Three More Attorneys General Selected to Boost Legal Work on Energy, Environment & Climate

Washington, D.C.—The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law today announced that three additional attorney general offices will be hiring special assistant attorneys general to work on clean energy, climate and environmental matters of national and regional importance.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring were chosen after submitting applications this fall. They will soon hire the fellows, who will bring five to ten years of experience in environmental and energy matters to the positions. The Pennsylvania, Oregon and Virginia offices join seven other attorney general offices, which were announced in October, in participating in the fellowship program: Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Washington and Washington, D.C. A total of 14 fellows are being placed in these ten offices.

“Attorneys General Shapiro, Rosenblum and Herring are dedicated to advancing progressive clean energy, environmental and climate laws and policies,” said David J. Hayes, executive director of the State Impact Center. “As we’ve seen throughout 2017, no group of leaders has been more effective than state attorneys general. In fact, they have filed an average of two lawsuits a month and taken more than 60 actions since January on these issues alone. The State Impact Center’s fellowship program will help attorneys general build on their robust efforts to protect their states from a range of unprecedented federal government threats.”

“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, which is why protecting Pennsylvania’s environment is a top priority of my office,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “In our first year, I appointed Pennsylvania’s first ever Chief Deputy Attorney General for Environmental Protection. My Office has successfully blocked harmful national efforts to roll back ozone protections and fought for tougher emission standards for automobiles and enforcement of limits on greenhouse gases. We are delighted to hire a special assistant attorney general through NYU School of Law to work with our Chief Deputy Attorney General for Environmental Protection to take on and prosecute cases against anyone who breaks the law and harms Pennsylvanians and our environment.”

“By adding one additional lawyer to work on environmental litigation and policy, we are able to further grow our environmental and natural resources work at the Oregon Department of Justice,” said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. “There is no greater challenge we face right now than protecting our environment in Oregon and ensuring that we have a healthy planet for future generations. I’m excited that we can partner with NYU, and build our capacity around such important work.”

“Climate change is a real and urgent threat to the health, safety, and economy of Virginia communities from the coast to the mountains, and everywhere in between,” said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. “The work the State Impact Center is doing to protect our environment and promote clean energy is so important, and I’m glad Virginia is participating in its fellowship program. I look forward to the opportunities this partnership will provide to address climate change and protect our environment for future generations.”

Attorney general offices have begun accepting applications. Interested candidates can contact [email protected] and indicate the state for which he or she is applying to receive additional information about the application process.

Hayes, former deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the Department of the Interior for Presidents Clinton and Obama, was named executive director and a member of the State Impact Center’s Advisory Board in August.

In addition to Hayes, the State Impact Center’s Advisory Board includes: Richard Revesz, Lawrence King Professor of Law and dean emeritus at NYU Law (chair); Daniel Firger at Bloomberg Philanthropies; Anne Milgram, former attorney general for New Jersey and now professor of practice and distinguished scholar in residence at NYU Law; and Bruce Babbitt, former attorney general and governor of Arizona and secretary of the Interior during the Clinton Administration.

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About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center:
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan academic center at NYU School of Law. The Center is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles. The Center studies and supports the work of state attorneys general (AGs) in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy.