In this blog, 2L Staffer Christina Grimes examines the growing crisis of textile waste in the United States’ landfills as a result of the fast fashion industry. She highlights the serious environmental consequences of this waste, particularly from synthetic fibers commonly used in fast fashion, which can cause significant harm to the surrounding air, soil, and water. Grimes argues that Kentucky should take steps to mitigate this waste by implementing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, similar to California’s program, which shifts the responsibility from municipalities to fashion producers for textile end-of-life accountability.

In this blog, 2L staffer Mira Talwalkar looks at the newly proposed Kentucky Senate Bill 178, which would prohibit any state environmental regulations from being more stringent than federal ones. Talwalkar argues that this bill ignores Congress’s intentions to give states freedom in determining how they implement local environmental regulations, and is especially concerning in Kentucky, where environmental toxins are present at a higher level than those nationally. 

In this blog, 2L staffer Lakyn LeMaster argues that Kentucky should adopt stronger safety precautions for private well users. She explains how current regulations leave users unnecessarily exposed to serious health risks posed by common contaminants. LeMaster recommends that Kentucky follow the lead of other states by implementing affordable water testing programs and requiring routine monitoring.

In this blog, 3L senior staffer Shelby Davidson analyzes the economic boom and rise of generative AI companies which have led states to scramble for the opportunity to capitalize on the growth, creating tax incentives to encourage the construction of new data centers. Davidson highlights the environmental threats posed by data centers, including excessive electricity and water usage, which has led to different approaches to regulation. Davidson argues Kentucky should follow Virginia’s system, with a strict regulatory framework, rather than West Virginia, which has given data centers almost entirely free rein, to the detriment of its citizens.

In this blog, 3L senior staffer Reed Burrow examines how Taiwan’s dominance in chip manufacturing has placed the island at the center of a potentially major geopolitical conflict. Burrow argues that Taiwan’s “silicon shield” remains a powerful deterrent to Chinese invasion, but warns that its strength ultimately depends on the water and energy resources needed to sustain chip production.