Energy Update: Week of January 12th

Friends,

We are definitely rolling in the 2026 with a roar. Last week was crazy with all the oil industry action on Venezuela, DOE’s Uranium announcement (where to issued a $900M DOE award to a French state-owned Orano that has a strategic nuclear partnership with China), Trump pulling the US out of the UN’s Climate Change Framework Treaty (UNFCCC), data center and offshore wind challenges and the beginning of the permit reform surge on Capitol Hill.

But let’s start with the Gloden Globes, Hollywood’s most fun night. The 83^rd annual Golden Globe Awards took place at the Beverly Hilton Sunday and of course Nikki Glaser again did not disappoint. Big winners were One Battle After Another, Hamnet, The Pitt, Adolescence, Marty Supreme and The Studio which all walked away with multiple statuettes. And kudos to Amy Poehler for winning the first ever “Best Podcast” Globe for Good Hang. She concluded with, "mom and dad, you can watch the Patriots now." (who won big against the LA Chargers.)

Back to the latest action with Friday’s White House meeting with 20 or so oil-related industry CEOs. The surprise was the meeting was public with TV/internet access to the entire event. It went about as I had predicted and expected. It set the issues table and a general timeline for future potential action. We also heard the President’s needs/direction and finally, industry speakers outlined the clear in-country challenges while establishing security and political stability as necessary prerequisites for industry to fully-engage. We expect another meeting in a few weeks. I discussed the meeting with Julie Mason on her SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S show on Friday WHILE it was ongoing!!!

The US Chamber also kicked off its permitting effort with a Congressional Day of Action on the first full-day Congress was back in session this year to advocate for timely action on permitting reform. As a new year and legislative agenda begin, it is a critical moment to underscore the importance of a modernized permitting process—one that reflects the scale and urgency of American’s infrastructure needs. The Day of Action was part of the U.S. Chamber’s Permit America to Build initiative, which highlights how the nation’s outdated permitting process too often stalls projects, drives up costs, and creates uncertainty for businesses—hindering economic growth.  This week, American Gas Assn will hold a member only webinar on Wednesday focusing on the National Petroleum Council’s recent report.

It will be a busy events week with several signature “new year agenda” events taking place. It all starts TODAY at 1:30 p.m. with API’s State of American Energy presser and forum tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. at The Anthem (obviously the agenda boosted by the recent Venezuela discussion). Lots of great insights from API head Mike Sommers, CEOs Maryann Mannen , Jack Fusco and Toby Rice, and others including expert energy analysts Kevin Book and Bob McNally. Then on Wednesday, Resources For the Future holds its annual keystone event, Big Decisions, analyzing anticipated federal and state actions. There are three key events on Thursday: 1) USEA’s State of the Energy Industry event which features all energy trade association CEOs and Energy Secretary Wright starting at 10:30 a.m., 2) AGA holds its Winter NatGas Outlook Update, as well as roll out of its new Chair at 1:00 p.m. and 3) The US Chamber of Commerce holds its State of American Business address at 3:00 p.m.

It is also a big week for Offshore Wind with court dates for Trump Stop-Work Orders for Revolution Wind (today), Empire (Wednesday) and Dominion’s CVOW (Friday). Happy to discuss – we have good resources on “national security” issues and all other related items.

In Congress, the Senate will gavel in today to proceed on the three-bill appropriations minibus that overwhelming passed in the House last week and includes funding for DOE, EPA and Interior. One Roadblock: Colorado Sens. Hickenlooper and Bennet are holding up the measure to protest the administration’s plans to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (located in CO). President Trump heads to Michigan tomorrow to speak at the Detroit Economic Club for a speech on the affordability issue. On Thursday, Trump welcomes the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to the White House.

Hearings include tomorrow’s House Energy hearing on grid issues and energy affordability.  The Senate Commerce Committee postponed its expected hearing with auto execs on EVs and affordability questions, while House Energy & Commerce also discusses a similar topic on auto safety. 

