July 19, 2026 to July 25, 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

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

Federal Government News

President Trump Expands Ratepayer Protection Pledge for AI and Data Centers

President Trump announced the expansion of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, now covering 80% of U.S. power delivery and affecting over 263 million Americans. The program requires that data center operators, including Google, Oracle, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Crusoe, finance energy infrastructure costs instead of passing these expenses to ratepayers. Notable state agreements include Michigan’s projected billions in savings, Indiana’s $1.4 billion in returns, Georgia’s rate freeze through 2029 saving $1.7 billion, Mississippi’s $2 billion in benefits, Wisconsin’s five-year rate freeze, Louisiana’s full cost recovery for Meta connections, and Texas’s Crusoe campus powered by self-sustained energy. Southern Company and Alliant Energy are cited as freezing rates or ensuring full developer cost coverage. The pledge is designed to protect consumers as AI-related electricity demand rises, with calculated cost-sharing mechanisms and recent corporate-energy deals.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FERC Extends Desert Southwest Region Formula Rates Under Rate Order No. WAPA-222

The Western Area Power Administration announced an extension of formula rates for balancing authority and transmission provider services in the Desert Southwest Region through September 2031. This includes extension of schedules for scheduling, system control, dispatch, reactive supply, frequency response, spinning and supplemental reserves, energy and generator imbalance, transmission losses, unreserved use penalties, and participation in the California ISO Energy Imbalance Market. No changes were made to the rate formulas. The rate schedules, covering ancillary services as well as market settlements and network integration, are formula-based and subject to annual updates. The extension was confirmed under Rate Order No. WAPA-222 with an associated categorical exclusion for NEPA compliance. FERC confirmation and final approval are pending.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

TVA Launches Generator Interconnection Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

The Tennessee Valley Authority initiated a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to assess the environmental effects of transmission system activities related to generator interconnection across its Power Service Area. The PEIS seeks to standardize NEPA review for transmission projects under TVA’s Large Generator and Small Generator Interconnection Procedures. The study’s scope encompasses construction, upgrade, maintenance, and modification of transmission infrastructure for new or modified generating resources. Comment submissions are open until August 14, 2026. TVA will consult with federal, state, and tribal authorities, addressing compliance with the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. The draft PEIS is expected in fall 2026; the final document is anticipated in early 2027.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Finalizes NEPA Categorical Exclusion for Hydropower License Terminations

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a final rule amending its NEPA regulations to expand categorical exclusions to cover certain terminations or revocations of water power licenses or exemptions. The categorical exclusion applies to cases involving minor or no ground-disturbing activities and minor or no changes in reservoir conditions and downstream flows. The rule aims to reduce regulatory burden by foregoing environmental assessments or impact statements for license terminations when environmental effects are minimal. The measure incorporates extensive historical substantiation records from prior EAs, outlining criteria for affected projects and applicable exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. Entities subject to license termination or revocation remain under relevant federal, state, and local regulatory oversight post-action. The rule is scheduled to take effect on August 24, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA and FERC Open Information Collection Requests for Power Sector Reliability and Carbon Standards

EPA has submitted an information collection request for the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas emissions from new electric utility generating units, seeking renewal and inviting public comments until August 24, 2026. These standards cover fossil-fuel fired EGUs constructed or modified after January 8, 2014, or reconstructed after June 18, 2014, but before May 23, 2023, requiring initial notifications, performance tests, periodic reports, and compliance records. In parallel, FERC's notice requests comment on extension of information collection (FERC-725S) for Emergency Preparedness and Operations Reliability Standards, with annual reporting burdens specified for event reporting, system restoration, loss of control center functionality, geomagnetic disturbance, emergency operations, and extreme cold weather preparedness. Public comments are due August 20, 2026. Both actions affect regulatory compliance and reporting obligations for electric utilities.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Grid Modernization Bill Advances in House

Bill No. 9945 proposes to accelerate modernization of the national electric grid by supporting advanced conductors and related systems. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Distribution Bill Introduced

Bill No. 9894 would require information and financial assistance under the State energy program and the weatherization assistance program to be distributed without undue delay, aiming to support high-impact state and local energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Federal Power Act Transmission Cost Allocation Legislation

Senate Bill 5074 and House Bill 9843 both seek to amend the Federal Power Act to authorize allocation of the costs for certain interstate electric power transmission lines, including those located offshore. Senate version is before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; House version awaits review in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov, www.congress.gov

Data Center Energy and Water Reporting Bill

Bill No. 9825 requires data center operators to submit reports on energy and water use to States, EPA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Agriculture. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for potential deliberation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Protecting Ratepayers Act: Congressional Referral

Bill No. 9777, titled Protecting Ratepayers Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill relates to utility rate protections and consumer interests.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Why wildfires pose multiple threats to US power sector: Wildfires are increasingly impacting U.S. power generation, reliability, and infrastructure investments.
• America's power grid is choking on costly congestion: Grid congestion is raising costs nationwide and complicating transmission expansion for utilities.
• Why States Are Making It Harder to Save Money With Solar Panels: State-level policies are making it less economical for homeowners to install solar panels and batteries.
• Massive disconnect of power roils largest US electric grid: PJM experienced a significant disconnect event, affecting power supply and stakeholder operations.
• Nuclear Energy Revival Puts Westinghouse in Prime Position: Westinghouse stands to benefit from renewed global and U.S. support for nuclear power projects.
• Trump administration considers putting nuclear power plants in US waters: Administration discusses options for floating nuclear power installations in U.S. coastal waters.
• China's world-leading renewable megabases rely on coal-heavy transmission, report finds: Chinese renewable production is dependent on coal-based transmission infrastructure, limiting emissions reductions.
• ADNOC greenlights $6.2 billion Umm Shaif Gas Cap project: ADNOC approved a major gas project, signaling investment trends for global energy markets.
• Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics: The administration acknowledged political motives in canceling some clean energy grant funding.

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