Babst Calland’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group represents energy companies across the country on a variety of matters. Energy clients receive support from our highly focused, multidisciplinary team of energy attorneys that provides a wide range of legal services to clients engaged in the coal, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries.
Babst Calland’s energy attorneys work collaboratively with in-house counsel, executives, and outside advisors to provide timely and cost-effective legal strategy and representation. Our energy clients come to us for our decades of experience on environmental, pipeline and hazardous materials safety, construction, litigation, energy title, transactions, real estate, land use and zoning, emerging technologies, and employment and labor matters.
Babst Calland represents energy companies across the country. We understand each geographic footprint and tailor legal strategies accordingly, with a deep knowledge of state regulation and local jurisdictions. Our attorneys are key advisors on a myriad of issues related to transactions, due diligence, state and federal regulatory matters, local government challenges, lease disputes, royalty interest determinations, and title examination.
As one of the nation’s most respected energy law firms, Babst Calland is a legal and regulatory resource for renewables clients nationwide. Our renewables clients benefit from the firm’s decades of experience throughout the energy space. Our attorneys take a proactive approach, helping clients achieve their business and sustainability objectives while minimizing risk. Our experience allows us to guide your business to maximize opportunities and overcome challenges of the complex and ever-changing patchwork of federal, state, and local incentives and restrictions related to renewables.
Our energy clients are the beneficiaries of Babst Calland’s strong, seasoned, and diverse legal team with the necessary experience to provide well-planned strategy to pre-empt or react to whatever challenges lie ahead, whether the issues revolve around coal, mining, oil or natural gas production, midstream or pipeline operations, renewable project siting, petrochemical processing or petroleum refining, or best business practices applying environmental and energy law and regulations.
PAPUC Announces Increase in Act 13 Impact Fees
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Oil & Gas
(By Joseph Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Matthew Wood and Christina Puhnaty)
On January 24, 2026, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC) published notice of an increase in the Act 13 unconventional gas well impact fees for calendar year 2025. …
Pennsylvania EQB Accepts Three Oil and Gas Rulemaking Petitions for Further Study
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Oil & Gas
(By Joseph Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Matthew Wood and Christina Puhnaty)
At its December 9, 2025, meeting, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) voted to accept three oil and gas-related rulemaking petitions for further study. …
PADEP Publishes Draft Updated Erosion and Sediment Control Policy
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Oil & Gas
(By Joseph Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Matthew Wood and Christina Puhnaty)
On December 6, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) published for public comment a draft revised policy for erosion and sediment (E&S) control and stormwater management for earth disturbance associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities (Draft Guidance). …
PADEP Publishes Renewal of General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Mining Activities
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Mining
(by Joe Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Gina Buchman, and Christina Puhnaty)
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has reissued BMP GP-104, its General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Mining Activities, for a new five-year term with an effective date of March 28, 2026, and an expiration date of March 27, 2031. …
PADEP Issues Final Revised Environmental Justice Policy
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Mining
(by Joe Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Gina Buchman, and Christina Puhnaty)
On January 3, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) published its final revised Environmental Justice Policy, as well as updates to the Pennsylvania Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool (PennEnviroScreen) Methodology Documentation. …
House Bill 416 Expedites Permitting Procedures, Enhances PAPUC Oversight, and Repeals RGGI
FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter
Pennsylvania – Mining
(by Joe Reinhart, Sean McGovern, Gina Buchman, and Christina Puhnaty)
House Bill 416 was signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro on November 12, 2025. …
Legislative & Regulatory Update
The Wildcatter
(by Nik Tysiak)
Just a few cases to report this time.
Property Tax Assessment and Pipeline Valuation
The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals in Lemley v. …
Commonwealth Court: “Agrivoltaics” Does Not Render Solar Farm an Agricultural Use
Renewables Alert
(by Morgan Madden and Anna Jewart)
While agrivoltaics, the practice of combining photovoltaic electric generation with agricultural production, dates back to the early 1980s, the use thereof has gained increasing popularity over the past 10-15 years. …
Babst Calland Names Tiffany M. Arbaugh, Alexandra G. Farone and Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo Shareholders
Babst Calland recently named Tiffany M. Arbaugh, Alexandra G. Farone and Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo shareholders.
Tiffany Arbaugh practices in the Firm’s Charleston, W.Va. office and is a member of the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups. …
New EPA Webpage Compiles Clean Air Act Resources for Data Center & AI Projects
Firm Alert
(by Gary Steinbauer, Gina Buchman and Christina Puhnaty)
In response to President Trump’s Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI),” EPA announced this week a new EPA webpage dedicated to compiling agency resources related to the Clean Air Act requirements potentially applicable to the development of data centers and AI facilities across the United States. …
