A Guide for Utilities
Steven Burns is a partner in Balch & Bingham’s Environmental & Natural Resources Practice, advising clients on complex issues related to coal ash, waste management, environmental compliance, and natural resource regulations. With extensive experience under major statutes like RCRA, CERCLA, and the Clean Water Act, Steven provides utilities and energy companies with strategic guidance to navigate regulatory challenges and mitigate risks.
Kenadi Mitchell is an attorney in Balch & Bingham’s Environmental & Natural Resources Practice, advising clients on a wide array of environmental regulatory concerns and compliance challenges. Her practice centers on representing industrial entities, utility companies, and other business interests in environmental issues with an emphasis on federal and state regulations.
The transition to sustainable energy in the United States is reshaping how we create, store, and use energy — especially electricity — and the landscape is changing rapidly. This shift introduces new waste management challenges for utilities that require proactive planning, strategic solutions, and a thorough understanding of regulations to ensure compliance and avoid costly missteps.
As fossil-fired generation units retire and energy demand grows steadily, utilities are turning to renewable sources like wind and solar at an unprecedented scale. The pace of change may vary in response to government policies, market conditions, and consumer preferences, but we expect the overall trend to continue.
Swapping some of our traditional electric generation for new sources will drive changes on many fronts. This article highlights some of the challenges for solid waste management as regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Decommissioning Old-School Power Plants
Dismantling large, coal-fired power plants is no simple task, and it can generate a large volume of solid and hazardous waste. Here are some considerations to minimize cost and stay in compliance: