Insights on Energy & Cleantech

A South Carolina state trial court recently dismissed a climate tort case filed by the City of Charleston seeking to hold major energy companies liable for harms allegedly caused by climate change. This ended a case that had bounced between state and federal courts for much of the last decade.

On July 4, President Donald Trump signed into law P.L. 119-21, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which, among other notable changes to the US tax system, rolls back several renewable energy incentives enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and creates new restrictions on renewable energy incentives for taxpayers with certain foreign entity connections, which are detailed below.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is back in the spotlight.

This fall, Congress is poised to consider and develop legislation differing in type and scope — from funding measures to reconciliation proposals.

On July 29, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding.

The climate debate has whipsawed in recent years. Businesses frequently have been caught in the middle, with stakeholders including government regulators, activist investors, consumers, non-governmental organizations, and community groups all pursuing different agendas.

On July 8, the US Supreme Court allowed President Trump’s executive order (EO) permitting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-related planning efforts for the Trump Administration’s restructuring of the federal workforce to move forward.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 — and a new Executive Order (EO) have clarified that solar and wind generation.

Changes in presidential Administration often mean changes in policy priorities and budgeting, but a Maryland federal district court recently held that the executive branch’s ability to pivot on policy has limits.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal statute that outlines how federal agencies must review the environmental impacts of their regulatory actions. The regulated community has often viewed NEPA as an obstacle to a broad range of federal actions in areas ranging from energy permitting to agriculture.

Partner J. Michael Showalter discussed the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI)- driven data centers on energy demand and emissions.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 69 attorneys were recognized as leaders in their field and 23 practices spanning the firm’s litigation, regulatory, and transactional capabilities were ranked in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Partner Antonio Rivera was quoted on the federal court decision that President Trump exceeded his authority when he used the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose worldwide tariffs by declaring a national emergency based on trade deficits.

“Energy security,” the principle that when you flip a light switch the lights will turn on, is something that most Americans take for granted. But the mechanics behind it incorporate both century-old transmission towers and the latest in renewable energy technology.

They say, “timing is everything.” This podcast comes to our listeners as Washington, DC, contemplates next moves on the US tariff front, including new tariffs on products key to the e-mobility sector.

For decades, businesses have focused on “doing more with less,” maximizing efficiency by optimizing resources and streamlining processes to achieve greater output with fewer inputs. This effort often involves leveraging technology, improving productivity, and reducing waste to maintain or enhance performance.

The Illinois Commerce Commission staff (ICC Staff) announced recommendations laying the groundwater for Illinois’ first procurement of energy storage resources expected to occur this summer.

President Trump’s energy-focused ambitions will generate work for regulators at all levels of the government.

Join Antonio Rivera for a roundtable discussion at the Battery Show South.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning a major reorganization of the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) that includes consolidating several sections within the division into other DOJ divisions, as well as eliminating field offices.

Join Antonio Rivera for a presentation at the 42nd International Battery Seminar and Exhibit.

The full scope of the Trump Administration’s deregulatory efforts in the environmental space was recently made clear with a series of announcements from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin.

The first weeks of the Trump Administration have been defined by executive orders and new policies that were immediately challenged on constitutional or statutory grounds.

A Biden-era US Department of Labor (DOL) Rule permitting consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors when choosing investments as a “tiebreaker” was recently upheld by Texas federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. This decision applied the US Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, revisiting three topics lost in 2025’s Department of Government Efficiency-era drama.

Last month, the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill establishing prevailing wage requirements and tax incentives for high voltage transmission line and utility-scale battery storage projects.