Yesterday was a beautiful day for the 51st Marine Corps Marathon with active-duty NoVa Marine Kyle King, taking the men’s race in 2 hours, 17 minutes earning his fourth victory and third consecutive title. Kaylee Slade won the women’s race. Then on Sunday, November 1st, the 56th running of the New York City Marathon heads off from Staten Island. This year’s race is the 50th anniversary of the Marathon’s five-borough course. Nearly 60,000 runners toe the line on Sunday.
Two important items from Friday:
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for GLE’s planned Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Paducah, Kentucky, representing a significant milestone in the NRC’s evaluation of GLE’s license application to enrich uranium in Paducah to power existing nuclear plants from a US-based source.
- The EU Parliament voted Friday to delay key methane requirements for imported oil and gas by three years – two years longer and broader than the European Commission proposed. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Ivana Zuzul said the postponement of the importer requirements is a welcome acknowledgment that additional time is needed to make the regulation workable.
The Beatles said Eight Days a Week so we’ll ride that to the mid-term election with Congress out on the campaign trail. I mentioned many groups continuing their push for comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform legislation when Congress returns on November 9th for a post-election session. Some, while supportive, are working on constructive changes. Last week, we saw another letter from 137 organizations representing energy, labor, manufacturing, housing, transportation, infrastructure and businesses across the country, urged congressional leaders to pass comprehensive permitting reform before the end of the year.
We are also tracking diesel price/refinery activity, Helium (we have good experts on this issue), critical mineral issues, RNG and other items this week. And if you are following data centers, WRI is holding a forum on Thursday looking at community benefits agreements with data centers. With Democrats potentially gaining control of one or both houses, EV tax credits are also re-emerging as an issue. On Wednesday, the Electrification Coalition and Cox Automotive holds the next installment of a quarterly webinar series looking at EV market data, trends and what they mean for next year.
Mark your calendars for the award-winning Bracewell post-election webinar analysis on Wednesday November 4th at 10:00 a.m. ET. REGISTER HERE.
And as you know, with Halloween here Saturday, I will be in the kitchen with a few pumpkins to whip up a few batches of my annual, special pumpkin seeds. Send me your favorite recipes. Call with questions.
Best,
Frank Maisano
(202) 828-5864
C. (202) 997-5932
FRANKLY SPOKEN
“America is not short of energy. We are short of permission to build. … Comprehensive permitting reform is essential to making energy affordable, meeting rapidly growing demand, strengthening American competitiveness and ensuring we have the infrastructure to power the next generation of economic growth.”
Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT
“We think having solutions in place that are durable and can stand the test of time to drive down emissions are ultimately going to be the most beneficial thing to protect our environment.”
Jennifer Tyler, vice president of government affairs at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby
ON THE PODCAST
SCOTUS Trade Case Expert Talks 301 Tariffs – In this week’s Bracewell PRG Lobby Shop podcast, Paul Nathanson hosts Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, who was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. Rick is now challenging the Administration’s “forced labor” Section 301 tariffs at the Court of International Trade.
DOE Loan Official Joins Columbia Pod to Talk Nuclear – In an episode of the Columbia Energy Exchange, Jason Bordoff speaks with Julie Kozeracki, acting chief investment officer for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing and the office’s nuclear sector lead. Julie discusses DOE’s efforts to bolster US nuclear power capabilities, through both restarts and new builds. She explains how her office allocates resources toward commercializing new, more scalable nuclear systems. And she considers the roles that government and the private sector are each playing in this moment, and what policymakers can do to support a nuclear buildout.
FUN OPINIONS
OPAL: RNG Can Help the Diesel Price Challenge – In an opinion piece in 535.news, OPAL Fuels CEO Adam Camora writes natural gas is, was, and always will be cheaper than oil and diesel. Natural and renewable natural gas cost approximately $2 per gallon as a delivered transportation fuel domestically with limited volatility expected for the foreseeable future given our strategic reserves of more than 100 years, existing pipeline distribution systems, and advances in lifting and production costs. These fuel cost savings will have a deflationary impact across our economy and benefit consumer prices for all Americans.
