Worldwide: Energy Law

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.

President Trump's Executive Order 14420 invokes emergency powers to restrict foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment that poses national security risks, while directing the Department of Energy to review existing grid infrastructure for vulnerabilities. The order establishes a framework for pre-qualifying equipment and vendors, but leaves critical implementation details—including the complete list of covered foreign entities and specific risk assessment criteria—to forthcoming DOE

Texas regulators have paused the ERCOT Batch Zero interconnection process for data centers following Governor Abbott's directive requiring comprehensive verification of all large load projects. The verification encompasses two distinct workstreams affecting projects based on size and type, with implications for energization timelines and regulatory compliance. Projects with near-term energization dates face particular uncertainty as ERCOT implements new audit requirements that could take several months to c

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.

On July 21, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) held a public workshop to provide updates on the implementation of SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which requires U.S.-based entities doing business in California with more than $1 billion in annual revenue to disclose their Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. During the workshop, CARB introduced a revised reporting deadline, a phased-in approach to Scope 3 reporting, changes to the treatment of insurance companies, and proposed assurance requirements that would apply from 2027 and beyond.

As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, the midstream – the processing and refining of raw materials into usable industrial inputs – is increasingly viewed as a strategically important section of the metals value chain and key to industrial sovereignty. However, despite the strong demand narrative, midstream projects in the UK and Europe face significant challenges.

New Jersey has enacted the Power NJ Act, establishing a state-led competitive procurement framework to develop at least 1,100 megawatts of new nuclear generation capacity. The legislation requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to issue a request for expressions of interest by January 2027, with final project approvals expected by July 2028, while implementing strict ratepayer protections and requiring federal financing for approved projects.