Change practice, Kyle Danish, was quoted in a recent article in the Washington Post entitled "SEC Pressed to Require Climate-Risk Disclosures."

Seven Van Ness Feldman Attorneys Named Best Lawyers, in 2007

The Best Lawyers in America® has named seven Van Ness Feldman lawyers as leading practitioners in its 2008 rankings. The Best Lawyers publication ranks attorneys based on objective nominations from their peers.

Van Ness Feldman Augments Active Environmental Practice with Addition of New Associate in Seattle

Van Ness Feldman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Tyson Kade has joined the law firm’s Seattle, WA office as an associate. Mr. Kade brings particular expertise to the firm’s robust and growing Environmental and Natural Resources practices to assist clients impacted by the Endangered Species Act, climate change, electronic and hazardous waste regulations, fisheries management, and FERC relicensing issues.

Nine Van Ness Feldman Lawyers Ranked in Chambers USA 2007