On August 26, US President Trump issued an executive order declaring a national emergency regarding risks associated with foreign-produced equipment used in the US bulk-power system. The order cites potential cyber, remote access, sabotage, and supply disruption risks, noting that
Power & Pipes
Power & Pipes, published by Morgan Lewis, focuses on regulatory and enforcement developments in the energy sector, particularly relating to electric, natural gas, and oil pipeline industries. The blog covers Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions including enforcement reports, tariff waiver policies, rulemakings, and regulatory reforms. It also addresses challenges posed by emerging energy demands such as large load interconnections and the impact of new technologies on grid capacity and reliability. The content highlights shifts in regulatory frameworks, policy withdrawals, and the implications of federal executive orders on energy regulations.
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Building a Global Carbon Market Is Largely a Legal Challenge: Lessons from Kenya
Efforts to develop a global carbon market are often discussed in terms of climate science, project methodologies, and carbon pricing. However, the creation of a functioning international market is, to a significant extent, a legal undertaking. Kenya’s recently released carbon-market…
Sustainable Aviation Fuel at a Crossroads: Why Energy Security and Decarbonization Have Become the Same Conversation
Recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran have once again exposed one of the aviation industry’s most enduring vulnerabilities: its dependence on conventional jet fuel. Although airlines have long operated in an environment characterized by fluctuating oil prices, the latest instability in…
FERC Presses Grid Operators on Data Center, Large Load Interconnections
On June 18, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directed each of the six regional grid operators it regulates (the Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs)) and their member transmission owners to justify or reform the…
What NERC’s Emerging Large Load Guidance Means for Electric Utilities
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC’s) new Reliability Guideline, Risk Mitigation for Emerging Large Loads, provides a detailed framework for addressing reliability risks associated with rapidly growing large loads, including data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, hydrogen production facilities, manufacturing…
NERC Alert Moves Data Centers From Emerging Risks to Planning Obligations
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has issued a Level 3 Alert, the highest possible severity level and one that is rarely used by NERC, requiring the immediate attention of many NERC registered entities. While the Alert is not…
Out of Charge: Key Issues to Successfully Monetize Public EV Charging in 2026
In the last 10 years, annual electric vehicle (EV) sales in the US have increased by nearly 1,100%. While approximately 115,000 new EVs were sold in US markets in 2015, calendar year 2025 sales were substantially larger—nearly 1.3 million new…
FERC Releases Enforcement Report for Fiscal Year 2025
FERC’s Office of Enforcement and Regulatory Accounting (Enforcement) has released its annual report on enforcement actions during fiscal year 2025, which ran from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. The report provides a comprehensive overview of Enforcement’s activities across…
FERC Withdraws Proposed Tariff Waiver Policy Statement
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) on November 20, 2025 withdrew the Proposed Policy Statement on Waiver of Tariff Requirements and Petitions or Complaints for Remedial Relief (Proposed Policy Statement). The Commission’s policy will be to continue to…
FERC Withdraws ‘Duty of Candor’ Proposal
On November 20, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission withdrew its notice of proposed rulemaking to expand the “duty of candor” in communications to FERC and terminated the related rulemaking under Docket No. RM22-20 .