June 14, 2026 to June 20, 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

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing titled 'Trash to Treasure: Examining Legislation to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling' on June 24, 2026, in Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2123. The session will review legislative proposals for enhancing domestic mineral supply chains.

Federal Government News

DOE Requests Stakeholder Input on Energy Conservation Standards for Distribution Transformers

The U.S. Department of Energy issued a request for information concerning the impact of energy conservation standards for distribution transformers adopted in April 2024, ahead of the April 2029 compliance deadline. The RFI addresses national defense considerations following Presidential Determination No. 2026-10, which identifies grid infrastructure supply chains—including transformers and electrical core steel—as essential to U.S. defense. DOE is soliciting data on current market capacity, investment needs, supply chain resilience, and the potential for increased dependence on foreign-sourced transformer materials. Comments may be submitted until July 15, 2026, with particular focus on industry challenges, investment conditions, changes in sourcing practices, and effects on smaller utilities. The notice outlines a series of questions regarding lead times, pricing, regulatory certainty, and impacts on domestic manufacturing, asking respondents to distinguish between grid-driven demand and regulatory changes.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

DOE and FERC Combined Notice of Filings – Electric Rate and Market Updates

FERC published a combined notice of filings including compliance and tariff amendments from PJM Interconnection, Southern California Edison Company, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., and California Independent System Operator Corporation. Key filings cover baseline upgrades for regional transmission expansion, market-based rate tariff revisions, conditional firm point-to-point agreements, and service agreement terminations. Duquesne Light Company additionally requested federal authorization to issue securities. Stakeholders may intervene or comment on these filings by the specified deadlines in July 2026, according to Commission protocols for intervention, protest, and service.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House CEQ to Host Permitting Innovators Expo Showcasing Federal Technology Solutions

The White House Council on Environmental Quality, together with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, will convene the Permitting Innovators Expo on July 31, 2026 in Arlington, VA. The event aims to support the integration of advanced permitting technologies within federal environmental review processes, as directed by President Trump. Participants include federal agencies, policymakers, and industry leaders. Exhibitors will display top solutions selected from a previous call for innovations, and the upcoming Permitting Innovators Solutions Catalog will be released by year-end. Registration is open for government and industry representatives, with attendance limited based on capacity.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-606 and FERC-607) – Comment Request for Extension

FERC is requesting public comment on its existing information collections: FERC-606 (Notification of Request for Federal Authorization) and FERC-607 (Report on Decision or Action). These collections enable FERC to compile comprehensive records on federal authorizations for natural gas projects, supporting regulatory and judicial review processes. Both collections continue without change, maintaining statutory and regulatory compliance under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Calculated annual costs and burden are provided in the notice, and comments are due by August 17, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EnergySolutions, LLC and Bridgepoint Group PLC – Consideration of Approval of License Transfers

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the receipt of an application for the indirect transfer of multiple NRC licenses from EnergySolutions, LLC to Bridgepoint Group PLC. The application, submitted April 24, 2026, covers licenses pertaining to spent fuel storage and nuclear facilities. No operational or physical changes are proposed; licensees would maintain all responsibilities post-transfer. Comments and intervention petitions are accepted by July 16 and July 6, 2026, respectively. Guidance regarding sensitive information and procedural requirements is detailed in the public notice.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

S.4827 – Electric Grid Resilience Program Reauthorization

A Senate bill (S.4827) seeks to reauthorize a federal program dedicated to preventing outages and strengthening the resilience of the electric grid. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on June 18, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R.9339 – Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act (H.R.9339) was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill addresses pathways for grid modernization with an emphasis on affordability.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R.9335 – Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act

The Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act (H.R.9335) aims to encourage the deployment of innovative transmission solutions potentially reducing consumer costs. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on June 18, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R.9337 – Federal Power Act Hydropower Licensing Modernization

A bill (H.R.9337) was introduced to amend the Federal Power Act with provisions for modernizing the hydropower licensing process. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R.9338 – Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026

The Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 (H.R.9338) was referred to both the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, pending further jurisdictional review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Federal regulators order grid operators to speed power to energy-hungry AI data centers: Coverage of regulator orders to expedite grid connections for AI data center projects.
• Federal Energy Regulator Seeks to Limit Conflicts Over Data Centers: Article on efforts by federal energy regulators to reduce disputes with data center operations.
• Dutch power moratoriums highlight challenge facing grid operators: Dutch grid operators face challenges after moratoriums on new power connections.
• EU countries scale back plan to fund power grids, document shows: Documentation reveals reduced EU plans for power grid funding.
• Equinor scraps renewable energy capacity target: Equinor discontinues its renewable capacity target amid strategic recalibration.
• Opinion | The Tiny Solar Panel That Could Change America: Discussion of consumer-grade plug-in solar panels for residential power generation.
• On Energy, Democrats Can Learn From Texas: Analysis of Texas energy sector strategies with policy implications for other states.
• Africa’s clean energy projects face financing barrier from credit rating rules: Africa’s renewable projects encounter hurdles from global credit rating practices.
• Indonesia's energy minister says government working to secure coal supply for state utility: Indonesian officials seek to stabilize coal supply for the national utility.
• Trash to Treasure: Examining Legislation to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling: Legislative efforts target mineral recovery and recycling to bolster domestic supply chains.

.