Energy Law and Electricity Regulation

Lane Chaplin, head of real estate for EVgo, discusses the rapid expansion of EV charging infrastructure across major retail partnerships and thousands of strategic site rollouts. From Tesla Superchargers to LA Fitness locations, discover how industry leaders are shaping policy through organizations like ICSC while building the foundation for America's electric vehicle future.

Illinois has enacted the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, establishing comprehensive statewide zoning and permitting standards for commercial energy storage systems with capacity exceeding 1 MW. The legislation creates uniform requirements for setbacks, decommissioning, financial assurance, and safety standards while limiting local governments' ability to impose more restrictive regulations.

Following a second national security determination from the Department of War (DoW), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated the Covered List entry for foreign-produced power inverters on August 20 by narrowing the covered product category, clarifying the applicable connectivity criteria, and revising the definition of “foreign-produced.”

Governor Abbott's recent directive has introduced significant delays and new verification requirements for large data center projects in Texas, creating unprecedented political and regulatory uncertainty. The directive pauses approvals for facilities over 75 megawatts while ERCOT conducts eligibility verification, potentially delaying projects by several months and signaling a dramatic shift in how Texas approaches data center development and grid reliability.

Illinois has enacted the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, establishing comprehensive statewide zoning and permitting standards for commercial energy storage systems with capacity exceeding 1 MW. The legislation creates uniform requirements for setbacks, decommissioning, financial assurance, and safety standards while limiting local governments' ability to impose more restrictive regulations.

On August 26, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14420 – Declaring a National Emergency to Secure the United States Bulk-Power System (“Bulk-Power EO”) – invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to safeguard the U.S. bulk-power system from vulnerabilities created by certain components and systems manufactured by foreign parties.

As U.S. utilities commit record capital to grid expansion, equipment procurement has emerged as a critical constraint. Lead times for transformers now stretch beyond two years, while material scarcity, inflation, and labor shortages compound delays across conductor, switchgear, and substation components.

Governor Abbott's recent directive has introduced significant delays and new verification requirements for large data center projects in Texas, creating unprecedented political and regulatory uncertainty. The directive pauses approvals for facilities over 75 megawatts while ERCOT conducts eligibility verification, potentially delaying projects by several months and signaling a dramatic shift in how Texas approaches data center development and grid reliability.

President Trump's Executive Order 14420 prohibits the acquisition and installation of foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment from countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, citing national security risks from potential digital backdoors and remote sabotage capabilities. The Order grants the Secretary of Energy broad authority to restrict equipment transactions and may require removal or replacement of previously installed foreign equipment, with implementing regulations expected by

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has developed new resources to help companies prepare for the first round of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting under Senate Bill 253 (SB 253).

As U.S. utilities commit record capital to grid expansion, equipment procurement has emerged as a critical constraint. Lead times for transformers now stretch beyond two years, while material scarcity, inflation, and labor shortages compound delays across conductor, switchgear, and substation components.

Governor Abbott's recent directive has introduced significant delays and new verification requirements for large data center projects in Texas, creating unprecedented political and regulatory uncertainty. The directive pauses approvals for facilities over 75 megawatts while ERCOT conducts eligibility verification, potentially delaying projects by several months and signaling a dramatic shift in how Texas approaches data center development and grid reliability.