Finally, the FBS National Championship College Football is set for next Monday in Miami featuring top-seed Indiana and last team in Miami.  It will be a home game for the Hurricanes and Heisman trophy winner, IU Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who grew up a block away from “the U”. While Miami has been dominating defensively in the playoffs, it is just not clear if anyone can stop Medoza/Hoosiers, who look like a steamroller smashing everything in sight.

Friday is my birthday so I won’t be taking calls…(you know that is not true!!) But I’ll be Shipping up to Boston… Call with any questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

Six Key Energy Issues for 2026

In case you missed it, we sent Six Key Energy Issues for 2026 last week.  In case you were out, we wanted to resend here:

1. Data center, AI, Consumer Demand Questions and Infrastructure Actions – We (Bracewell) have been talking about energy infrastructure for more than two years now, but in 2026, the rapid expansion of data centers, AI deployment and electrified consumer demand is colliding with infrastructure realities that policymakers and markets can no longer ignore. Hyperscale data centers are emerging as among the fastest-growing sources of load in the U.S., raising urgent questions about who pays for new generation, transmission, and gas infrastructure—and how quickly it can be permitted and built. At the same time, AI-driven demand growth is challenging long-held assumptions about efficiency gains, forcing utilities, regulators and states to rethink integrated resource planning, cost allocation and reliability standards. Consumers are feeling the effects through higher bills, rate design debates and concerns over whether grid investments are keeping pace with economic growth. This year the focus will shift from forecasting demand to pushing infrastructure solutions: accelerating transmission buildout, enabling firm power additions, expanding natural gas pipelines and storage and aligning interconnection/permitting reforms with real-world timelines. The policy debate will center on whether government actions can keep infrastructure development synchronized with growth – or whether delays and regulatory friction will turn America’s AI advantage into an energy liability.
2. Nuclear Power’s Time – Heading into 2026, nuclear power is poised to move from renewed interest to measurable advancement – but timing will be everything. Large-scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) are progressing along parallel tracks: utilities and developers must turn federal support, licensing reforms and offtake agreements into final investment decisions, while proving that new builds can meet cost and schedule discipline. SMRs, in particular, need tangible construction milestones, standardized designs, and clearer customer commitments to validate their promise beyond demonstration projects. Across the full supply chain, fuel availability remains a gating issue. Uranium mining, conversion and domestic production must scale rapidly to support both advanced reactors and life-extension of the existing fleet, with geopolitical risks sharpening the urgency of domestic and allied supply. At the same time, reactor restarts may offer the fastest near-term gains, but regulatory pathways and market signals are still unclear. In 2026, the question for nuclear will be less about ambition and more about execution: whether policy, capital, and supply chains can move in sync to turn momentum into durable capacity growth.
3. Energy Politics – As 2026 unfolds, energy policy is shaping up to be a defining fault line in the midterm elections—one that will influence how Republicans position themselves heading into the next presidential cycle and whether they meaningfully recalibrate away from some of President Trump’s less serious, backward-looking energy instincts. Voters are confronting a reality of rising power demand, grid reliability risks and global competition that makes all-of-the-above energy policy less ideological and more pragmatic. That dynamic is forcing Republicans to reconcile traditional fossil energy strength with the need for permitting reform, domestic supply chains, and firm power—including nuclear and natural gas—while navigating growing skepticism toward renewables, offshore wind and other projects perceived as costly or unreliable. Pushback on renewables needs to create space for mainstream GOP/Dems to argue for energy realism over symbolism. 2026 will test whether both these mainstream energy politicos can articulate a forward-looking energy agenda rooted in affordability, security and competitiveness—or remain tethered to each’s grievance-driven policies that fail to address the system-wide challenges voters increasingly feel.
4. The Role of Energy Costs – We will see a shift this year from the traditional energy costs that we always have in our face - gasoline prices - to a more difficult challenge - electricity prices. They are always much more difficult to follow. Hell, I have been working with electric and natgas utilities for 25 years and I can’t even understand my power bill. How this plays out will matter in substance, but I can tell you, both parties slinging around "affordability" claims will only drive more confusion and politicize the issue. And we need to be clear: there is a massive amount of nuance around energy costs and it is not completely accurate that some potential solutions are less costly than extending the life of current infrastructure. My point: there is a lot of non-substantive, messaging jujitsu going on in this debate because voters are paying attention.  I encourage you to look closely, before take the bait.
5. Permit Reform is Key – Permit reform is the answer to almost every question.  Reliability, affordability, safety, cost, national security, infrastructure, protecting renewables, advancing traditional energy, decarbonization - all of it.  After the House passage of permitting legislation led by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Jared Golden after some controversies. Now, can the Senate move the House effort forward to improve the effort and help make it even more bipartisan. What happens in the first quarter (before CERA Week) will be a key indicator.
6. Who Can Survive Trump Policy Attacks – A key question for 2026 will be can energy sectors and industries withstand policy and political attacks from the Trump Administration.  Clearly, Offshore Wind is against the ropes but legal, practical, business and reliability issues are likely to undercut the Administration’s effort to stop all projects.  Those under construction will likely finish – including several in 2026. It is also not likely to impact longer-term planning for projects they may help after Trump leaves office. The tougher question is, has the Trump effort to step on the OSW pipeline undermined mid-term projects they were starting to move now but have been sidelined. Other sectors or industries to watch for similar targeting include ethanol and biofuels, which are always under some pressure because their results have decarbonization goals. Land-based renewables (both solar and wind) will also continue to face pressure but they are definitely built out and in many cases already baked in to utility planning. And energy storage and hydrogen – which both are supported by energy sectors the President likes – will also remain under pressure both economics, tax credits and project development. The last question: will Congress step up and support projects they know are helping locally with reliability, affordability, economic development and job creation?

