United States: Energy and Natural Resources

Let’s just start by saying kudos to the author for not using the painfully obvious title of “Let’s Get Things Strait Regarding Global Trade and Their Overall Value in Flows.” In the bigger picture, there are about 200 straits worldwide, but only 18–20 of them actually matter for global trade, and 9 are considered truly critical choke points.

California's power curtailments have surged dramatically in early 2026, with 4.5 million MWh of solar and wind energy curtailed in just the first half of the year. Meanwhile, a federal court has upheld FERC's accelerated permitting process for grid connections, and new solar and battery storage projects totaling billions in investment are moving forward across California, Nevada, and Texas.

Chicago has become the latest city to push back against new data center development. On August 11, 2026, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed Executive Order 2026-5, titled “Protecting Chicagoans’ Clean Water, Clean Air, Energy Affordability, and Quality of Life.” The Order establishes an enhanced regulatory framework for data center development in Chicago. In the Order, the Mayor calls on the City Council to enact a temporary moratorium on new data center construction and material expansions of existing facilities.

The Department of Energy has launched a groundbreaking Common Investment Initial Screening Application that consolidates access to over half a trillion dollars in federal funding across multiple agencies. Companies with domestic or international projects in energy infrastructure, critical minerals, materials, and mining can now submit a single application to be considered for equity investments, loans, loan guarantees, grants, and other federal support from DOE, DFC, ExIm, and OSC.

The Trump Administration has issued four executive actions aimed at securing critical minerals and materials for American national and economic security through tariff relief, onshoring incentives, and export controls. These measures target aluminum and polysilicon production, restrict defense contractors' sourcing from non-allied nations, and empower the Commerce Secretary to limit exports of critical materials in manufacturing residues and discarded electronics.

Developers of infrastructure and mining projects face mounting cost pressures, shifting trade policies, and evolving regulatory requirements that threaten project economics and investment decisions.

Let’s just start by saying kudos to the author for not using the painfully obvious title of “Let’s Get Things Strait Regarding Global Trade and Their Overall Value in Flows.” In the bigger picture, there are about 200 straits worldwide, but only 18–20 of them actually matter for global trade, and 9 are considered truly critical choke points.

FERC has approved a settlement penalizing cryptocurrency mining company Digi Power X Inc. for violating NYISO tariff interconnection rules by connecting its mining operations to a co-generation facility without proper authorization. The case highlights FERC's increasing enforcement focus on ensuring large load customers, particularly crypto miners and data centers, strictly comply with grid reliability requirements and market rules.

EPA guidance exempts islanded power generation facilities serving data centers from the Clean Air Act's Acid Rain Program, while a threatened lawsuit in San Antonio challenges whether data centers and their dedicated power plants should be treated as separate or aggregated sources for permitting purposes. These developments highlight the evolving regulatory landscape and litigation risks facing behind-the-meter generation projects in the rapidly expanding data center sector.

The EPA Office of Inspector General has launched an evaluation of the Toxic Substances Control Act Priority Testing List following a hotline complaint. The review will examine whether the TSCA Interagency Testing Committee is maintaining its required six-month update schedule and how EPA is addressing chemicals identified on the list.

The EPA has released draft exposure assessments for trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and 1,2-dichloropropane, two widely used industrial solvents that may be present in consumer products and can travel through air and water. These technical support documents explain how the agency estimates potential exposure to these chemicals in workplaces, homes, and nearby communities, marking a significant step in EPA's review process under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The release comes amid concerns about the compresse

Minnesota manufacturers face a critical September 15, 2026 deadline to report products containing intentionally added PFAS sold in the state, with extension requests due by August 16, 2026. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has provided guidance on using the PFAS Reporting Information System for Manufacturers (PRISM), including details on public contact designation and report review processes.