North America: Energy and Natural Resources

The U.S. expands its sanctions framework against Russia and Iran through the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, introducing mandatory sanctions on vessels transporting Russian energy commodities, financial institutions circumventing sanctions, and establishing tariffs up to 500% on Russian imports. The legislation grants the President broad authority to impose sanctions while placing substantial elements of the Russia sanctions framework on statutory footing, though significant presi

A federal court in Michigan dismissed a groundbreaking antitrust lawsuit against major energy companies, rejecting the state's novel attempt to frame climate-related claims as a Sherman Act conspiracy to suppress renewable energy technologies. The ruling centered on whether Michigan had standing to pursue antitrust damages for alleged energy overcharges stemming from a decades-old conspiracy.

US energy and commodity traders expanding into European markets face a significantly more prescriptive regulatory landscape than their domestic framework. This analysis examines how EU and UK wholesale energy market integrity rules impose formalized registration requirements, explicit prohibitions on insider dealing and market manipulation, and heightened senior management accountability standards that exceed US principles-based approaches.

California's Senate Bill 1153 has been signed into law, providing significant protection for public water systems against wildfire-related inverse condemnation claims. The legislation clarifies that water suppliers have no duty to design or maintain systems for wildfire suppression and that inability to maintain water supply during wildfires is not a substantial cause of wildfire damages. This landmark legislation may reshape liability exposure and insurance costs for water providers across the state.

As AI-driven data centers push electricity demand to unprecedented levels, the race to build digital infrastructure is becoming a race for power itself. Industry experts are now questioning whether aging electric grids can deliver the capacity, reliability, and interconnection speed needed to support next-generation facilities, and whether behind-the-meter solutions can truly replace more than a century of grid engineering and operational experience.

Texas has launched a sweeping investigation into hundreds of data center developments that failed to comply with mandatory water use surveys, marking the latest escalation in a seven-week regulatory crackdown. The state's actions have frozen permits, paused interconnection studies, and exposed projects to criminal and civil enforcement, all while the industry faces mounting scrutiny over its rapidly growing demands on electricity and water infrastructure. With multiple state agencies now coordinating enforc

West Virginia has filed a constitutional lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's renewable portfolio standards, arguing they violate the Commerce Clause by requiring certain renewable energy generators to be physically located in-state to participate in credit markets. The case could have far-reaching implications for similar renewable energy requirements in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, and other states that impose geographic restrictions on renewable energy credit eligibility.

Texas leads the nation in renewable energy and battery storage development, but navigating the complex web of federal, state, and local regulations presents significant challenges for developers. This discussion explores the environmental, land use, and regulatory considerations essential for advancing projects from conception through commercial operation, while addressing critical financing and permitting issues that can impact project timelines.

El 1 de septiembre de 2026, la Secretaría de Energía (“SENER”), publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación (“DOF”) el Acuerdo por el que se emite la cuarta modificación a la Segunda Convocatoria para la atención prioritaria de solicitudes de permisos de generación de energía eléctrica e interconexión al Sistema Eléctrico Nacional, publicada originalmente en el DOF el 11 de mayo de 2026.

The 2016 Lautenberg Amendments promised to revolutionize chemical safety regulation in the United States, but have four administrations successfully implemented Congress's vision? This discussion brings together diverse stakeholders to debate whether EPA's decade-long implementation of TSCA reforms has achieved its public health goals, or if a fundamental reimagining of chemical regulation is needed.

In April 2024, EPA designated perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). As previously discussed in Re:Torts, industry groups challenged the designation, arguing that EPA misread the phrase “may present substantial danger” as requiring only a “possibility” of harm. The groups also argued EPA gave inadequate notice of its cost-benefit methodology and acted arbitrarily and capriciously.

Canada has published two mandatory notices under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act requiring manufacturers, importers, and users to report information on 200 priority substances for chemical management purposes. Companies must determine if they meet reporting thresholds and gather supply chain data, with Phase 1 responses due March 2027 and Phase 2 responses due September 2027. Will your organization's chemical activities trigger reporting obligations under these new requirements?