July 05, 2026 to July 11, 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.

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📋 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

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee to Hear Broad Energy Legislation Package: On July 15, 2026, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining will hold a hearing to consider multiple bills, including measures on geothermal permitting, public land development, and decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure, at Dirksen 366.

Federal Government News

DOE Proposes Binding Revisions to Appliance Standards Process Rule

The Department of Energy (DOE) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend its Process Rule governing how it considers new or revised energy conservation standards and test procedures for consumer products and certain commercial/industrial equipment, with changes affecting the energy utilities and power sector. Proposed changes would make the rule's procedures binding for regulatory actions that increase stringency, reintroduce quantitative thresholds for 'significant energy savings' (10% full-fuel-cycle reduction over 30 years or 2 quads), and set presumptive economic justification thresholds (including up to 10% allowed increases in installed cost and 50% of product life as maximum payback). DOE also proposes procedural requirements for rulemakings, including extended minimum comment periods and an early assessment stage for both standards and test procedures, along with mandated use of industry test procedures except where not practicable or EPCA-inconsistent. The proposal states that for ASHRAE equipment, DOE will only adopt more-stringent standards if supported by 'clear and convincing evidence'. Comments are due August 6, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Opens Comment on 2026 National Transmission Needs Study Draft

The Department of Energy released the draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study for public comment through September 8, 2026. Required under Section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the draft study addresses nationwide electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion. DOE is consulting with states, tribes, and regional reliability bodies on the draft, which will inform federal corridor designations and guide the use of transmission-related authorities and funding. Public guidance and documents are available at DOE’s Office of Electricity website.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Council on Environmental Quality Announces Permitting Technology Selections

The White House Council on Environmental Quality selected technology solutions for presentation at the inaugural Permitting Innovators Expo, scheduled for July 31, 2026, in the Washington, D.C. area. The process follows a presidential directive to modernize federal environmental review and permitting, soliciting technology proposals addressing workflow, document analysis, and data automation from private partners. The selected tools will be featured in a solutions catalog distributed to federal agencies later this year.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FERC Technical Conference Focuses on Market and Planning Efficiency

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held a two-day technical conference, July 7-8, 2026, on grid-enhancing technologies, load forecasting, and increasing market and planning efficiency with improved software. The event, which included both in-person and virtual participation, covered updates relevant to ongoing dockets involving major ISOs/RTOs like PJM, SPP, ISO New England, MISO, and CAISO. Panels addressed tools and strategies for addressing grid challenges and transmission constraints.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Notices: Market-Based Rate Filings and Rate Proceedings

FERC issued a combined filing notice on July 9, 2026, detailing recent applications for corporate transactions under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act, changes in market-based rate (MBR) tariff status for several solar entities, and new filings from various energy storage and transmission companies. The notice includes authorization requests from Light Energy, LLC and MPH Rockaway Peakers, compliance filings by Beacon Solar entities, and rate/tariff revisions affecting multiple utilities. Comment deadlines extend from July 22 to July 27, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act of 2026

H.R. 9629, the Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 9, 2026. The bill addresses regulatory responses to the increase in data center construction and associated utility impacts.

Sources: www.congress.gov

EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026

H.R. 9616, the EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The legislation provides for continued federal support of energy market reliability technical assistance initiatives.

Sources: www.congress.gov

CHARM Act

H.R. 9617, cited as the CHARM Act, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 9, 2026. Specific provisions cover federal energy infrastructure planning reform.

Sources: www.congress.gov

BRACE Act

H.R. 9615, the BRACE Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill seeks to update requirements on grid resilience and emergency response within the utility sector.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act

H.R. 9613, the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The legislation proposes changes to the composition and oversight of federal nuclear advisory committees.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Canada carves role for gas in clean power grid strategy: Reuters reports on Canada’s policy shift to allow a defined role for natural gas in its strategy for a clean power grid.
• Trump promised to cut electric bills in half. His energy policy is doing the opposite, new analysis finds: CNN examines recent findings that U.S. electricity costs have risen under Trump’s current energy policy.
• The electrification movement is cooking with gas: Politico reviews how California’s push for electrification intersects with ongoing debates over the role of natural gas.
• India estimates 300 GW power demand next year, backs local clean-energy manufacturing: Reuters highlights India’s forecast of record power demand and policy support for domestic clean energy technology.
• Trump’s Plans for Nuclear Power Lurch Ahead: The New York Times reports on the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to expand nuclear generation in the U.S.
• EU drafts 'electrification' plan to curb oil and gas use, after Iran war disruption: Reuters details the European Union’s proposed measures to accelerate electrification in response to recent disruptions.
• US power companies scramble to secure equipment as surging data center demand strains supplies: Reuters covers how rising data center demand is affecting supply chains for power equipment in the United States.
• As gas plants rise to power AI, renewable energy allies are fighting for cleaner alternatives: AP investigates the debate between gas-fired generation and renewable advocates as AI expansion increases power demand.
• The Rise and Fall of the Fracking Phenomenon: Politico analyzes the changing landscape for fracking in the U.S. energy sector.

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