FROG BLOG
ConservAmerica Sits Down with Montana’s Alme – ConservAmerica recently sat down with Kurt Alme, Montana candidate for U.S. Senate. In a conversation with ConservAmerica President Emeritus Rob Sisson, Alme discussed his lifelong connection to Montana’s outdoors, from fishing and skiing as a child to camping, hiking, boating, and exploring public lands with his own family. His message centered on practical conservation, responsible stewardship, collaboration, and preserving Montana’s outdoor heritage for generations to come.
FUN FACTS
NatGas Costs, Prices Remain Lower in US: While the diesel spike is driving up costs, one bright spot in the U.S. is that it’s isolated from natural gas price surges elsewhere.
IN THE NEWS
NRC Issues Final EIS for Paducah Uranium Enrichment License – On Friday, Global Laser Enrichment said NRC has issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for GLE’s planned Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Paducah, Kentucky, representing a significant milestone in the NRC’s evaluation of GLE’s license application. The FEIS recommends that the NRC issue the license to construct and operate the proposed enrichment facility to GLE. The PLEF would deploy GLE’s laser-based uranium enrichment technology to establish the world’s first large-scale domestic enrichment facility utilizing a next-generation enrichment process. The project is intended to strengthen U.S. uranium, conversion, and enrichment supply chains, support America’s growing energy needs, enhance long-term energy security, and restore American leadership in advanced nuclear technology.
EU Delays Methane Rules – The EU Parliament voted Friday to delay key methane requirements for imported oil and gas by three years – two years longer and broader than the European Commission proposed. Parliament’s position would move the deadline for importers to demonstrate equivalent monitoring, reporting, and verification for relevant contracts to 31 May 2031. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President, Europe, Ivana Zuzul said:
“The European Commission’s proposed one-year postponement of the EUMR’s importer requirements is a welcome acknowledgment that additional time is needed to make the regulation workable. Reducing methane emissions is a shared priority, and a durable compliance framework must be clear and practical for companies operating across complex global energy supply chains. However, a one-year delay does not address the underlying implementation challenges. The accreditation, verification, and certification systems required by the Regulation will take time to establish, validate, and apply consistently across member states. A three-year postponement of the importer obligations would give regulators and industry the time needed to establish a clear framework without creating unnecessary uncertainty, constraining energy supplies, or undermining Europe’s competitiveness.
White House Pushes for More Refineries with DPA – The White House announced plans to provide up to $150 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funding to expand domestic petroleum production, storage, and logistics at refineries across the United States. DOE said by leveraging DPA authorities, it will help increase domestic production of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products, strengthening America’s fuel supply and lowering prices for American families and businesses. EIA, API and AFPM have all noted that US refinery utilization has reached 95-100%, leaving little room to raise domestic output.
Broad Coalition Urges Permitting Reform Action – In a letter, 137 organizations representing energy, labor, manufacturing, housing, transportation, infrastructure and businesses across the country, urged congressional leaders to pass comprehensive permitting reform before the end of the year. The groups warned that lengthy permitting delays are driving up costs, holding back investment and slowing the infrastructure Americans need. The organizations called on Congress to seize a rare bipartisan opportunity to modernize the nation’s permitting system and strengthen economic competitiveness.
“With Americans focused on rising costs, permitting reform presents Congress with one of its most consequential opportunities to address affordability this Congress,” the groups wrote. “Modernizing the nation’s permitting system can help improve energy affordability, strengthen economic competitiveness, unlock investment, and restore confidence in the nation’s ability to build critical infrastructure.”
The coalition represents industries across the economy that depend on timely infrastructure development, from energy production and delivery to housing, manufacturing, transportation and construction. Its message to Congress is clear: America cannot afford another year of costly delays.
