Protecting American Energy From State Overreach (Trump EO Tracker)

California's Assembly Bill 1156 introduces a streamlined process for developing solar projects on agricultural lands restricted by Williamson Act contracts in critically overdrafted groundwater basins. The legislation offers contract nullification and fee waivers for qualifying photovoltaic projects that meet specific requirements, including Environmental Leadership certification and community benefits agreements. Will this new pathway successfully balance the state's clean energy goals with agricultural la

Explore the latest developments in sustainable energy and infrastructure, from project financing insights and critical minerals policy to AI-driven power demand and emerging opportunities across renewable energy. This comprehensive update examines how investors, developers, and policymakers are navigating the evolving landscape of energy infrastructure and climate technology.

The California Legislature passed SB 886 (Padilla), the California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, which requires the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) to adopt new tariffs and update existing electric rules to ensure that electric utility costs for serving data centers are not shifted to ratepayers. Governor Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto this bill and the accompanying data center power regulation bill, AB 2383 (Zbur).

President Trump's Executive Order 14421 declares a national emergency to secure the U.S. bulk-power system, imposing new restrictions on foreign-produced electric equipment that poses national security risks. The order prohibits certain imports and installations while directing the Department of Energy to identify and potentially replace existing vulnerable equipment already on the grid.

President Trump's Executive Order 14421 establishes a comprehensive framework for screening foreign-produced equipment in the U.S. bulk-power system, potentially affecting transformers, inverters, battery storage, and control systems tied to certain foreign entities. The Department of Energy has 120 days to issue implementing regulations and is seeking stakeholder input through a Request for Information to balance grid security concerns with reliability, supply chain constraints, and economic impacts across

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.

Electric generation projects rarely get built, let alone financed, without a long-term contract locking in revenue. That contract, referred to as an offtake agreement, determines whether a project can attract limited-recourse debt and whether investors are willing to commit capital to construction.

President Trump's Executive Order 14421 declares a national emergency targeting foreign-produced equipment in the U.S. bulk-power system, granting the Secretary of Energy sweeping authority to review, restrict, and potentially require replacement of equipment linked to countries under U.S. arms embargoes. While no immediate restrictions take effect, the Order's broad scope encompasses battery storage systems, utility-scale inverters, industrial control systems, and related software, with implementation regu

Utility-scale battery energy storage systems are transforming the electric grid across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, creating opportunities for developers and property owners while introducing complex legal challenges. From zoning and interconnection to fire safety and financing, these projects require careful navigation of overlapping federal, state, and local requirements that vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Expands Defense Production Act (DPA; P.L. 81-774) authorities over energy by giving the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy independent authority, alongside the Secretary of Commerce...

Directs the Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish continuous sharing of military personnel and medical records, deploy AI-enabled tools to streamline veterans...

President Trump's executive order directs multiple federal agencies to comprehensively review policies affecting American cattle ranchers, including potential wolf delisting under the Endangered Species Act and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. The order aims to develop actionable recommendations to enhance rancher profitability and expand market access for domestic beef producers.

On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (covered separately here) in which the Commission advances its ongoing efforts to secure the U.S.

California's Legislature has unanimously passed SB 690, a landmark reform that could eliminate thousands of pending class action lawsuits based on website tracking technologies under the California Invasion of Privacy Act. The bill removes the private right of action for pen register claims arising from routine web analytics tools, potentially reshaping the data privacy litigation landscape while companion bills simultaneously expand substantive privacy obligations.

On September 3, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) announced its plan to rescind Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, also known as the “Pay-to-Play Rule” (the Rule), which has been in effect since 2010.

Last week, Congress officially kicked the FY 2027 funding can down the road. The House overwhelmingly approved the Senate's bipartisan continuing resolution by a 370-48 vote...

The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 (PCSA), introduced in the Senate on June 2, 2026, by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and joined by Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Chris Coons (D-DE), represents a comprehensive federal legislative effort to reshape the governance and economics of intercollegiate athletics...

On September 1, 2026, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reinforced its prior conclusion that fluoropolymers used in medical devices are safe and materially different from the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that drive most regulatory, litigation and public health concerns

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its much-anticipated decision in United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, No. 24-13581, holding that the qui tam provisions of the FCA do not violate the Appointments Clause of Article II of the U.S. Constitution.