United States: Energy and Natural Resources

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democratic lawmakers are already laying groundwork for intensified congressional investigations into energy and environmental policy decisions made during the Trump Administration.

Last week, a rural Texas county enacted a one-year moratorium on data center construction, potentially imperiling as many as eight planned projects in the county.

Contract disputes in the oilfield services sector are intensifying as compressed margins and operator leverage create more frequent conflicts. With Texas's Business Court now handling commercial disputes as low as $5 million, understanding breach of contract claims—what must be proven, available defenses, and recoverable damages—has become essential business knowledge for OFS executives managing customer relationships and protecting receivables.

Minimal progress has been achieved towards a permanent settlement of conflict between the DRC and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23. Fighting in the eastern Congo persists, and both sides continue to accuse...

Federal agencies are deploying equity and equity-linked capital instruments across the critical minerals sector, fundamentally reshaping how mining and processing projects are capitalized, governed and exited. This structural shift introduces new considerations for sponsors and strategic investors navigating transactions where national security priorities intersect with private capital formation.

President Trump has invoked Defense Production Act authorities to support energy infrastructure deemed essential to national defense, covering grid components, natural gas systems, coal supply chains, and petroleum capacity. The determinations create a legal pathway for the Department of Energy to deploy financial support mechanisms, though their practical impact will depend on funding availability and implementation decisions. The move has sparked debate over whether emergency authority is being appropriat

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democratic lawmakers are already laying groundwork for intensified congressional investigations into energy and environmental policy decisions made during the Trump Administration.

The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division has signaled renewed scrutiny of electricity generation and data center transactions, marking its first structural relief requirement in a generation merger since 2011. Milbank attorneys examine the implications of the DOJ's December 2025 action requiring divestiture of six power plants in Constellation Energy's $26.6 billion Calpine acquisition.

Last week, a rural Texas county enacted a one-year moratorium on data center construction, potentially imperiling as many as eight planned projects in the county.

Three attorneys from Wiley Law's Environment & Product Regulation Practice examine the significant developments and implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act since its landmark 2016 amendments. Their analysis explores what the reformed legislation has achieved in regulating chemical substances and outlines the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for environmental regulation.

Public attention surrounding hantavirus outbreaks often focuses, understandably, on the immediate health risks associated with rodent exposure. Recent reports tied to a cruise vessel outbreak of hantavirus...

The plastics industry faces mounting pressure from evolving regulations, litigation risks, and public scrutiny over environmental impacts and product labeling. Legal challenges range from environmental violations and pollution claims to consumer protection allegations regarding misleading sustainability claims and product composition disclosures. As new claims emerge daily, stakeholders must navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape that threatens both financial resources and consumer trust.