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Energy & Climate Counsel

Your one-stop resource for timely analysis of legal and policy developments affecting the energy and climate sectors. We focus on the issues that matter most to you, from federal and state policy and judicial decisions to business trends and financing news.

Load Growth and the Demand Side Revolution
Blog July 30, 2026
Trillions of dollars of AI capital are chasing roughly 100 gigawatts (“GW”) of electric power, and the nation’s electric-sector regulators – the policymakers at the federal and state levels, as well as the administrators of the various RTOs/ISOs – have a critical role to play in helping them secure it…
SJC's Sunpin Decision: A Win for Solar Development, But Not the Last Word
Blog July 17, 2026
On July 14, 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) issued its decision in Sunpin Energy Services, LLC v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Petersham, holding in favor of solar development and reaffirming that local zoning boards have only narrow authority to deny solar special permits…
What Regulators Can’t See: The American Efficient Case and the Future of Demand-Side Oversight
Blog May 28, 2026
On April 15, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) imposed a $722 million civil penalty against American Efficient, LLC (“American Efficient”) and its affiliates in one of the largest enforcement actions in FERC’s history…
Massachusetts Finalizes Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Rules
Blog March 11, 2026
After more than a year of hard work by regulators and stakeholders, Massachusetts has finalized the bulk of the regulations needed to implement the siting and permitting reforms enacted in the 2024 Climate Act…
Will Trump’s Executive Orders Ignite a New Era for the U.S. Nuclear Industry? Key Dates and Milestones
Blog May 29, 2025
In our earlier post, “Recent Federal Developments For Advanced Nuclear Technologies,” we reported on the new administration’s strong support for nuclear energy, as demonstrated by President Trump’s first-day executive order “Unleashing American Energy,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s February 2025 directive “Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance,” and other significant agency actions…
Recent Federal Developments for Advanced Nuclear Technologies
Blog May 07, 2025
The new administration has repeatedly expressed its staunch support for nuclear energy. President Trump’s first-day executive order “Unleashing American Energy” specifically encouraged the development of nuclear energy resources…
Presidential Shakeup (Once Again) Presents Opportunity for State Climate Action
Blog December 09, 2024
President Trump’s reelection sent shockwaves through the renewable energy community. With campaign pledges to dismantle Biden-era climate programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and possible cuts to the federal workforce, Trump appears poised to withdraw from global climate leadership…
Massachusetts DPU Approves Utilities’ Electric Sector Modernization Plans
Blog September 17, 2024
On August 29, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities issued a highly anticipated order approving the Electric Sector Modernization Plans filed by the three Massachusetts electric distribution companies, Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. The ESMPs will provide a strategic roadmap for the EDCs’ plans to make significant investments in their electric distribution systems to support state clean energy goals…
New York’s Inflation Reduction Act “Surplus” and How to Expand Distributed Solar Beyond 10 Gigawatts
Blog February 29, 2024
The New York Public Service Commission is considering recommendations by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to use existing NY-Sun Program funding to deploy distributed solar generation beyond the state’s current 10-gigawatt goal…
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ABOUT

Foley Hoag’s Energy & Climate Counsel blog aims to be your one-stop resource for timely analysis of legal and policy developments affecting the energy and climate sectors. We focus on the issues that matter most to our readers, from federal and state policy and judicial decisions to business trends and financing news.

Our authors, comprised of attorneys from the firm’s Energy & Climate practice, have been active in the energy and climate space for decades, counseling clients across the spectrum – from new, innovative technology companies to large utility-scale power projects. Recognizing early on the common concerns of the renewable and traditional energy fields, we established one of the first integrated practices to serve all segments of the energy and clean technology sectors. We believe this tight integration provides us with the insight to analyze the pressing issues, trends and opportunities that those in this industry have come to expect.