White House Pushes out Potential Trade Restrictions on Wind Components – The White House late last week decided imports of wind turbines and their parts a threat to national security and ordering Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to pursue talks with trade partners and report back within 180 days. The White House did not impose new tariffs, although the proclamation says Trump may consider “alternative remedies in the future” depending on how the negotiations go. The move amounts to a punt, not imposing any new tariffs on wind turbines and components. But it does raise the specter of additional duties down the road for wind projects, which have repeatedly been the target of various Trump administration policies.
Holmstead Joins RFF Board – Jane Flegal and Jeff Holmstead have joined Resources for the Future’s board of directors. Flegal, a principal at Flegal Energy Advisors, served in the White House domestic climate policy office during the Biden administration. Holmstead, a partner at Bracewell, led EPA’s air office during the George W. Bush administration.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Waste Group Heads to Baltimore – The US Conference of Mayor’s Municipal Waste Management Association is holding its Fall 2026 Summit today to Wednesday in Baltimore. The forum will discuss navigating political and funding pressures in solid waste and climate management, new state laws and emerging legal challenges with extended producer responsibility, lithium-ion battery lifecycle issues.
Forum to Look at Midterms, Nuclear Issues – The Council for a Livable World holds a virtual briefing tonight at 6 p.m., on pre-election Prospects for Candidates and Nuclear Policy.
WRI Discussion Looks at Forests – The World Resources Institute holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on the state of forests and land. Speakers will explore what the latest evidence reveals about progress and setbacks, where action needs to accelerate, and what it will take to halt and reverse the loss of terrestrial ecosystems and species.
Forum Looks at Mining in SE Asia – The Henry L. Stimson Center holds a discussion tomorrow wat 9:30 a.m. on critical minerals and confronting unregulated mining in mainland Southeast Asia. The event features a conversation with leading voices from frontline advocacy, research, and human rights documentation as we take stock of what we now know, examine why the mining continues unchecked, and explore how sustained and amplified efforts can be turned into lasting action for the communities and rivers at risk.
Hudson Looks at Combat Energetics – The Hudson Institute holds a discussion tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on rebuilding America’s energetics base. The event includes a discussion of how the US can build a more resilient and flexible energetics base that can meet sustained demand while accelerating the development of new capabilities.
ELI Looks at Tools for Enviro Legal Battles – The Environmental Law Institute holds a discussion on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on evidence and tools to protect environmental and land defenders. The event features an interactive discussion on an innovative initiative documenting and analyzing investigations and prosecutions of lethal attacks on environmental and land defenders in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
Webinar to Look at EV Status – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., the Electrification Coalition holds the next installment of its quarterly webinar series hosted in collaboration with Cox Automotive. Coalition Executive Director Ben Prochazka, Cox Automotive Director of Industry Insights Stephanie Valdez Streaty, and Chargeonomics CEO Loren McDonald will discuss the latest EV market data, trends, and what they mean for the industry.
VA Roundtable to Look at Affordable, Reliable Energy – On Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., BCSE’s American Energy Abundance Alliance and Power Up Virginia hold a ChamberRVA roundtable discussion to examine the role of affordable, clean, and reliable energy as a foundational enabler of economic growth, prosperity, and job creation across Virginia. This afternoon of discussion will bring together state leaders and representatives from a broad range of energy businesses.
GWU Conference Looks at Asia Maritime Issues – The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs holds a conference on Asian perspectives on maritime dominance on Thursday and Friday. The China discussion is on Thursday while discussions on Japan and Korea will be Friday.
Group to Focus on EPA Superrfund, Brownfield Programs – The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) holds its annual meeting in Arlington on Thursday and Friday. The event addresses key waste management issues, including EPA’s Superfund and brownfields program.
WoodMac Holds Renewables Webinar – Wood Mackenzie holds a webinar on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to discuss its latest Horizons report. The report says replacing aging equipment could become one of the biggest drivers of renewable investment over the coming decades, supporting higher-performing assets, faster innovation and improved project economics.
