Energy Law and Electricity Regulation

After years of scepticism, we are now seeing the most significant global rethink of nuclear power in a generation.

California has enacted seven unprecedented bills targeting data center development, imposing sweeping new requirements for energy reporting, water consumption assessments, labor standards, and electricity rate structures. These laws fundamentally reshape the regulatory landscape for data centers, requiring detailed disclosures at multiple project stages while prohibiting categorical CEQA exemptions and establishing new interconnection rules that shift infrastructure costs directly to developers.

September 21, 2026, the Washington Court of Appeals in Columbia Riverkeeper v. Pollution Control Hearings Board, (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 21, 2026), largely upheld a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certification for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project, a proposed 1,200-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric facility, but set aside the certification on one issue.

After years of scepticism, we are now seeing the most significant global rethink of nuclear power in a generation.

Texas has become a major hub for hyperscale data center development, driven by abundant energy resources and a business-friendly environment. However, rapid growth is creating significant challenges around power availability, transmission infrastructure, water resources, and regulatory oversight. This program examines the legal, regulatory, and commercial developments shaping data center projects across Texas, providing practical insights for developers, investors, operators, and stakeholders navigating

On September 18, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger issued Executive Order 22: Establishing New Nation-Leading Standards and Initiatives to Implement the Virginia Data Center Accountability...

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed seven comprehensive data center bills that fundamentally reshape how these facilities are regulated in the state, imposing unprecedented transparency requirements and regulatory controls over electricity use, water consumption, and land-use impacts. The legislation eliminates CEQA exemptions, establishes new utility tariffs to prevent cost-shifting to ratepayers...

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state environmental regulators to halt all data center permits while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas completes a comprehensive audit of grid interconnection requests. This regulatory freeze represents an escalating response to the rapid expansion of data center development across rural Texas and its impact on local communities during a politically sensitive midterm election cycle.

California has enacted the nation's most comprehensive data center legislation, fundamentally reshaping how electricity costs, grid upgrades, and energy reporting obligations are allocated. The new laws require data centers to bear full transmission upgrade costs, comply with clean energy procurement mandates, and submit detailed operational disclosures to state regulators.

The US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing has unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, marking a significant shift in federal energy financing priorities. With over $300 billion in combined loan authority across four programs, EDF aims to deploy hundreds of billions in new financing commitments while maintaining rigorous underwriting standards.

Venezuela's post-Maduro reopening is creating unprecedented opportunities for foreign investors across energy, mining, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors. With expanding OFAC sanctions relief, landmark legislative reforms, and major US companies nearing multibillion-dollar deals, the country presents investment prospects not seen in a generation—though success requires disciplined navigation of corruption, security, and regulatory risks.

Three bipartisan bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives aim to revolutionize domestic recovery and recycling of critical minerals from waste streams, particularly lithium-ion batteries. The legislation addresses regulatory barriers under RCRA that currently complicate battery recycling operations and establishes new federal programs to coordinate critical mineral recovery efforts. Will these measures successfully position America to compete in the global race for critical mineral independence?