Energy Law and Electricity Regulation

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has directed regional transmission organizations to justify their approaches to handling data center electricity demands through "show cause" proceedings. This examination explores why this expedited regulatory approach may fail, how data centers are bypassing traditional grid interconnection processes, and what alternative pathways exist for powering the massive computational infrastructure driving modern digital services.

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.

Data center financing has emerged as one of the most dynamic areas of real estate and project finance, driven by explosive growth in cloud computing, AI, and digital infrastructure. From power procurement and environmental permitting to specialized lease structures and tax incentives, these transactions present a unique constellation of legal challenges that require careful coordination across multiple practice areas.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has directed regional transmission organizations to justify their approaches to handling data center electricity demands through "show cause" proceedings. This examination explores why this expedited regulatory approach may fail, how data centers are bypassing traditional grid interconnection processes, and what alternative pathways exist for powering the massive computational infrastructure driving modern digital services.

California's Assembly Bill 550 proposes to expand the state's endangered species permitting framework by allowing incidental take permits for species merely proposed for listing, rather than requiring full candidate status. While technically available to all developers, the bill's provisions primarily benefit renewable energy projects by providing regulatory continuity and reducing species-related disruptions during the lengthy development process required to meet California's aggressive clean energy target

The renewable energy industry is facing another significant tariff development. On August 6, 2026, a Presidential Proclamation confirmed that the government’s Section 232 investigation...

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has directed regional transmission organizations to justify their approaches to handling data center electricity demands through "show cause" proceedings. This examination explores why this expedited regulatory approach may fail, how data centers are bypassing traditional grid interconnection processes, and what alternative pathways exist for powering the massive computational infrastructure driving modern digital services.

Water utility bills are rising faster than electricity rates across America, driven by aging infrastructure, stricter regulations, and system consolidations. This analysis examines why investor-owned water utilities in North Carolina are experiencing accelerating rate increases and explores the legal, economic, and affordability challenges facing regulators and low-income households.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has adopted sweeping amendments to its procedural rules to implement the accelerated ratemaking framework under House Bill 15. These changes introduce strict time limits for cross-examination, compressed discovery deadlines, and tighter briefing requirements that will fundamentally alter how rate cases are litigated before the PUCO.

The Fifth Circuit's landmark decision in East Fork Enterprises v. EPA vacates the agency's methylene chloride risk management rule, establishing new precedents for how TSCA requires condition-specific risk determinations, treatment of workplace protective equipment, and evidentiary standards. This ruling could fundamentally reshape EPA's approach to chemical regulation and influence pending litigation involving asbestos, trichloroethylene, and other substances.

Bergeson & Campbell provides comprehensive coverage of federal regulatory developments affecting chemicals, pesticides, and related products, including EPA's latest TSCA risk evaluations, FIFRA pesticide updates, and emerging policy initiatives across environmental and chemical safety programs.

New Mexico's Environment Department has clarified that its controversial PFAS labeling requirements, set to take effect January 1, 2027, will not apply to industrial products. The clarification addresses significant concerns about the scope and burden of labeling requirements for products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), limiting enforcement to consumer products as defined in the PFAS Protection Act.