This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements, and other government-related news concerning power generation and transmission, wind and solar, utilities, midstream companies, batteries and energy storage, LNG, biofuels, as well as nuclear. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-05-03 to 2026-05-09

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 🗺️ State Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy: Hearing on Permitting Transmission for Reliable and Affordable Power: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing titled "Wires, Rates, and States: Permitting Transmission for Reliable and Affordable Power" on May 13, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. ET in Rayburn House Office Building Room 2123.

Federal Government News

FERC Initiates NEPA Scoping on Bakken East Pipeline Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has opened the scoping period for the Bakken East Pipeline Project, a proposal by WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. to construct over 353 miles of large-diameter natural gas pipelines and associated facilities throughout North Dakota. The project is intended to support incremental firm gas transportation services for new power generation, industrial customers, and local distribution, with interconnections extending service into the Midwest. FERC's notice details land requirements, anticipated environmental areas of concern—such as crossings of federal and state-owned lands and navigable waterways—and the NEPA process, inviting public comment by June 4, 2026. Multiple public scoping sessions are scheduled across the project area, and the Bureau of Land Management is participating as a cooperating agency. FERC will accept written or oral comments and has issued guidance for public participation and becoming an intervenor in the pending review.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EIA Proposes Annual Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is seeking public comment on its proposal to administer Form EIA-847, the Annual Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey, with an intended launch as early as 2026 for the 2025 reference year. Designed as a streamlined, annualized supplement to the quadrennial EIA-846 survey, Form EIA-847 will collect focused energy consumption and expenditure data from manufacturing establishments classified under NAICS sector codes 31-33. The survey aims to yield aggregate industry statistics for NEMS industrial models and to update the national industrial energy consumption benchmark. The proposed sample size is 4,500, with an estimated response burden of 8,484 hours. Comments must be submitted by June 4, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

DOT Maritime Administration Requests Input on Small Modular Reactors for Maritime Applications

The Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a Request for Information regarding the development of a commercially viable, system-centric small modular reactor (SMR) concept for the U.S. marine transportation system. MARAD seeks written comments and supporting documentation by August 5, 2026, specifically on pathways to scalable deployment, liability and insurance frameworks, port acceptance, workforce development, and standards integration for nuclear-propelled vessels. Areas of requested input include reactor integration with shipbuilding operations, legal and regulatory pathways, and commercial financing for nuclear maritime technologies. MARAD notes that future steps may involve public engagement sessions to further document industry perspectives.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Notice: Environmental Data Collection for LIHEAP Recipient Households

The Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is requesting comments by June 4, 2026 on a proposal to reinstate—with modifications—the collection of administrative LIHEAP household recipient data in support of the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) Data Match for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The match will help evaluate program reach and energy usage characteristics by combining state-level grant recipient data with the national RECS. The estimated burden hours are reduced by approximately one-third from prior requirements, in part due to revised data fields and streamlined instructions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Issues Multiple Notices of Filings on Power Sector Tariffs and Certificates

Between May 4 and May 8, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued several notices regarding electric rate, tariff, and compliance filings. Recent submissions include Notices of Non-Material Change in Status from entities such as Public Service Company of Colorado and FL Solar 5 LLC; revised market-based rate tariff filings from multiple storage and renewables developers; and membership agreement amendments for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association by Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Comment deadlines for these filings range between May 21 and May 26, 2026. Parties wishing to participate must file interventions or protests by the indicated dates via FERC's eLibrary and eFiling systems.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 8706: Energy Act of 2020 Amendment on Energy Storage Programs

H.R. 8706 proposes amendments to the Energy Act of 2020, modifying certain programs and projects related to energy storage technology. The measure was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on May 7, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8715: Clean Air Act Utility Rate Change Penalty Enhancement

H.R. 8715 seeks to amend the Clean Air Act by enhancing penalties for investor-owned electric or gas utilities that change rates within a two-year window before or after a penalty assessment. It is before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8698: Consumer Gasoline and Fuel Price Gouging Protections

H.R. 8698 would establish protections for consumers against fuel and gasoline price gouging. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Education and Workforce, on May 7, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8653: Resilient Infrastructure Demonstration Grants

H.R. 8653 directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish demonstration grants for critical transportation infrastructure resilience to natural hazards. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 4, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 2975: PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

H.R. 2975, the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, addresses pipeline safety policy and is currently held at the desk following House introduction.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Government News

Indiana Law Expands Grid Access through Existing Interconnections

Indiana's SEA 240, signed into law by Governor Braun, enables utilities and battery storage providers to utilize surplus interconnection service, reducing the need for costly new transmission lines.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

New York to Intervene in Sunrise Wind Offshore Project Lawsuit

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James announced New York’s intent to intervene in litigation seeking to block the Sunrise Wind Project, a 924 MW offshore wind project supplying power to 600,000 homes.

Sources: www.governor.ny.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• US power grid operator PJM is considering market overhaul: PJM is reviewing its market design amid reliability and generation mix challenges.
• Solar and wind with battery storage become more cost competitive, IRENA report shows: IRENA finds that solar and wind paired with batteries are closing cost gaps with conventional sources.
• Texas off-grid power build soars as data centers bridge grid delays: Off-grid capacity in Texas is increasing as data centers seek solutions amidst grid interconnection delays.
• Is It Time to Tax the Oil and Gas Industry’s Windfall?: Ongoing US debate over imposing a windfall profits tax on oil and gas companies.
• Why millions of Americans pay for unfinished electricity projects: US consumers continue to pay surcharges for grid projects delayed by regulatory and construction issues.
• Europe's solar glut shunts power system into tricky new transition phase: Europe faces operational complexities as high solar generation shifts market dynamics.
• The Northeast is set for a star turn in the affordability debate: Rising energy costs position the US Northeast at the center of national affordability discussions.
• Texas proves it: It’s the energy bills, stupid: Texas's energy challenges are increasingly tied to rising electricity bills.
• XCF Global Highlights Strategic Role of Renewable Fuels in Strengthening U.S. Energy Security: XCF Global underscores the importance of renewable fuels in U.S. energy security.
• EU considers suspending penalties for oil and gas firms that breach methane law: The European Commission examines halting methane fines for oil and gas firms during emergencies.

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