Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 26 MARCH 2009

FERC Releases Proposed Policy Statement On Smart Grid Policy

Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Contributor
Bracewell LLP

Bracewell LLP

Paris is a vital energy hub in Europe, and our Paris office plays a central role in helping address...

View firm profile
Explore more from Bracewell LLP

In the hopes of accelerating development of a "smart" electric transmission grid, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 19, 2009 proposed a policy that will favor and incentivize investments in Smart Grid technology, which the Commission believes will advance the efficiency, security, reliability, and interoperability of the electrical grid.

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Tracy Davis
Tracy Davis
Sandy Rizzo
Sandy Rizzo

In the hopes of accelerating development of a "smart" electric transmission grid, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) on March 19, 2009 proposed a policy that will favor and incentivize investments in Smart Grid technology, which the Commission believes will advance the efficiency, security, reliability, and interoperability of the electrical grid. A Smart Grid is believed to be able to better manage the expected demand from plug-in vehicles and the expected variable output from renewable energy resources. The Commission invited comments from interested parties, due 45 days following publication of the proposed policy statement in the Federal Register (which will be approximately mid-May). 

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Texas Gov. Abbott Directs Data Center Audit; ERCOT Pauses Interconnection Process In Response

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of data center projects seeking grid access, while ERCOT has paused its Batch Zero interconnection process. This regulatory shift introduces immediate uncertainty for developers regarding timelines, financing, and project approvals, signaling that political engagement has become as critical as securing land and power in the Texas data center market.
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight
Article

President Trump Signs Legislation Enacting Phased Elimination Of Federal Tax Credits For New Clean Energy Projects; Directs Treasury To "Strictly Enforce" Credit Termination For Solar And Wind Facilities

The Act restores the ITC eligibility of qualified fuel cell property that begins construction after 2025. Under the IRA, qualified fuel cell property was required to have begun construction prior to 2025 in order to be eligible for the ITC.
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Article

California Enacts Seven Data Center Bills, Effective January 1, 2027: New Tariff, Entitlement, And Disclosure Rules For Hyperscalers, Developers, And Power Producers

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.
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Article

DOE Seeks Public Comment On Bulk-Power System Executive Order

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking public input on implementing Executive Order 14421, which grants sweeping authority to restrict foreign-produced electric equipment in the nation's bulk-power system. With broad implications for utilities, manufacturers, and energy infrastructure projects, stakeholders have until October 9, 2026, to shape regulations that could fundamentally alter supply chains and equipment procurement across the electric grid.
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight
Article

More Rigs Than A Year Ago, Higher Costs, And Service Prices That Haven’t Caught Up

Oilfield service firms responding to the Dallas Fed Energy Survey for the third quarter of 2026 reported substantially broader increases in input costs than in the prices they received. The input-cost index was 60.4, compared with a prices-received index of 16.3. Each index represents the percentage of respondents reporting an increase minus the percentage reporting a decrease.
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Article

Massachusetts Issues Guidance On Data Center Development Under Executive Order 658

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has issued Executive Order 658, establishing comprehensive permitting and regulatory standards for data centers exceeding 25 MW of peak electricity demand. The Order mandates community benefits agreements, clean energy procurement protocols, and coordination across multiple state agencies to ensure responsible development that protects ratepayers, communities, and the environment. This action positions Massachusetts alongside other states implementing stricter oversight o
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Sheppard
Sheppard
Article

Governor Abbott Orders TCEQ To Pause All Permit Issuance For Data Center Projects

Governor Abbott has ordered Texas environmental regulators to halt all data center permit issuance until grid operators complete a comprehensive audit in mid-December 2026. The sweeping directive affects not only grid-connected facilities but also fully islanded data centers relying on behind-the-meter generation, creating uncertainty for developers and their contractual obligations.
United StatesEnvironment
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Regarding Bulk Power System Equipment; DOE Requests Further Information

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
GlobalEnergy and Natural Resources
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

KKR Agrees To Historic $250 Million Penalty For Alleged Violations Of HSR...

The Department of Justice announced a landmark $250 million settlement with KKR & Co. for allegedly submitting deficient Hart-Scott-Rodino Act notification forms across at least 16 transactions. This unprecedented penalty, the largest ever for HSR violations, raises critical questions about merger notification compliance obligations and the consequences of systemic noncompliance with federal antitrust review requirements.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Venture Global Update: Galp Prevails In Latest LNG Commissioning Dispute

An ICC tribunal has ruled in favor of Galp in its dispute with Venture Global over the Calcasieu Pass LNG facility, finding that Venture Global breached its obligation to declare the facility operational in a timely manner. This decision adds to a series of contrasting outcomes in similar disputes involving other buyers, with damages yet to be determined in a hearing scheduled for 2027 or 2028.
United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Operation Economic Outcast: Two Key Updates Two Weeks In

The Trump administration's Operation Economic Outcast represents an unprecedented escalation in Iran sanctions enforcement, threatening secondary sanctions against entire countries while expanding sectoral restrictions and targeting financial institutions globally. Two weeks into implementation, the campaign reveals a complex geopolitical landscape where major powers like China and Russia openly defy US demands, while European allies navigate conflicting legal obligations between supporting American
GlobalInternational Law
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Treasury Expands Operation Economic Outcast Toolbox With Focus On Foreign Financial Institutions

Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast is expanding beyond traditional sanctions to target foreign banks, digital-asset platforms, and shadow-banking networks that facilitate Iran's access to the global financial system. Through a combination of OFAC designations, FinCEN prohibitions, and actions against intermediary infrastructure, the administration is demonstrating its willingness to employ multiple punitive measures to achieve economic isolation. Financial institutions must now assess Iran-risk not just
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

Trends In Russian Sanctions Enforcement In Europe And The UK

European and UK authorities are dramatically escalating sanctions enforcement against Russia-related violations, marking an unprecedented shift from policy development to aggressive prosecution. Recent actions span criminal convictions with multi-year prison sentences, substantial asset seizures, maritime interdictions of shadow fleet vessels, and penalties targeting both physical goods and digital infrastructure networks.
United KingdomCriminal Law
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

DOJ Fraud Division Orders Broader, Faster Enforcement

The Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division has issued a sweeping directive mandating prosecutors to attack fraud from all angles using tax, securities fraud, consumer fraud, and cybercrime authorities. This comprehensive approach includes aggressive asset seizure strategies, enhanced cooperation mechanisms, and expanded enforcement tools aimed at dismantling fraud schemes and maximizing recoveries across government contracting, healthcare, and financial sectors.
United StatesCriminal Law
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

AI In Expert Witness Testimony: What Litigators Need To Know About LLM Discovery Risks

Generative AI tools have quietly entered the expert witness process, and recent litigation developments show how exposed that process can become. Experts who use AI tools like ChatGPT or other LLMs to help draft reports may be creating a detailed, time-stamped record of their reasoning that opposing counsel can obtain and use to undermine the expert at deposition or trial.
United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP