The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a new set of reliability standards designed to ensure the stability of the U.S. electric grid as more wind and solar resources come online. The standards, developed...more
Beginning January 1, 2025, the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework requires urban retail water suppliers — not individual households or businesses — to adopt a series of “urban water use...more
7/25/2025
/ California ,
Conservation ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Policies ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Inland Waterways ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Water ,
Water Quality ,
Water Supplies
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on July 17 that decisions related to solar and wind energy projects on federal lands will be reviewed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s office to end what it calls preferential...more
7/25/2025
/ Bureau of Land Management ,
Climate Change ,
Department of the Interior ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Offshore Wind ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Wind Power
The budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 (also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) adds a new provision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that allows project sponsors/applicants to pay for...more
7/18/2025
/ Budget Reconciliation ,
California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Review ,
Investment ,
NEPA ,
New Legislation ,
One Big Beautiful Bill Act ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Wind Power
The budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 (also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) adds a new provision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that allows project sponsors/applicants to pay for...more
7/17/2025
/ CEQ ,
Compliance ,
Deadlines ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Assessments ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Review ,
Federal Funding ,
Fees ,
Government Agencies ,
Infrastructure ,
NEPA ,
New Legislation ,
Notice of Intent ,
One Big Beautiful Bill Act ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Reform
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to phase out federal subsidies for green energy like wind and solar farms, citing unsustainability for the grid and too much reliance on foreign adversaries. The order...more
7/16/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Funding ,
Investment Tax Credits ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Wind Power
The Republican budget megabill, which makes steep cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk after passing both houses of Congress. The House passed the Senate’s...more
7/7/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Donald Trump ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Energy Tax Incentives ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration
California stands at a pivotal juncture in 2025, confronting an array of environmental and housing challenges. As usual, the California State Legislature is considering numerous strategies to address these issues. This year’s...more
6/24/2025
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
California ,
California Coastal Commission ,
California Endangered Species Act ,
CEQA ,
Citizen Suits ,
Clean Energy ,
Demolition ,
Density Bonus ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Impact Fees ,
Natural Disasters ,
Natural Resources ,
New Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sackett v EPA ,
Water Conservation ,
Waters of the United States ,
Wetlands ,
Wildfires
Senator Mike Crapo released draft text of the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the budget reconciliation bill on June 16. The Senate draft budget includes positives for the large-scale solar market, such as amending...more
New U.S. solar capacity will be more than 10% lower in 2030 than in 2025, according to a forecast by the Solar Energy Industries Association and energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. The outlook includes the expected effects...more
6/13/2025
/ Budget Cuts ,
California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Federal Budget ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs ,
Tax Credits
On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court held that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — which requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of projects that they carry out, fund, or approve — does not...more
6/9/2025
/ California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Government Agencies ,
NEPA ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
SCOTUS ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
The California Independent System Operator Board of Governors has approved the ISO’s 2024-2025 transmission plan, recommending 31 infrastructure projects to help meet projected load growth and changing grid conditions....more
The Trump administration took steps to rescind a Biden-era regulation that lowered fees for renewable energy projects on federal lands, saying the rule unfairly favored development of wind and solar facilities. The Interior...more
Attorneys general from 17 states, including California, and Washington, D.C., are challenging an executive order President Donald Trump signed during his first day in office, pausing approvals, permits, and loans for all wind...more
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has recommenced the review of solar, storage, and geothermal project applications on federal lands. This follows a 60-day suspension of all renewable energy authorizations, including...more
Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing to lay the groundwork for building a $20-billion water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta before his term expires, and state water regulators are considering whether to grant a...more
4/28/2025
/ California ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
Governor Newsom ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Permits ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Water Rights
On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively, the Services) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to rescind their respective...more
Fighting about rooftop solar in California never seems to get old. Kicking off the latest conflict is legislation that would reduce the benefits that longtime solar customers receive for extra electricity they produce and...more
At a March 25 hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, seven major U.S. grid operators, including the California Independent System Operator, testified that the nation’s power system is under...more
With the promise of newer, cheaper nuclear power on the horizon, U.S. states are vying to position themselves to build and supply the industry’s next generation as policymakers consider expanding subsidies and paving over...more
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved new maintenance and operation standards for battery storage resources, including requiring facility owners to develop emergency response and emergency action...more
The Northwest’s largest hydropower supplier announced it intends to join a new day-ahead energy market based in Arkansas over one based in California. Bonneville Power Administration officials announced in a draft policy...more
California Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) has introduced AB 1260, legislation designed to strengthen and expand the initial framework for California’s community solar + storage program established by AB 2316. The...more
The U.S. is considering alternatives to multibillion-dollar power capacity auctions as demand surges, driven by AI and data centers. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold a two-day conference in June 2025...more
A new bill has been introduced in California’s state legislature that would add an assessment of funding opportunities for offshore wind port infrastructure to the governor’s Five-Year Infrastructure Plan. Introduced on...more