May 24, 2026 to May 30, 2026

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.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don't miss this week's updates in Oil & Gas and Construction. Also consider subscribing to our Utilities & Power - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology: The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment holds a hearing titled 'Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology' on June 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET in Rayburn 2318.
• Examining Legislation to Modernize Clean Air Act's Mobile Source Requirements: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will examine legislation to update Clean Air Act mobile source requirements in a hearing scheduled for June 3 at 6:00 p.m. ET in Rayburn 2123.

Federal Government News

Department of Energy Finalizes Zero-Based Regulating Sunset Rule

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a direct final rule on May 29, 2026, inserting sunset provisions into 10 CFR Parts 300, 602, 605, 706, 708, 712, 719, 725, 727, 733, 760, 766, 782, 783, 784, 824, 840, 860, 861, 862, 950, 960, 963, 1009, 1015, 1016, 1045, 1046, and 1061. The measure, effective July 13, 2026, implements Executive Order 14270, requiring DOE regulations issued under statutes including the Atomic Energy Act, Energy Policy Act, and Energy Independence and Security Act to sunset one year after the rule’s effective date unless specifically extended. Certain parts relating to classified information and security obtain a five-year conditional sunset. No amendments to existing regulations will extend sunset dates, and DOE must solicit public comment before extensions. The aim is to require regular review and potential extension or withdrawal of covered regulations. The Secretary of Energy retains authority to extend these dates in up to five-year increments, with notice published in the Federal Register.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Final Rule Incorporates Revisions to Gas-Electric Coordination Standards

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) amended its rules at 18 CFR 284.12 to incorporate by reference new and revised NAESB Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) business practice standards. The standards include a new 'Gas Electric Coordination' posting category and require interstate pipelines to post scheduled quantity information for power plants directly connected to their systems during extreme weather or emergency events. Additional modifications require posting of geographic information when issuing a critical notice. The rule is effective July 27, 2026, with compliance filings due by September 1, 2026, and full compliance required by January 1, 2027. NAESB and industry representatives supported the changes to improve situational awareness and information access between gas and electric market participants, reducing outage risk during critical periods.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Trump Administration Rescinds Restrictions on Off-Road Vehicle Use on Federal Lands

President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on May 29, 2026, revoking Executive Orders 11644 (1972) and 11989 (1977), which had established restrictions and environmental standards for off-road vehicle use on federal lands. The order directs agencies to revise or rescind regulations tied to these EOs, citing advances in technology and existing federal statutes such as NEPA and the Endangered Species Act as sufficient to manage impacts. The intent is to expand recreation, public access, and multiple-use management on federal lands while removing previously imposed, non-statutory barriers that affected energy production, timber harvests, maintenance, and tourism.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

EPA Approves New York SIP Revision for Athens Generating Plant

On May 29, EPA finalized approval of New York’s revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Athens Generating Plant regarding Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for NOx emissions. The approval incorporates conditions from the facility's Title V permit that specify continued use of dry low-NOx combustion and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for natural gas, as well as water or steam injection for oil, establishing emission limits of 23.4 lbs/hr for gas and 101.9 lbs/hr for oil (averaged over 3 hours), effective June 29, 2026. These conditions will be federally enforceable and are considered sufficient to meet ozone NAAQS requirements for the facility.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Approves Source-Specific NOx RACT for Calpine JFK Energy Center

EPA approved, effective June 29, 2026, a source-specific SIP revision for the Calpine JFK Energy Center in New York, which establishes alternative RACT emission limits for six mid-size emergency hot water boilers. The new limits are 0.15 lb/MMBtu when firing natural gas and 0.25 lb/MMBtu on distillate oil, with total NOx emissions not exceeding 24 tons per year on a rolling 12-month basis. The revision was deemed necessary since presumptive state requirements were not economically or technologically feasible for this source. Permit conditions 56, 57, and 58 are federally enforceable and include monitoring and reporting provisions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bankruptcy Reclamation Obligations for Energy Debtors

H.R. 9035 proposes to amend title 11 of the United States Code, requiring oil, gas, and coal companies in bankruptcy to fulfill environmental reclamation obligations. The bill was referred to the Committees on the Judiciary and Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Offshore Operator Fitness and Decommissioning Escrows

H.R. 9034 seeks to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require fitness-to-operate standards and establish decommissioning escrow accounts for offshore oil and gas operators. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Strengthening Surface Mining Environmental Controls

H.R. 9023 aims to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to enhance control of environmental impacts of surface coal mining. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Protecting Taxpayers from Surface Mining Reclamation Liability

H.R. 9029 would amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to protect taxpayers from liability associated with surface coal mining reclamation. This bill is also before the House Natural Resources Committee.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Mitsui seeks LNG investments to meet power demand from data centers, Bloomberg News reports: Mitsui reportedly seeks additional LNG investments to address rising power demand from data centers.
• Big Tech splits over proposed shake up of clean energy accounting: Major tech companies express diverging views on proposals to change how clean energy credits are accounted.
• Canada's proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility in talks to supply 'several' European utilities, Western LNG CEO says: The Ksi Lisims LNG project is in negotiations to supply multiple European utilities.
• A Clean Energy PAC Helped Beat Chip Roy, and Now It Has New Targets: A political action committee focused on clean energy sets its sights on new campaigns after a recent Texas upset.
• It Was Supposed to Be a Lifeline for a Blue-Collar Town. Then Trump Returned.: A Massachusetts offshore wind development faces political obstacles following the Trump administration's return.
• Bangladesh offers sweetened terms in offshore tender to tackle energy crunch: Bangladesh issues more attractive terms for offshore tenders to address national energy shortages.
• Renewable energy is overtaking traditional power projects across Africa, industry leaders say: Renewable energy projects are now surpassing traditional power developments throughout Africa.

.