These are some of the stories we’ve been following this week.
- The Keystone XL pipeline developer is dropping its eminent domain claims in court and is instead reapplying for state approval of its route through the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
Truck hauling 36-inch pipe to build Keystone-Cushing Pipeline, courtesy of Steve Meirowsky.
- A construction defects law is causing a shortened supply of new condos and townhouses in Minnesota because new attached housing projects are not being built for fear of litigation.
- The American Bankers Association (ABA) hosted a meeting to address the impending shortage of rural property appraisers. Key members of the banking industry, federal government, appraisal industry, and others met to discuss how the appraiser shortage might affect their institutions.
- Agricultural property in Australia is often valued differently by a property’s neighbors and potential buyers who do not live next door. Neighboring landholders can often capitalize on economies of scale when purchasing adjoining land parcels.
- Duke Energy has settled a coal ash pollution lawsuit with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality with a $7 million fine. The power company must also pay between $10 million and $15 million for cleanup work around the 14 coal ash ponds.
- Alabama Power expects to eventually close all of its coal ash ponds. New regulations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2014 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule led to the decision.
- Georgia Power is also working to close all 29 of its coal ash ponds due to the CCR rule and other EPA regulations. The company is working on a timeline for the process. Natural gas and renewable energy has helped Georgia Power lower coal ash production by more than 50%.
- Abandoned South Bronx train tracks could soon become a park. Much like the recently completed High Line rails-to-trails park, the South Bronx tracks could become green space with possible homes adjacent to the park.
- Citing high costs, disappointing results, and an uncertain regulatory environment, Shell has decided to stop its exploratory drilling in the Arctic. The abandoned $7 billion project made headlines with protests, but Shell saw the area as a potential boon for oil and gas.
- A new study in Kokomo, Indiana revealed that commercial and industrial properties are under-assessed, causing issues with collection of property taxes.
Recent Comments