Energy Update: Week of July 28th

Friends,

Well, I am back from Alaska. Wow, what an experience. For my fellow Alaskans who warned me about the weather, I over packed!!!  I never had to touch any of that cold or rain gear. What are you talking about? The weather seems like it is perfect all the time – just like San Diego almost, except for a few bears and way more mosquitos. I highly recommend a visit to the Last Frontier.

While the House has run for August district work period (I will just leave that one alone), the Senate remains here in DC working on nominations, including tonight on NRC Commissioner David Wright. Senate Energy will vote on Wednesday on energy/interior nominations, including DOE’s Audrey Robertson. There will also be Wednesday hearings in Senate Homeland Security looking at Supreme Court’s Loper-Bright and its impacts on regulations, as well as Senate Foreign Affairs addressing African minerals issues with the State Department. 

Beyond that, two things in our energy world that will be on the front burner: 1) permitting and 2) the EPA Endangerment finding action.

Let’s start with the endangerment finding since that is right in front of us.  Already there has been some reporting on what the EPA may do, but exact questions remain on when they will do it.  My colleague Jeff Holmstead, the EPA Air Administrator when all this started in 2003, is one the legal world’s most prominent experts on this topic and Scott Segal is also one of the better resources regarding its impacts on energy policy.  They are both available to discuss, react, offer insight, historical perspective and context.  Remember, both were involved in issues before the court cases starting, covered the initial arguments at SCOTUS in the Mass v. EPA case argued November 29, 2006 and decided April 2, 2007 and remain engaged in all related cases (including EPA v. WV in 2022) that followed.

On permitting, the issue has re-emerged to the front burner with Majority Leader Scalise’s comments last week that the House will bring it up when it returns in September. This is an important move to the front of the agenda, but there is still a long way to go.  With many false starts and ill-fated, short-lived attempts in the recent past, I remain cautiously optimistic, but still guarded.  Of course, the energy industry across the board remains very interested in creating certainty in permitting and getting a streamlined process that can move much-needed projects to the finish line faster.

The President is in Scotland, and yes, he was talking about wind turbines again. Mostly, the same old things he always says that don’t make a lot of sense. And with another trade deal deadline set for Friday, he is also focused on the trade deal struck with the EU yesterday that includes large investments in the energy sector. Under the current framework, the EU will purchase $750 billion worth of American energy and increase its investment in the U.S. by more than $600 billion above its current levels.

Finally, I will be off on Friday heading for Columbus for an my annual Pelotonia Cancer Charity bike ride.  As you know, my brother is fighting brain cancer so this is my opportunity to fight back with him as hard as I can and that means riding a long way!!! I would love it if you could support the effort: https://www.pelotonia.org/profile/FM735496

Probably one more update next week for August and an update on the Pelotonia ride.  Call with Questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932                                                                                                              

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“This is not unusual that federal agencies are influenced by presidential administrations, and it's a fantasy to think that a commission is going to go off totally contrary to what a presidential administration wants.”

FERC Chair Mark Christie following his last FERC Open meeting last week.

ON THE PODCAST

Offshore Wind is National Security Issue – In a podcast for clean energy and veterans, national security expert Kirk Lippold discusses the U.S. become energy independent, economically resilient, and globally competitive. He’s not chasing titles. He’s connecting the dots between national security, clean energy, and leadership that actually works.

FUN OPINIONS

Hydrogen Future Important in Louisiana – In an opinion in NOLA.com, Air Liquide CEO Adam Peters and hydrogen trade association head Frank Wolak write Louisiana knows firsthand that energy security is national security. As global threats mount and demand for reliable fuel and power grow, it is time we reaffirm that leadership by advancing the next chapter of American energy independence: hydrogen. Now, with the right policies in place, we have the chance to scale production in a way that simultaneously strengthens our economy, reduces emissions and cements U.S. leadership in a critical global market.

FROG BLOG

Chamber: Permitting Reform is Essential – In a blog on permitting reform moving forward in Congress, the US Chamber’s Marty Durbin writes its coalition of nearly 350 organizations from every corner of the country and every sector of our economy have been delivering the message that America cannot afford to wait any longer to modernize its broken permitting system. Businesses are ready and willing to innovate, invest, and build, but we need a permitting system that will help, not hinder, those efforts. He highlights the Chamber’s comprehensive permitting reform package and its four principles: predictability, efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder input.

Heritage’s Roth Highlights Energy Dominance – In a blog post on The National Interest, Heritage Foundation energy expert Diana Furchtgott-Roth says the trump Administration’s energy dominance agenda is not a slogan—it is a cornerstone of national power. It underpins economic resilience, strengthens alliances, and deters adversaries. By embracing a strategy rooted in abundance, sovereignty, and strategic foresight, the United States is not just powering its economy—it is securing its future and the future of its allies.

FUN FACTS

IEA Says NatGas to Increase: Following a slowdown in 2025, growth in global demand for natural gas is expected to rise in 2026, according to the IEA’s latest quarterly Gas Market Report. After slowdown this year as market tightness pushed up prices, looser balances appear on the horizon, although significant uncertainties remain.

IN THE NEWS

Scalise Says Permitting on September Agenda – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said that GOP leadership wants to advance permitting reform legislation this fall. Scalise said the current plan is to advance a standalone bill. Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Republicans on several other committees are working on the legislation, but it’s unclear if Democrats and Republicans will be able to work together on legislation that could get the bipartisan support necessary for it to become law. Scalise’s remarks come as Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Scott Peters (D-CA) recently introduced the bipartisan “ePermit Act” to digitize the federal government’s permitting process and reduce processing time for National Environmental Policy Act reviews.

International Court Rules Countries Could be Liable for Emissions Damage – In a non-binding ruling, the International Court of Justice issued an opinion that says nations may face consequences if they don’t meet obligations to tackle climate change. “Failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system ... may constitute an internationally wrongful act,” court President Yuji Iwasawa said during the hearing. He called the climate crisis “an existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life and the very health of our planet.” Of Course, environmental activists and trial lawyers suing oil companies claimed this as a total victory and it will certainly be used as leverage at the UN COP 30 in Brazil in November. 

In Major Reversal, California Looking to Keep Refineries Alive – California Gov.  Gavin Newsom has expressed a willingness to work with refiners as they consider closing two major refineries that EIA says will boost West Coast gas prices significantly. In a letter to California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda, Newsom instructed CEC to coordinate with oil refiners to preserve in-state fuel production and ensure supply availability, with policy recommendations due by July 1. According to Newsom, “California will continue to lead the way in this transition, but it’s imperative that we continue to ensure a safe, affordable and reliable supply of transportation fuels over the next two decades.” California’s gasoline prices are currently around $1.60 more a gallon than the national average. While Governor Newsom likes to say it is due to price gouging, California’s gas taxes, boutique fuel blends, and other requirements add about $1.40 per gallon to the price of gasoline. Among other policies under Newsom, the state has plans to phase out the sale of gasoline cars by 2035.

Air Liquide Hydrogen Project Rolls Forward – Amid reports that hydrogen projects are stalled, Air Liquide launched the construction of ELYgator, a 200 MW electrolyzer project in Maasvlakte, in the Port of Rotterdam. Air Liquide will invest more than €500 million ($586 million) to build, own and operate the electrolyzer, supplying notably TotalEnergies’ industrial platform through a long-term contract. The ELYgator project will produce 23,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually, serving industrial and heavy-duty mobility customers, reducing up to 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year of operation.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Cities Focus on Court Issues’ Impact – The National League of Cities holds a virtual discussion today at 1:00 p.m. on Supreme Court review for local governments: The event is focusing on "public safety, the environment, employment law and nationwide or universal injunctions.

Heritage Looks at Arctic Energy – The Heritage Foundation holds a discussion tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. on the collaboration effort on energy and Arctic Security. DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Security Joseph Alm joins Heritage experts Brent Sadler and Wilson Beaver to discuss the ICE Pact.

Forum Looks at Israe-Iran Security Challenges – The Center for the National Interest holds an online panel tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. assessing Gulf Arab perspectives on the Israel-Iran conflict and its aftermath.

Brookings to Discuss Wildfire Resilience – Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., Brookings Metro and Economic Architecture will host the second event of the Safe, Healthy, Resilient Homes series, an in-person discussion on how structural innovations are transforming wildfire resilience in the United States. This event will bring together leaders advancing both cutting-edge technologies and community-based strategies to reduce wildfire risks at the magnitude this moment demands.

Senate Energy Votes on Nominees – The Senate Energy Committee holds a markup on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to vote on the nominations of Lanny Erdos to be director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Audrey Robertson to be an assistant Energy secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy; and Timothy John Walsh to be an assistant Energy secretary for environmental management.

CSIS Looks at AI Challenges – The CSIS Wadhwani AI Center will host Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House OSTP om Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. for a public, in-person fireside chat. Kratsios will join Wadhwani AI Center Senior Adviser Greg Allen to break down the AI Action Plan and discuss the Trump administration’s vision for U.S. AI leadership and innovation amid strategic competition with China.

Forum Looks at China Impact on Caribbean – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.,  Inter-American Dialogue holds a virtual discussion to review of Chinese climate assistance in the Caribbean.

Senate Homeland Committee Looks at Loper-Bright Impacts – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on how to more effectively legislate after the Supreme Court’s Loper-Bright decision curbed deference to agencies’ statutory interpretations. The hearing with focus on a Bipartisan Policy Center

Senate Foreign Relations Looks at Minerals, Africa – On Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy looking at the Trump administration’s strategy in Africa for securing resources from mineral-rich countries like the Congo and Rwanda. Witnesses include State Department officials Jonathan Pratt and Scott Woodard.

RFF Looks at Public Land Issues – Resources for the Future holds a virtual discussion on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. focused on changes in public land policies. Experts will discuss federal lands and the implications of changes in staffing and funding, timber harvesting, oil and gas leasing, and monument designations. Moderated by E&E News reporter Ian Stevenson, the group will discuss their recent If/Then analyses of the road ahead for public lands.

R Street Looks at Strate Energy Policy – The R Street Institute holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. focused on energy policy in the states. The event features a panel of experts to discuss how states are tackling these issues and what more can be done to ensure that America can develop the energy resources it needs.

IN THE FUTURE

National 811 Day – August 11^th is National 811 Day reminding you to call before you dig.

EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook released – August 12^th

Citi Resources Conference Sent for Vegas – Citi’s 2025 Natural Resources Conference will be held in Wynn Encore Las Vegas on Tuesday August 12^th to Thursday August 14^th. 

EnerCom Oil/Gas Conference Set for Denver – The 30^th annual EnerCom Energy Investment Conference will be held August 17^th to 20^th at the Westin Denver Downtown. The conference annually hosts an in-person audience of more than 1,000 attendees, including industry professionals, institutional investors, family office investors, high-net-worth individuals, retail investors and private equity funds. In addition, the conference’s live webcast reaches a global audience of virtual attendees. Attendees can expect to hear presentations from more than 70 organizations, featuring public and private oil and gas and energy transition companies with operations worldwide, along with panel discussions touching on current energy topics.

Well Drilling Forum Set – The IADC Well Control Conference of the Americas and Exhibition will be held in New Orleans on August 19^th and 20^th to examine the innovations that are shaping the future of well control, from technology to personnel competencies. This event will focus on timely technical presentations highlighting recent developments and innovations in technology, techniques, training, management systems, and a wide variety of other topics that affect well control.

TX Energy Forum Set – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) will a speaker at the 6^th Annual Texas Energy Forum 2025, organized by U.S. Energy Stream on August 27^th and 28^th at the Petroleum Club of Houston,  TX. Key discussions will address the future of regulatory reform, tariffs, and tax incentives; advancements in oil, gas, and LNG markets; the expansion of power generation; and breakthroughs in Electric Vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. The Forum will highlight advancements in solar and wind energy, nuclear power, hydrogen, biofuels, critical energy infrastructure, energy storage, and securing access to vital materials —all essential for meeting the world’s rising energy demands.

Climate Week NYC – Climate Week NYC with be held on September 21^st to 28^th