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“While Venezuela is a whale when it comes to reserves of oil in the ground, it is a minnow when it comes to producing and exporting oil in the global oil market that determines the price of gasoline you and I pay at the pump.

Rapidan exec Bob McNalley on CNN discussing challenges in Venezuela

ON THE PODCAST

WSJ’s Uberti Highlights Challenges in Venezuela – On Wall Street Journal TV, reporter David Uberti breaks down why oil prices barely budged after the U.S. ousted Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and President Trump pledged billions to revive the country’s oil infrastructure.

FUN OPINIONS

Blas: Venezuela Can Offer Quick Wins on Oil – In his Bloomberg column, columnist Javier Blas disagrees with some conventional wisdom that the future of the Venezuela oil industry is bleak. He says the naysayers state that any output gains are far, far away and need huge investments needs to reflect a reality that is more nuanced. There are low-hanging barrels in the country of good-quality crude that’s relatively easy to extract — and it opens the way to quick wins in reviving dilapidated petroleum infrastructure.

New Moment for Nuclear – In an opinion column in RealClearEnergy, US Nuclear Industry Council head Todd Abrajano, Energy Innovation Reform Project President Sam Thernstrom and former State Department energy official Paul Saunders write as America’s electric grid faces an unprecedent strain, nuclear power has never been more promising nor more important. Nuclear energy provides clean, reliable power that is vital to our economy and national security. American companies are pioneering some of the most promising advanced reactor designs in the world, but they will not succeed without effective government support for nuclear energy. As electricity demand rises and global competitors accelerate their own nuclear programs, restoring U.S. leadership in nuclear energy is essential to ensuring reliable, affordable, and resilient power for decades ahead.

FROG BLOG

Chamber Blog Outlines Permit Reform Urgency – In a new Chamber blog post, Global Energy Institute head Marty Durbin writes America’s outdated permitting process is delaying critical infrastructure projects, driving up costs, and creating uncertainty for families and businesses. An overlooked, but equally critical element of reform, is permit certainty. Durbin says changes in an administration can also bring approved projects to a halt. This was the case when the Biden Administration overturned permits granted by the first Trump Administration for the Keystone XL Pipeline and an Alaska critical minerals project known as Ambler Road. It is also the case now with the Department of Interior’s recent pause on five large offshore wind projects that were previously permitted, under construction and, in some cases, nearly completed.

US Action in Venezuela Hinders China, Russia – In a Columbia SIPA blog post, Drs. Erica Downs and Luisa Palacios analyze how the US effort in Venezuela jeopardizes China's access to discounted Venezuelan crude, puts debt repayments at risk and increases uncertainty for future Chinese investments across Latin America.

FUN FACTS

Venezuela Output: Big Changes are in line for Venezuela. Venezuela agreed to hand over 50 million barrels of oil, worth about $2.8 billion. It’s a small shift in oil flows, but enough to elicit an angry rebuttal from officials in China, the top importer of Venezuelan crude.

And here is a more narrow version from the Energy Policy Research Foundation based on EIA data:

 

IN THE NEWS

White House Pulls out UNFCCC – The Trump Administration said the US will withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and 65 other organizations, referring to them as “contrary to the interests of the US. BCSE President Lisa Jacobson said they support the work of the UNFCCC and implementation of the Paris Agreement. “Continued leadership and support by the United States in international climate and energy multilateral arenas and programs enhances the status of American companies in this highly competitive global market. Withdrawing U.S. participation in the UNFCCC limits our ability to ensure U.S. interests are protected, while jeopardizing investment partnerships that can benefit the U.S. economy and create U.S. jobs.”

Orsted Files Sunrise Project Suit Against Interior –Orsted filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s halting of a second turbine project. Sunrise Wind, which is nearly 45 percent complete, was slated to start producing electricity in October 2026, supplying up to 600,000 homes under a 25-year contract with the State of New York. While Sunrise Wind continues to seek to work constructively with the Administration and other stakeholders towards an expeditious and durable resolution of this matter, it believes that the lease suspension order violates applicable law.

WoodMac Report Shows Record Wind Growth, But Trouble Next Year – A new report from experts at Wood Mackenzie said wind energy installations reached a record 170 gigawatts globally in 2025, but predicts that figure to fall 6% in the coming year. Drawing on unique insight from Lens Wind, WoodMac’s global wind experts have made their predictions for the key themes to watch in Wind power: what to look for in 2026. The report examines seven themes we’ll be tracking closely, from policy reforms to cap-ex stabilization, offshore wind tender and supply chain challenges, growing impacts of the ageing fleet and the transition to more market-based competition. It provides insights for near-term disruptions that signal deeper structural shifts and changes in competitive dynamics.

NEMA Appoints DOE Veteran to Lead Grid Strategy – The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today announced the hiring of energy industry veteran Bridget Bartol as Executive Director, Industry and Regulatory Affairs for the Grid. Bartol brings more than 15 years of policy and regulatory experience to NEMA, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and previously as Deputy Director for the Office of Public Affairs for DOE. Electrical manufacturers provide essential infrastructure for a modernized grid: from copper wire and transformers to smart grid solutions and digital substation technologies. NEMA members’ products are integral to meeting rising electricity demand in a safe, cybersecure, and resilient manner. In her new role, Bartol will lead NEMA’s grid strategy, working closely with utility partners, regulatory agencies, and trade allies to achieve shared objectives for a robust, efficient, and reliable U.S. electrical grid. 

Gevo Adds New Executive – Gevo added agricultural industry veteran Greg Hanselman as executive vice president, operations and engineering. Hanselman’s hire is part of Gevo’s ongoing growth and succession planning, as Chris Ryan, Gevo’s long-time chief operating officer, is planning to retire from the company in June of 2026. Hanselman comes to Gevo from previous roles in global agribusiness leadership as vice president of global engineering for Ingredion, and as senior vice president of global manufacturing for Tate & Lyle, both leading global producers of plant-based food and industrial ingredients. He also held various roles at Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.

