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In a potentially significant development that may impact the economics of aviation, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) is proposing a policy, as we previewed in January 2024, to update the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) program, whereby CARB would eliminate the existing exemption for intrastate fossil jet fuel from LCFS regulations beginning in 2028.

In a significant legal maneuver with potentially far-reaching implications, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed an amended complaint on June 10, 2024, to California’s high-profile lawsuit targeting five of the world’s largest oil companies: BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell, as well as the American Petroleum Institute (“API”).

On May 31, 2024, the Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service continued to churn out Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”)¹ guidance by releasing Notice 2024-49 (the “Notice”) regarding the clean fuel production tax credit (the “45Z Credit”)² available under new section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

In part one of an explainer series about international deep-sea mining regulation, Louise Woods and Elena Guillet share advice for setting up sponsorship agreements between contractors and sponsoring states.

In part two of our series about international deep-sea mining regulation, Louise Woods and Elena Guillet explain what miners need to know about dispute resolution under the different regimes involved in exploration agreements.

Due to the increased demand for critical minerals globally, Nabil Khodadad and Nonku Zondo explore how the African mining sector can benefit from and lead the energy transition.

On May 29, 2024, the Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”) issued proposed regulations (REG-119283-23) (the “proposed regulations”) regarding the clean electricity production tax credit and the clean electricity investment tax credit provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”)¹ and available under new sections 45Y and 48E, respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

On May 1, 2024, the Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) published the final version of Phase 2 of its National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) rulemaking (“Phase 2 Rule”).

‘Energy security and net zero are two sides of the same coin.’ This is the opening line of the UK government’s ‘Net Zero Growth Plan’, published in March 2023, and leaves no doubt as to the government’s perception of the interplay between energy security and energy transition.

Vinson & Elkins was delighted to host its First Annual Energy Transition and Inflation Reduction Act Conference.

Vinson & Elkins Chair Keith Fullenweider joined Wharton Business Daily to talk about financing trends in the energy transition, how policymakers influence investments in clean energy, and the impact of artificial intelligence.