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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Dates: 2026-03-01 to 2026-03-07

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

Federal Government News

White House Launches Ratepayer Protection Pledge to Manage AI Data Center Energy Impact

On March 4, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation introducing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to address rising U.S. electricity demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. Seven major hyperscalers and AI companies committed to fully funding the energy supply and infrastructure required for their operations, negotiating separate rate structures with utilities and governments, and investing in local workforce development. The pledge is designed to shield households from increased costs, facilitate grid reliability, and maintain technological leadership. The measures focus on ensuring grid resilience, affordability, and cross-sector investment as the U.S. expands its large-scale digital infrastructure.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Proposes Expanded Reliability Reporting for Texas

On March 4, FERC solicited comments for the extension of FERC-725T, covering reliability standards within the Texas Reliability Entity. The requirements apply to generator owners, generator operators, and balancing authorities in the ERCOT region, mandating data retention and monthly performance reports relating to Primary Frequency Response. The collection estimates an annual burden of 1,076 hours and a cost of $68,347 across affected entities. FERC also requests input regarding the collection’s necessity, accuracy, and ways to reduce respondent burden, with comments due by May 4, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Department of Energy Extends EIA-860S Generator Air Permit Inventory Survey

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is seeking comments for a three-year extension of the EIA-860S survey, which inventories backup generators at the state level. The urgent update addresses rising demand projections through 2027 and previous gaps in generator reporting. The survey’s sampling frame is critical for grid capacity analysis and emergency response, supporting DOE priorities under recent executive orders. The extension covers 56 respondents, with an estimated 280 burden hours annually. Comments are due by May 5, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Solicits Comment on Extension of Geomagnetic Disturbance Reliability Reporting

FERC is requesting feedback on extending information collection for reliability standard TPL-007-4 (FERC-725N). The standard requires bulk-power system owners and operators to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop corrective action plans for geomagnetic disturbance risks, with the burden estimated at 82,200 hours and $5.2 million annually. Stakeholders including generator operators, transmission owners, and planning coordinators are subject to the requirements. Comments are due by May 4, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

DOE Proposes New Information Collection on Section 45Z Emissions Value Requests

The Department of Energy announced a proposed information collection for Section 45Z Emissions Value Requests, required of transportation fuel producers to support claims for tax credits. DOE will gather emissions data and share materials with National Laboratories for analysis, facilitating requests for Provisional Emissions Rates. Thirty respondents are anticipated, with a total estimated reporting burden of 1,200 hours and a cost of $127,440 per year. Comments are open through April 2, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025

H.R. 398, addressing cost-recovery for geothermal resources, was ordered to be reported by unanimous consent in the House. The bill establishes authority for geothermal project expenses and advances legislative support for renewable energy development.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025

H.R. 755 advanced to the Senate, where it was placed on the legislative calendar. The bill improves consistency in designating critical minerals vital for energy infrastructure and supply chains.

Sources: www.congress.gov

STEAM Act

H.R. 1077, the STEAM Act, was ordered to be reported by unanimous consent in the House. The Act focuses on facilitating education and innovation in energy technology, with implications for workforce skills development.

Sources: www.congress.gov

GEO Act

H.R. 301, the GEO Act, was ordered to be reported by unanimous consent. The bill seeks to enhance geothermal projects through streamlined authority and federal coordination.

Sources: www.congress.gov

ACRES Act and Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act

H.R. 204, the ACRES Act, was ordered favorably by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, advancing public lands and pipeline policy. Meanwhile, H.R. 972, the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act, returned to the House after Senate action, signaling progress in pipeline and land conservation measures.

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

What We're Reading This Week

• Why Tech Firms Are Working With Trump on Data Centers and Energy Costs: Major tech companies collaborate with the administration to address energy costs from expanding AI data centers.
• Trump says AI data center pledge will lower your energy bill. Will it?: The administration asserts the Ratepayer Protection Pledge will prevent consumer energy price increases.
• A Nuclear Reactor Backed by Bill Gates Gets Federal Approval to Start Building: TerraPower receives federal approval to begin building an advanced nuclear reactor.
• Faced with rising electricity prices, Americans are stealthily adding DIY solar systems. And they aren’t telling utilities: Consumers are installing self-built solar systems to counter rising electricity rates, often outside regulatory oversight.
• Power developers adapt gas turbine strategies to mitigate tight supply: Power developers revise gas turbine procurement approaches in response to supply constraints.
• Canada will soon release new electricity and nuclear strategy, minister says: Canadian government prepares to announce updated electricity and nuclear sector strategy.
• Emissions Planning Beyond Trump Tricky For U.S. Companies Following Climate Cuts: U.S. companies face uncertainty in emissions planning given regulatory changes and climate targets.
• EU looks to soften energy bill pressures for industry, document shows: The European Union is considering measures to ease industry energy cost burdens.
• Japan's Middle East energy dependency - and how it mitigates shocks: Japan employs strategies to manage its reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports.
• Who Could Profit From an Energy Crisis?: Analysis of global actors poised to benefit from energy supply disruptions.

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