EEI, America250 Parter on Powering the Celebration – America250, the nonpartisan organization charged by Congress with leading the commemoration of the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has a new partnership with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). EEI, the association representing U.S. investor-owned electric companies, will serve as a national partner of America250, supporting efforts to engage communities across the country as the nation approaches its semi quincentennial in 2026. Through this partnership, EEI will help advance America250’s mission to educate, inspire, and unite Americans around the country’s history, values, and future.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Federalists Society Takes SCOTUS Case – Today at 3:00 p.m., the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies holds a virtual discussion on Chevron v. Plaquemines Parish focusing on oil and gas companies liability for damage to the Louisiana coast. The Supreme Court will consider whether the companies' refining contracts with the federal government dating back to World War II establish federal court jurisdiction under the Federal Officer Removal Statute.

API Holds State of Energy Event – The American Petroleum Institute holds its annual 2026 State of American Energy forum tomorrow at The Anthem starting at 8:00 a.m. IN addition to API’s Mike Sommers, speakers include Marathon CEO Maryann Mannen, Cheniere CEO Jack Fusco, EQT President Toby Rice, Kevin Book of ClearView Energy, Rapidan’s Bob McNally and CNBC anchor Brian Sullivan.

CSIS Looks at Venezuela, Donroe Doctrine – The Center for Strategic and International Studies Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on “The Donroe Doctrine” and what US action in Venezuela means for China, Russia and Iran. The event will feature special episode of State of Play on the lessons these states are learning from Maduro’s capture and what it means for their interests going forward.

House Energy Looks at Energy Infrastructure – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. on protecting America's energy infrastructure in today's cyber and physical threat landscape.

House Resources Looks at Fisheries, Hunting/Fishing Issues– The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing on H.R. 5745 (119), the "Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act."  At 2:00 p.m. , the Committee’s Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee holds a hearing on hunting and fishing access in the Great American Outdoors.

Forum Looks at Energy Innovation – Tomorrow at 12:30 a.m., the Council on Foreign Relations holds a discussion on accelerating the Federal role in energy innovation. Panelists explore opportunities for the United States to develop and deploy emerging energy technologies to better compete with China and other global rivals, as well as discuss pragmatic ways to expand federal investment in energy innovation and maximize its impact. Among the panel speakers is CRES head Heather Reams and ACP’s JC Sandberg and our friend Justin Worland of TIME moderates.

Carnegie Discussion Looks at Climate Loss, Damage – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace holds a discussion tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on financing climate mobility through the loss and damage fund. The event will feature a panel discussion that will bring together climate, mobility, and finance experts, as well as national governments, to discuss the implications of climate mobility funding. Our event will begin with opening remarks from Carlos Andrés Alvarado Quesada, former president of Costa Rica.

Detroit Auto Show Set – The North American International Auto Show starts on Wednesday and run to Sunday January 25^th, The event brings together a full slate of major automotive brands, immersive indoor tracks, the debut of the Michigan Overland Adventure and Visit Detroit Interactive Experience, and the return of The Gallery with ultra-luxury vehicles. International superstar and multi-platinum recording artist Robin Thicke headlines Charity Preview on Friday with guest performances by Detroit’s-own Trick Trick, DJ Rimarkable, and master of ceremonies Jalen Rose. Benefiting six children’s charities in Southeast Michigan, the preeminent black-tie annual Motor City gala will be held at Huntington Place in Detroit.

AEI Holds Key Electricity Demand Event – The American Enterprise Institute holds an all-day forum on Wednesday on powering prosperity in the new electricity economy. This conference with experts from academia, government, and industry will seek answers, addressing issues such as the role of renewable energy in meeting demand, distributed solutions that bring power closer to customers, and new ways to finance the trillions in capital investment required to build the new electricity economy. Among the speakers include our friends Rob Gramlich of Grid Strategies, Christi Tezak  of ClearView Energy and NRG’s Travis Kavulla. Peter Lake, senior director of power at the National Energy Dominance Council, delivers opening keynote remarks.

