It was another beautiful weather weekend with lots of Halloween trick or treaters. The Fall colors are really popping in New England as I was running around for NCAA college Field hockey playoffs (which continue this week). The NYC Marathon also had perfect weather for Sweden’s Andreas Almgren to win the men’s division in his marathon debut with a time of 2:06:01. Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui outkicked defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final quarter mile to capture the women’s division in 2:24:36. American Jess McClain passed Obiri just before the finish to take second in 2:24:42.
It is here!!! Tomorrow is election day. A lot is happening as this campaign season closes, but best just to leave it and wait for results. Top things we are looking at include 1) general trends creating headwinds for Republicans; 2) Late breaking news in Alaska and Michigan which may impact these keys Senate races; 3) Early results as a harbinger for the political impact (such as the Jen Kiggans race, as well as others in VA, key NY Republican House races and the Maine Senate races).
Make sure you are ready to tune in Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. for the award-winning Bracewell PRG Post-Election Webinar. All results, political impacts, implications for legislation and 2028 prospects will be on the agenda. You can still REGISTER HERE.
In addition to the election, we are in the final ramp up to the post-election legislative session which will include the permitting reform effort, among other items like a budget battle, the NDAA and potentially the Farm Bill (maybe with E15). We will likely know more on direction, duration and intensity of the action on Wednesday after we see election results.
Today is the final day to submit comments on EPA’s supplemental proposal to rescind all GHG limits for power plants and on Wednesday. Also, the agency holds public hearing to take comment on its proposed plan to reallocate waived RFS biofuel blending volumes from small refiners and push them on large refiners. You may have seen a letter last week from 22 members led by Rep. Pfluger raising concerns about many of these issues surrounding the RFS/E15.
Other events include the global energy forum ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi today to Thursday; an ACORE forum on Thursday on energy zones for PJM States; and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute briefing about what Congress can expect during the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Antalya, Türkiye. YES, we are only a week away from COP31. Let me know if you will be there.
Call with questions.
Best,
Frank Maisano
(202) 828-5864
C. (202) 997-5932
FRANKLY SPOKEN
“This is a compromise bill, but I believe that it enables the market forces behind clean energy to move faster, reduce emissions, create jobs, and basically speed up the energy transition in a very good way.”
Tom Steyer in an interview on permitting reform with POLITOCO’s Power Moves.
ON THE PODCAST
Louisiana Economic Development Leader Talks Energy Successes – In this week’s episode of Madam Policy, host Dee Martin and co-host Air Liquide’s Brooke Wolters speak with Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois who is helping drive Louisiana’s remarkable economic and energy expansion. Secretary Bourgeois discusses the state’s impressive investment wins, including major commitments from SpaceX and Meta, as she shares how listening to communities, building strong partnerships, and creating a “yes, and” culture within government has helped Louisiana stand out in a highly competitive landscape.
FUN OPINIONS
Permitting Needs to Survive Election Day – In an opinion in RealClearEnergy, ConservAmerica head Jeffrey Kupfer writes election results should not put previously settled government decisions back on the table. Whatever you think of pipelines, mines, or wind turbines, the pattern should concern you. Each party has learned that a permit issued by the other team may be provisional, and each assumes the next election will hand it the eraser.
Permit Integrity Vital for All Energy Sectors – In a Hudson blog post, energy and National security expert Commander Brigham McCown writes for generations, America’s competitive advantage extended well beyond abundant resources and deep capital markets. Investors and developers came forward because they trusted American institutions would withstand the test of time. They trusted that the permits, leases, contracts, and regulatory approvals issued through established legal processes were ironclad, and that confidence has always been a powerful ingredient in building the country. Unfortunately, that reputation can be lost more quickly than it was built.
FROG BLOG
Chamber: Critical Mineral Permitting Essential – In a blog post, US Chamber critical minerals expert Ruth Demeter writes America’s critical minerals leadership depends on permitting reform. The U.S. possesses significant resources and growing industrial ambition, but translating those advantages into secure domestic supply chains will require a permitting system that is timely, transparent, and predictable. Permanent permitting reform is essential to making that goal a reality and delivering more affordable everyday products for American families.
Columbia Energy Policy White Paper on Permitting – The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is the most comprehensive effort in years to resolve the impasse over federal permitting reform, and a new white paper from Center for Global Energy Policy finds it would make it meaningfully faster and more predictable to build energy infrastructure of all kinds, especially interstate transmission.
FUN FACTS
RFF: Permitting Will Reduce GHGs: A new study from Resources for the Future says the Senate permitting plan would cut emissions from power plants in the near term and help keep electricity prices down. Our friend Ben Geman of Axios charted it.
IN THE NEWS
Permitting Studies Hit the Street – With the Senate getting ready to take up the permitting debate, This week there are several new analysis pieces that add real value.
- Grid Strategies Data Center Transmission – Our friends at Grid Strategies have a new report out today that says the Senate’s bipartisan permitting bill provisions aimed at data centers and transmission would result in data center facilities paying $55 billion for transmission connections over ten years.
- RFF GHG Analysis – In an Axios exclusive, Resources for the Future detailed a new report that says the Senate permitting plan would cut emissions from power plants in the near term and help keep electricity prices down. Overall electricity system costs are an estimated 3.5% to 7% lower each year through 2041 compared to a no-bill baseline, saving over $350 billion total through 2050 in present-value terms.
- White House CEA Shows Economic Benefits – A new White House study finds the bill would eventually boost GDP by $82 billion to $164 billion annually and provide substantial savings on power bills.