Clean Energy Group Tackles Data Centers – The Clean Energy States Alliance is holding a webinar on Thursday to discuss data center policies that address electricity affordability as data centers spur increased power demand. In the webinar, speakers from Rewiring America will address policies that state policymakers and regulators can pursue to make whole-home electrification, rooftop solar and battery storage affordable, while meeting rising demand from large loads such as data centers.
WRI Looks at Data Center Benefits – The World Resources Institute holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. looking at community benefits agreements. The focus will focus on securing benefits for communities hosting data center projects.
IN THE FUTURE
ADIPEC Energy Conference Set for UAE – The global energy industry will come together at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi from November 2nd to November 5th in an effort to strengthen energy security, unlock investment opportunities and advance the technologies, infrastructure and partnerships shaping the future of energy. At a time of evolving global priorities, ADIPEC will bring together the scale, influence and collective expertise needed to advance meaningful dialogue, strengthen industry collaboration and create the conditions for lasting progress.
USEA Discusses Energy Tech Labs, Gasification – Next Monday, the U.S. Energy Association holds an update on research and development advancing gasification technologies and alternative feedstock utilization. Led by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the event brings together researchers from four national laboratories to address challenges associated with blending coal with alternative feedstocks, including petroleum coke, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal solid waste.
ELECTION DAY – November 3rd
Bracewell Post Election Analysis Webinar Set – Bracewell will host is regular post-election webinar analysis on Wednesday November 4th at 10:00 a.m. Invites start to go out this week so mark your calendar.
EESI Looks at COP31 Agenda – On Thursday November 5th, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing about what Congress can expect during the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Antalya, Türkiye (COP31). The briefing will highlight key issues on the negotiating agenda, including fossil fuel phase-out, climate adaptation metrics, and international finance goals. Panelists will describe the role of the joint Türkiye-Australia COP31 Presidency; unpack the Presidency’s priorities, including waste management and electrification; and highlight expected U.S. state and local government and private-sector engagement. It will also preview possible outcomes from COP31 and what they would mean for U.S. climate policy.
Congress to Return – Monday, November 9th
B20 Summit Set – On November 9th to 11th, the US Chamber of Commerce hosts global business leaders at Washington D.C.’s Wharf District for its B20 USA Summit. The B20 USA Campus will feature the big conversations, networking, and unprecedented access to the most influential names in business—taking delegates beyond the headlines to tackle today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.
COP 31 Set for Türkiye – The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP 31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Antalya, Türkiye UN COP31 on Monday November 9th to 20th. BCSE will lead a coalition of U.S. businesses and energy trade organizations to the COP, as will the US Chamber of Commerce.
USEA to Hold ENERGYTECH Forum – On November 18th, USEA will bring together key stakeholders for EnergyTech Connect 2026 to tackle the critical infrastructure challenges of next-generation computing. The program will explore grid capacity, permitting and regulatory hurdles, system reliability, and the rapidly growing energy needs of advanced computing and data centers. Join us to gain insights from industry leaders and help shape the future of energy infrastructure.
BCSE to Talk Mid-term Results – The Clean Energy Business Network and BCSE hold a post-election webinar on November 19th at 2:00 p.m. reviewing the results of the midterm elections and exploring what they could mean for federal energy policy in the next Congress. Hear insights from leading political consultants and energy experts on both sides of the aisle. Our friends Liam Donovan and Heather Reams speak.
RE+ Set for Las Vegas – RE+ 26, North America’s largest clean energy event, will be held on November 16th to 19th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event will spotlight clean energy’s critical role in meeting the rapidly rising demand for power across the U.S. and around the world. Developed by the nation’s leading clean energy organizations, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), RE+ reflects an ongoing entrepreneurial approach to renewing best practices across the clean energy landscape as the marketplace evolves.