RFF Hosts Former OMB Head – Resources for the Future (RFF) on Wednesday for Big Decisions, its annual keystone event analyzing anticipated federal and state actions. The event will begin with a fireside chat between RFF President and CEO Billy Pizer and Lazard CEO and Chairman Peter Orszag, former director of the US Office of Management and Budget. The fireside chat will be followed by a panel of experts discussing key drivers of the policy conversation, such as energy affordability and demand growth, as well as looming decisions on regulations and the endangerment finding by the Trump administration, legislative discussions on permitting, and more. Questions from the audience for the panel may be submitted in advance.

POSTPONED – Senate Commerce Hosts Autos to Discuss Affordability – The Senate Commerce Committee postponed its hearing on Wednesday. Committee Chairman Ted Cruz had invited the heads of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Chrysler parent company Stellantis NV to testify, but they could not attend. According to reporting from our friend Grant Schwab of the Detroit News, the companies are balked after Cruz only invited technical experts from Texas-based Tesla.

AGA Talks Permitting – The American Gas Assn will hold a webinar on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. about permit legislation, focusing on the National Petroleum Council’s recent report on the topic.

FCHEA Hosts Event on MLPs – FCHEA will hold a forum on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on the role of Master Limited Partnership (MLP) and hydrogen. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act made many sweeping changes to America's energy system.  One of these changes was an expansion of MLPs to now include hydrogen. 

Experts talk Venezuela Energy – On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., the Energy Policy Research Foundation will host an off-the-record Zoom session with Dr. Orlando Ochoa, Ivan Sandrea and Dr. Rafael Sandrea to discuss Venezuela's short-term and long-term oil & gas outlook following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. The expert guests will grapple with stabilizing Venezuela and increasing oil and gas output in the near term; its reserves and new capital? What infrastructure and partnerships will matter most if the country shifts toward recovery?

Coal Council Meets – The Department of Energy holds a meeting of the National Coal Council on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. DOE moved to reestablish the National Coal Council, a committee of private sector leaders and experts tasked with providing advice to the Secretary of Energy on coal policy, technology and markets. Originally formed in 1984, the NCC ceased operations in 2021 when its charter expired under the Biden administration.

AGA Talks 2026 NatGas Outlook –The American Gas Assn holds its 2026 State of American Natural Gas Policy Outlook at it DC office on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. In addition to the year outlook, AGA will introduce its new Chair.

Chamber Sets State of American Business – The US Chamber holds Its annual State of American Business event on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. the Chamber HQ.  Chamber CEO Suzanne Clark hosts key leaders from different sectors and certainly energy is likely to a major topic.

Dominion OSW Lawsuit Set – A judge has scheduled a hearing on Friday in Dominion Energy’s lawsuit against the federal government after the Trump administration ordered a 90-day pause on five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast. The update comes after Dominion sought a temporary restraining order and the government filed briefs saying it can provide classified information for the court’s review. Dominion estimated the project would begin generating electricity in early 2026, with enough energy to power approximately 660,000 residences. In its lawsuit filed, the utility described the administration’s stop-work order as “arbitrary and capricious.”

IN THE FUTURE

Davos Economic Forum Set – The World Economic Forum's 56^th Annual Meeting will be held next Monday to Friday January 19–23^rd in Davos, Switzerland. The event gathers leaders across geographies, industries and generations under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue. The meeting embodies an attitude of openness and cooperation that is core to the Forum’s work. Discussions are centered around five key global challenges: cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation responsibly, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries. Semafor holds events each day with CEO Signal Editor Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson interviewing global leaders like GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik to examine how executives are resetting priorities, reassessing risk and redefining resilience.

Power Conference Set  for Texas – POWERGEN 2026 is set for Tuesday January 20^th to Thursday the 22^nd at the Henry Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. The event will look at powering the data center boom. Load growth has become the defining challenge for the power generation industry. From utilities and IPPs to EPCs and OEMs, every stakeholder is racing to deliver new capacity and POWERGEN will be where all aspects are discussed.

