Energy Law and Electricity Regulation

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking expert nominations to serve on the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology and the Chemical Sciences Roundtable. These positions offer opportunities to shape interdisciplinary dialogue, engage with federal agencies, and foster collaboration among government, industry, and academic institutions in advancing chemical sciences and engineering.

The Fifth Circuit's landmark decision in East Fork Enterprises v. EPA fundamentally reshapes how the agency must conduct chemical risk evaluations under TSCA, requiring condition-of-use-specific determinations and consideration of actual workplace protections. The ruling vacates EPA's methylene chloride risk management rule and establishes new standards for evaluating unreasonable risk that reject precautionary approaches and demand stronger evidentiary support. These holdings will force EPA to revise its p

A goal of patent practitioners during the prosecution of a patent application before the United States Patent and Trademark Office is to lawfully obtain the broadest possible legal scope of protection...

The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, establishing the legal framework for decades of civilian nuclear partnership. This agreement resolves years of debate over nonproliferation conditions and positions US companies to participate in Saudi Arabia's ambitious civil nuclear program. The deal carries significant implications for US engagement in the Middle East, international nuclear commerce, and the global competiti

The U.S. power system ended 2025 with 43.6 gigawatts of utility-scale battery storage online. In just the first six months of 2026, operators added another 8.3 gigawatts, pushing total capacity to nearly 52 gigawatts.

After years of scepticism, we are now seeing the most significant global rethink of nuclear power in a generation.

The US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing has unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, marking a significant shift in federal energy financing priorities. With over $300 billion in combined loan authority across four programs, EDF aims to deploy hundreds of billions in new financing commitments while maintaining rigorous underwriting standards.

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.

Three bipartisan bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives aim to revolutionize domestic recovery and recycling of critical minerals from waste streams, particularly lithium-ion batteries. The legislation addresses regulatory barriers under RCRA that currently complicate battery recycling operations and establishes new federal programs to coordinate critical mineral recovery efforts. Will these measures successfully position America to compete in the global race for critical mineral independence?

California Governor Newsom signed seven data center bills into law on September 21, 2026, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework that takes effect January 1, 2027. These bills create new tariff regimes administered by the California Public Utilities Commission, impose extensive reporting requirements on data center operators, and establish water disclosure mandates and CEQA treatment protocols.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed seven comprehensive data center bills that fundamentally reshape how these facilities are regulated in the state, imposing unprecedented transparency requirements and regulatory controls over electricity use, water consumption, and land-use impacts. The legislation eliminates CEQA exemptions, establishes new utility tariffs to prevent cost-shifting to ratepayers...

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state environmental regulators to halt all data center permits while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas completes a comprehensive audit of grid interconnection requests. This regulatory freeze represents an escalating response to the rapid expansion of data center development across rural Texas and its impact on local communities during a politically sensitive midterm election cycle.