United States: Energy and Natural Resources

We are back on the road as our Navigating Nuclear series moves northeast from Texas to New York and New Jersey.

Explore the latest developments in sustainable energy and infrastructure, from West Coast power market dynamics and data center energy demands to nuclear micro-reactor acquisitions and the SEC's evolving stance on climate disclosure rules. This comprehensive update examines M&A activity, regulatory shifts, and emerging opportunities shaping the clean energy transition.

The moratorium exempts modifications or renewals of previously issued approvals and projects that commence construction by the effective date, and separately subjects existing, newly operational, and expanding data centers to energy-efficiency, host-community benefit, labor, rate-classification, and environmental-review obligations.

The Department of Justice has launched the FOCUS initiative to encourage data miners to file qui tam complaints under the False Claims Act, but these outsiders face significant legal hurdles including the public disclosure...

Minimal progress has been achieved towards a permanent settlement of conflict between the DRC and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23. Fighting in the eastern Congo persists, and both sides continue to accuse...

Federal agencies are deploying equity and equity-linked capital instruments across the critical minerals sector, fundamentally reshaping how mining and processing projects are capitalized, governed and exited. This structural shift introduces new considerations for sponsors and strategic investors navigating transactions where national security priorities intersect with private capital formation.

Bob Brewer, BLG sits down with Victoria Holmes from the Dispatch and discusses The Strait of Hormuz, Taiwan, China, and Venezuela​

The Sanctions Update is compiled by Steptoe’s International Trade and Regulatory Compliance team and Steptoe’s Strategic Risk team.

We are back on the road as our Navigating Nuclear series moves northeast from Texas to New York and New Jersey.

The Internal Revenue Service announced it would hold a hearing on June 18, 2026, regarding a petition to add methyl methacrylate-ethyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer in a styrene solution to the list of taxable substances under the Superfund excise tax. However, due to receiving no requests to testify or topic outlines by the deadline, the IRS has canceled the scheduled hearing.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Wilbur-Ellis Company for $630,737 over violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act at facilities in California and Washington.

Connecticut's PFAS reporting requirement takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law requires manufacturers of certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS to disclose...