On May 29, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) held a virtual public workshop to discuss forthcoming regulations to implement SB 253 and SB 261, landmark California laws that require many corporate entities to disclose their greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and climate-related financial risk. CARB affirmed the existing statutory deadlines and stated that it plans
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Department of Energy Rulemakings Show What’s in Store under Trump’s Deregulatory Initiative
On May 12, the Federal Register put on public inspection a group of 42 proposed and final rules from the Department of Energy. The rules cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from energy efficiency standards to biofuel production to the conditions attached to grants from the Department. Many of these rules are notable for
Will the Trump Administration Clear a Path through the FERC Regulatory Thicket for the Co-Location of Data Centers with Nuclear Generation? (Part 2 of 2)
The exploding demand for energy to power hyperscaler data centers is leading to consideration of co-locating new generation (nuclear or otherwise) and data centers. As we explained in Part 1 of this blog, co-location is attractive to hyperscalers because of its potential to provide those data centers with contractually committed energy supplies, delivered over
Will the Trump Administration Clear a Path through the Nuclear Regulatory Thicket for the Co-Location of Data Centers with Nuclear Generation? (Part 1 of 2)
During his first week in office, President Trump issued Executive Orders on Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Declaring a National Energy Emergency, and Unleashing American Energy. On February 14, he issued another Executive Order, Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council. He has also announced plans by a joint
Biden Administration Releases Executive Order on AI Infrastructure
On January 14, 2025, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order on “Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure” (the “EO”), with the goals of preserving U.S. economic competitiveness and access to powerful AI models, preventing U.S. dependence on foreign infrastructure, and promoting U.S. clean energy production to power the development and operation of
California Air Resources Board Solicits Stakeholder Feedback on Implementation of Climate Disclosure Laws on the Heels of New Enforcement Advisory
On Monday, December 16, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued an information solicitation inviting feedback on the implementation of SB 253 and SB 261. Comments are due by February 14, 2025. This information request arrives on the heels of a new CARB enforcement advisory focused on SB 253.
CFTC Guidance: A Potential Integrity Backstop for Evolving Voluntary Carbon Market
In late September, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) approved final guidance regarding the listing of voluntary carbon credit (VCC) derivative contracts on CFTC-regulated designated contract markets (Final Guidance). Commission observers had anticipated issuance of the Final Guidance for several months, as it follows proposed guidance issued by CFTC in December 2023. The
DOE Announces up to $1.8 Billion in Funding in Next Phase of Regional Direct Air Capture Program
On October 10, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) hosted a webinar providing an overview of the recently issued Notice of Intent (NOI) to award up to $1.8 billion in funding for new mid- and large-scale commercial direct air capture (DAC) facilities. The NOI represents the start of the next
California Climate Disclosure Laws’ Compliance Timeline Remains Stable While New Amendments Give State Regulator More Time and Flexibility
Companies that do business in California and meet certain revenue thresholds should continue to prepare to comply with the state’s landmark climate disclosure laws that impose reporting deadlines starting in 2026, even as a newly enacted state law gives California regulators more time and flexibility in promulgating implementing regulations.
New Sustainability Reporting Requirements for Data Centers in the EU
In March this year, the European Commission adopted the Delegated Act on a common rating scheme for data centers (“Delegated Act”) in the European Union (“EU”). The Delegated Act implements the Energy Efficiency Directive (“EED”) and details the energy key performance indicators (“KPI”) that data center operators must report to the European database on data