law

The US Energy Department has authorised a firm in Florida to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG). The license allows American LNG Marketing LLC (American LNG) to export to countries which do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Federal law generally requires approval of natural gas exports to countries which have an FTA […]

A man has been fined after pleading guilty to running an illegal waste site in County Durham. Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, James Ian Campbell, 56, was charged with breaking environmental permit regulations. He was fined £550, ordered to pay costs of £800 and a victim surcharge of £55 at Darlington Magistrates Court last […]

EU countries will be required to cut the use of plastic bags under new rules voted by Parliament on Tuesday. The rules allow EU member states to choose between two options: – They can either reduce average annual bag usage to 90 lightweight bags per citizen by the end of 2019 and to 40 by the […]

The UK Government’s radical reforms to attract investment in low carbon energy have been passed into law. That means its delivery partners for the electricity market  – the National Grid, the Low Carbon Contracts Company and the Electricity Settlements Company – have got the powers to implement the reforms, which includes the Capacity Market and […]

Ireland could face a daily penalty of €25,447.50 (£20,909) a day for failing to enact EU legislation on renewable energy. The European Commission said it is referring Ireland to the Court of Justice “for failing to fully transpose the Renewable Energy Directive”, which requires EU member states to generate 20% of energy from renewable sources […]

The UK Energy Bill has become law after being given the seal of approval by the Queen today. It received the Royal Assent in the House of Lords this morning, ending a three-year process that began with a consultation on proposed changes. The Royal Assent is when the Queen formally agrees to make the bill […]

A 2011 law banning fracking in France has been upheld by the country’s constitutional court. Judges ruled the law is a valid means of protecting the environment, saying it does “comply with the constitution” and is not “disproportionate”. The case was brought before the court by US company Schuepbach Energy, which had two exploration permits […]

Chancellor George Osborne has closed a tax loophole that allowed energy companies to avoid paying up to £900 million in tax. The Treasury has introduced new legislation that will prevent gas and electricity distribution firms in particular from making new claims for costs dating back decades that have already been paid by their business customers. […]