- SEIA Report Show New Solar Power Permitting Success – According to our friend Josh Siegel of Punchbowl, The Solar Energy Industries Association is circulating an analysis on Capitol Hill showing that under the bill, solar and wind would together provide over 37% of power generation in 2035 vs. around 20% under “obstructed permitting.”
DOE Boosts Nuclear Expansions – DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) today announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $5 billion to finance nuclear uprates and modernization across Constellation Energy’s nuclear fleet in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The modernization efforts will add nearly 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, strengthening the grid and lowering costs for millions of Americans across the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regions. The loan calls for DOE to facilitate 5 GW of power uprates from existing nuclear reactors. The projects will add enough electricity to power more than 930,000 homes—lowering costs and strengthening grid reliability in Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and across the PJM and MISO regions. The investments will support more than 10,000 project-related jobs across Constellation’s nuclear fleet while delivering affordable, reliable power to American homes and businesses.
K’Lynne Johnson Joins Gevo Board of Directors – Former BP specialty chemical executive K’Lynne Johnson has joined the Gevo Board of Directors. Johnson brings more than three decades of innovation and executive leadership experience spanning sustainable technologies, global research and development, manufacturing operations, and enterprise transformation.
“K’Lynne brings a powerful combination of strategic, operational and governance experience to Gevo,” said Gevo Chief Executive Officer Paul Bloom. “She understands what it takes to commercialize new technologies, scale industrial businesses and navigate significant transformation. Her experience and perspective will be invaluable as we execute Gevo’s next phase of growth and value creation.”
Johnson is founder and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc., a specialty chemicals company that developed and commercialized a proprietary technology platform using biobased feedstocks to produce alternatives to conventional petrochemicals and oleochemicals. Before joining Elevance, Johnson held senior leadership roles at BP Innovene Inc., BP Chemicals, and Amoco Corporation.
WoodMac ACP Release 3Q Wind Report – Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the American Clean Power Association (ACP) released Third Quarter market data for the wind industry. This joint report highlights market dynamics impacting the US onshore and offshore wind industries. The quarterly release includes a five-year look-ahead outlining expected capacity buildout, costs, supply chain, policy and investment, plus highlights and developments from the first half of the year.
Legendary Climate Economist Passes – Yale Economist/professor William Nordhausa died late last week at 85 after a battle with brain cancer (as you all know a cause close to my heart. Nordhaus won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics for “integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis,” an achievement most prominently reflected in what was known as the DICE (Dynamic Integrated Climate-Economy) model, an influential model that examines the interactions among carbon emissions, climate change, and economic growth. His influential work ranged widely, from the economics of climate change to the measurement of technological change, the interaction of the business cycle and the election cycle, and the measurement of economic welfare — farsighted work done jointly with the late James Tobin, himself a Yale Nobel laureate and one of the most influential economists of his day.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Congress ADIPEC Energy Conference Set for UAE – The global energy industry will come together at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi today to Thursday 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 – The U.S. Energy Association holds an update today 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 – TOMORROW, November 3rd
Bracewell Post Election Analysis Webinar Set – Bracewell will host is regular post-election webinar analysis on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. All results, political implications, next year impacts and 2028 prospects will all be on the agenda. You can still REGISTER HERE.
Forum Looks at IMF, World Bank on Climate – On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., the Center for Global Development will hold a webinar on independent evaluations of climate programs at the IMF and World Bank. With COP31 set to begin in Türkiye, this event will examine the role of the Bretton Woods institutions in addressing climate challenges.
ACORE Forum Set for PJM Energy Zones Discussion – ACORE holds a forum on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. on energy zones for PJM States. The event discusses the Macro Grid Initiative’s new report, Energy Zones for PJM States: A Holistic Approach to Transmission Planning that Supports Resource Adequacy and State Energy Policy, outlines how states can leverage Energy Zones to build new electricity supply. During this webinar, panelists will make the case for Energy Zones that empower states to shape their own energy future and drive more effective transmission planning.
EESI Looks at COP31 Agenda – On Thursday, 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.
IN THE FUTURE
Congress to Return – Monday, November 9th
Japan Hosts Underwater Minerals Conference – The 54th Underwater Minerals Conference (UMC 2026) will be held at the Toyama International Conference Center in Japan on November 9th to 13th. The annual international forum, with representatives from over 25 countries that since 1970 has brought the marine minerals community together, is the world’s largest gathering of ocean mineral stakeholders, including government, academic, and commercial sector professionals. Topics considered for the conference include geological and biological studies of marine minerals deposits and their associated biological communities; regulatory considerations related to mineral resource and environmental impact assessment; technological considerations related to scientific survey objectives and commercial recovery objectives and general policy considerations related to the long-term development of these resources.
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.
Daily Caller to Hold Permitting Event – On Tuesday November 10th, the Daily Caller will hold a forum on permitting reform, a special event at Daily Caller HQ in Washington, D.C. The event brings together leaders from government and industry to discuss federal permitting reform, domestic energy production, critical minerals, and the policies shaping America’s industrial future. The event will feature two panel discussions, followed by a fireside conversation between U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Amber Duke.
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.
Forum to Look at State Capacity on Enviro Policy – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) hold a briefing on about how states can lay the foundation for a new era of federal environmental policy that is effective, durable, and popular. This briefing will delineate the components of a durable environmental policy framework, including effective institutional design, a climate-ready workforce, strong public participation and stakeholder engagement, streamlined administrative processes, and outcomes-oriented program delivery. Panelists will also discuss how new policies can address capacity and implementation challenges for both near-term and longer-term legislative priorities.