Hydrogen Forum Heads to Hill – The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association holds a moderated panel session on Thursday January 22^nd at 1:00 p.m. in 2045 Rayburn where industry leaders will delve into how hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are proven and ready to meet America's energy challenges and growing power demand while creating new jobs, manufacturing, and export opportunities across the country. This event will be held in cooperation with the American Energy Dominance Caucus. Our friend Erin Lane of Plug Power is among the speakers.

Washington Auto Show Features Policy Day Focus – The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is renowned as the nation’s premier “Public Policy Show,” offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with the key figures driving the future of the automotive industry. This 10-day consumer event kicks off on January 22^nd with an exclusive gathering of automotive leaders, government officials, and media representatives, where they come together to discuss the current state of the U.S. auto sector and its future initiatives. Public Policy Day serves as a vital platform for engaging in discussions on the most pressing issues facing the automotive industry, including cutting-edge technology, environmental regulations, and innovative mobility solutions.  The full show runs from January 23^rd to February 1^st. 

NCEA Energy Report Set for Release – The National Center for Energy Analytics will release its new report, Energy Delusions and the Return of Realism: A Critique of Oil “Scenarios” in the IEA World Energy Outlook 2025, on Tuesday January 27 at 10:00 a.m. during an event on Capitol Hill and online. This briefing will examine the assumptions behind the IEA’s oil-market forecasts and their implications for policy, investment, and energy security. Former EIA head Adam Sieminski is one of the authors of the report.

EESI to Address Wildfire Innovations – On Tuesday January 27^th at 3:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) hold a briefing on emerging solutions to tackle the wildfire crisis, and the federal policy strategies for getting these solutions into the field. This briefing will highlight efforts to address this crisis, including wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery policies and innovations in the United States. Panelists will identify evidence-backed approaches—from smart zoning and upgraded building codes to fuels management and early detection—and the role of federal policy in supporting the rapid development and cost-effective implementation of these tactics at scale. Attendees will leave this briefing with an understanding of how to strengthen wildfire mitigation efforts, bolster community wildfire resilience, ease the strain on emergency services, and save taxpayer dollars.

Multi-Group Transportation Workshop Set – The 2026 Transportation Engineering, Economics, and Policy (TEEP) Workshop is organized jointly by the University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, University of Michigan and Resources for the Future and will be held on January 30^th. This one-day event highlights interdisciplinary research on the economic, equity, environmental, and health implications of new technologies and policies, and features discussions with policy experts on the future of US transportation policies.

HVACR Expo Set for Vegas – The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute is set for Las Vegas on February 2^nd to 4^th.  The AHR Expo will take over Orlando for a fast-paced week of learning, reconnecting, perusing and demoing everything new coming to market in HVACR. Topics spanning industry sectors included tariffs, regulation updates, A2Ls, AI, equipment design and more.

Offshore Wind Conference Set for NYC – The International Partnering Forum (IPF), a major offshore wind conference organized by Business/wind advocacy group Oceanic on February 9^th to 12^th in New York City at the Sheraton Times Square.  The event is where marine renewable technology meets execution, especially now with wind under pressure from the Trump Administration.  U.S. and global leaders in wave, tidal, floating solar, and large-scale ocean energy projects will speak about turn ideas into action on projects, ports, vessels, grid, and transmission.

National Ethanol Conference Set – The National Ethanol Conference will be held on February 14^th to 16^th in Orlando. NEC is the most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry. Past events have welcomed industry leaders from across the United States and 20 countries. Since 1996, the Renewable Fuels Association’s NEC has been recognized as the ethanol conference for the latest, timely information on marketing, legislative, and regulatory issues facing the industry. Our friends Kevin Book and API’s Wil Hupman are among the speakers, along with ethanol industry experts.

State of the Union Set – House Speaker Mike Johnson invited Trump to give the State of the Union address on February 24^th