Climate Law

Experienced Climate Change Lawyers in Salt Lake City, Reno, and Las Vegas

Contact: Mike Zody, (801) 536-6818, MZody@parsonsbehle.com or Michael J. Malmquist, (801) 536-6658, MMalmquist@parsonsbehle.com.

Our climate law group is recognized throughout the region for placing a particular focus on areas such as:

Energy/Carbon Sequestration

We represent energy producers and users on a wide range of legal and business issues driven directly and indirectly by climate change law and policy. For example, our lawyers are advising clients on the unique environmental, liability, permitting and subsurface property issues presented by carbon capture and carbon sequestration.

Renewable Energy

Parsons Behle & Latimer has been instrumental in shaping renewable energy tax incentive legislation and regulations in Utah, and is participating in similar initiatives in other states. We represent the developers of several wind energy projects, including the first major project in Utah, which is one of the largest in the United States. In states with Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards, we have been working with clients by drafting legislation and regulations, negotiating and drafting purchase agreements, drafting applications and compliance reports, and representing clients in compliance proceedings.

Permitting and Regulatory

Our lawyers are advising clients on the impact of recent climate change-driven court rulings, including the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts et al. v. EPA. We are helping clients address the impact of this ruling on permitting and compliance issues under the Clean Air Act, including major new source review. We are also advising clients on recent climate change issues arising under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act.

Western Climate Initiative & Carbon Trading

Parsons Behle & Latimer will be representing key industry coalitions and clients as they help shape and navigate the framework of the Western Climate Initiative. Given the initiative’s goal of a regional cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases in the near term, industry is faced with a host of important issues including the details of GHG accounting, monitoring, trading, and potentially enforcement, as well as integration with potential national or even international GHG trading.

Corporate responsibilities to shareholders

Boards are charged with the responsibility of monitoring corporate development and performance and to make decisions that are informed by available information and for businesses the risks and opportunities presented by climate change are a material factor that can't be ignored. Our firm has both the corporate and environmental law experience as well as the familiarity with the emerging state, regional and national initiatives dealing with climate change, necessary to assist your board of directors consider these risks and opportunities.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you resolve legal issues concerning climate change and how your company can avoid litigation involving the impact on the environment.