September 13, 2026 to September 19, 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
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

EPA Finalizes Partial Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants

On September 17, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule repealing most provisions of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. The rule rescinds emission guidelines for existing fossil fuel-fired steam units, CCS-based standards for coal plants undergoing major modification, and similar standards for new baseload combustion turbines. EPA cited legal and technical basis for this action and projects compliance cost savings of $160 billion (present value, 3% discount) over 2026-2047. The repeal is driven by concerns over achievability, infrastructure readiness, and cost reasonableness. The action becomes effective November 16, 2026. EPA is separately soliciting further comment regarding its Clean Air Act authority to regulate power plant GHGs.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Approves Physical Security Reliability Standard CIP-014-4 for Bulk Power Facilities

FERC has approved NERC's proposed Reliability Standard CIP-014-4, updating rules for physical security at critical transmission stations and substations. The new standard revises risk assessment periodicity, clarifies applicability for jointly owned facilities, and aligns risk assessment analysis cycles with existing NERC planning cycles. Effective on October 1, 2028, the new requirement mandates transmission owners to update critical facility lists every 36 months and coordinate security assessments with neighboring assets. Implementation will affect 344 registered US transmission owners, with the new paperwork burden estimated at 3,440 additional hours and $286,862 industry-wide.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Bonneville Power Administration Initiates Expedited Rate Proceeding (BP-27) Following Court Order

The Bonneville Power Administration announced the start of an expedited rate case (BP-27) to revise FY 2026-2028 power rate schedules and add adjustment mechanisms, responding to a March 2026 court order tied to endangered species litigation. Proposed adjustments are expected to recover $250 million, with projected increases of 6.3% to Priority Firm Non-Slice rates, 5.3% to Industrial Firm, and 2.2% to New Resources Firm power rates. The prehearing conference is set for October 5, and a final decision is scheduled for December 18, 2026. The scope is limited to implementing the new Court-Ordered Operation Rate Adder and related true-up processes for affected federal power customers.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Federal and State Current Issues Collaborative – New State Regulator Appointments Announced

On August 25, NARUC appointed new state commission representatives to the Federal and State Current Issues Collaborative for 2026-2027, including regulatory commissioners from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Florida, New Mexico, and Washington state. The Collaborative facilitates joint exploration of transmission, reliability, and jurisdictional utility matters among FERC and state regulators.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Southeast Supply Header Project Advances—Environmental Assessment Timeline Set

FERC has announced the schedule for preparing an Environmental Assessment for the Tupelo Trail Project, proposed by Southeast Supply Header, LLC. The project would deliver up to 110,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas to the Plant Daniel electric generation facility in Mississippi through compressor upgrades and associated facility changes. The EA is scheduled for issuance by February 12, 2027, with a federal authorization decision deadline of May 13, 2027.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• EPA to Roll Back Power-Plant Emission Rules: WSJ reports on EPA's decision to rescind most 2024 GHG standards for power plants, citing cost and achievability concerns.
• EPA eliminates rule that limits planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants: AP details the EPA's formal elimination of federal carbon emission rules for the power sector.
• COMMENTARY: Why the next industrial race will be won on electricity: Reuters commentary argues that global economic competition increasingly centers on large-scale access to affordable electricity.
• Spain ups planned power grid investment to over €17 bln through 2030: Spain increases its planned grid modernization budget to more than €17 billion through the end of this decade.
• Spain's Moeve says upended energy markets revive green hydrogen as €1 billion project breaks ground: Reuters covers Moeve's €1 billion green hydrogen project launch amid shifting European energy market conditions.
• Libya power cuts push small businesses and weary citizens to brink: Ongoing blackouts in Libya place severe strain on commerce and daily life.
• Cuba's electrical grid collapses again, plunging island into darkness: Another nationwide power grid failure leaves Cuba without electricity.
• Trump is talking with Senate's Thune about bill to cut data-center electricity costs: Reuters notes that Senator Thune and former President Trump are in discussions on federal legislation intended to lower data center energy expenses.
• The early read on EPA's new climate counterstrike: Axios summarizes initial reactions following EPA's move to rescind major climate emission standards for power plants.

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