Sam, a partner in Sidley Austin's Environmental practice, has 33 years of experience in environmental law, handling complex litigation and providing strategic counseling. Sam defends government investigations and enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act (Title I and II), Clean Water Act, CERCLA and RCRA, and advises clients on regulatory matters, assisting with comments on agency proposals and challenges to agency actions.
The Biden administration’s move toward expanding the “social cost of carbon” measurement to better account for broad climate change impacts has industry groups and corporate attorneys worried it could slow or halt some big energy projects—though it might also boost renewable sources.
A higher carbon cost figure could force project planners to find new emissions-cutting strategies to avoid a “no-build alternative".