United States: Energy Law

On September 30, 2026, Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee Chair Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) unveiled the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA; S. 5653), a comprehensive permitting reform package aimed at accelerating approvals for energy, infrastructure, transmission, mining, manufacturing, and other major projects. The legislation represents the most significant bipartisan permitting reform effort in years and follows months of negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats.

On Sept. 30, 2026, Senate negotiators announced agreement on the text of the “Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026,” a long-awaited bill to reform and expedite federal environmental and energy permitting. The 417-page bill is the product of intensive negotiations among the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee that began early in the 119th Congress.

Two federal courts have invalidated New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act on preemption grounds, foreclosing the state’s plan to collect $75 billion from fossil fuel companies for climate adaptation projects and signaling how a similar challenge to Vermont’s climate superfund law may be resolved.

Texas has become a major hub for hyperscale data center development, driven by abundant energy resources and a business-friendly environment. However, rapid growth is creating significant challenges around power availability, transmission infrastructure, water resources, and regulatory oversight. This program examines the legal, regulatory, and commercial developments shaping data center projects across Texas, providing practical insights for developers, investors, operators, and stakeholders navigating

On September 18, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger issued Executive Order 22: Establishing New Nation-Leading Standards and Initiatives to Implement the Virginia Data Center Accountability...

On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (Act), a significant package of sanctions, trade restrictions and related measures...

Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), discusses the organization's Competitive Power Principles and commitment to evolving the resource mix in competitive wholesale power markets. The conversation explores diverse energy portfolios, nuclear power developments, infrastructure connectivity challenges, and how competitive markets drive emissions reductions through market-based solutions.

Scott Ellis is a legal professional at Foley & Lardner LLP, where he provides counsel to clients across various practice areas. His expertise and experience position him to deliver strategic legal solutions tailored to complex business challenges. Contact information and professional details are available for those seeking his legal services.

Energy arbitration disputes involve complex technical evidence, engineering concepts, and operational decisions that require strategic visual communication to help arbitrators understand and remember key arguments. The challenge lies not in the tribunal's ability to comprehend sophisticated evidence, but in how effectively counsel organizes and presents that information through clear visual frameworks and demonstratives.