The U.S. Department of Energy has released a $293 million funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003612) under its Genesis Mission to accelerate AI deployment across 26+ national challenges in energy systems, grid infrastructure, data centers, advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, and biotechnology. The focus is on creating deployment-ready solutions, not exploratory research. Unlike traditional DOE research grants, Genesis Mission prioritizes speed, integration, and measurable performance gains in complex systems through cross-sector collaboration.

White gas and oil pipeline on lush grassy background. 3d rendering.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is rapidly emerging as one of the most consequential areas of energy law and environmental regulation. At its heart sits a technical but critically important regulatory category: the Class VI injection well. These wells are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations for the purpose of long-term underground storage, making them the cornerstone of any commercial-scale CCS project. For years, permitting authority for Class VI wells located in Texas rested solely with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), resulting in a process many in the energy industry found slow and uncertain.

That all changed last fall. In November 2025, the State of Texas formally received primary enforcement authority, or “primacy”, for its Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, granting the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulatory power over these types of wells and, consequently, the CCS process.

This article examines how Texas achieved this milestone, how the state strategically positioned itself for a seamless transition by accepting applications and fees years in advance, and the status of those permit applications today.

Winschoten Hyperscale Data Center: AI and Sustainable Energy

Texas presently sits at the center of the U.S. energy‑and‑digital‑infrastructure boom. As hyperscalers, AI platforms, crypto-currency miners, and cloud providers accelerate their build‑out of data‑center campuses, the demand for power in the Lone Star State has never been higher.

Bio gas plant in a field

Overview of Feedstock Supply Agreements

Digesters, which convert organic feedstock into raw biogas for upgrading into renewable natural gas (RNG), depend on the quality and quantity of available feedstock for successful operation. A reliable and financeable feedstock supply agreement is therefore essential to the success of any digester-based RNG project. These contracts govern the relationship between the suppliers of feedstock and project owners and operators, making them essential to the success of any RNG project and a primary diligence item in any digester financing or investment transaction.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission headquarters building exterior in Washington, DC

At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC” or the “Commission”) monthly open meeting on February 19, 2026, the Commission reaffirmed that it will not reinstate its ban on gas pipeline work during appeals.

Solar panels with sunset and blue sky background. Clean power en

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS” or “Service”) recently released detailed guidance concerning the classification and treatment of Prohibited Foreign Entities (“PFEs”) as well as the application of the related Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) restrictions that were created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA” or “Bill”).

Enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act and recently amended by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), Section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code offers a tax credit for the domestic production and sale of certain low-emission transportation fuels (“45Z Credit”). The 45Z Credit is worth $0.20 (or $1.00 for producers meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements) per gallon of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), renewable natural gas (“RNG”), and certain other low-carbon fuels produced domestically and sold.

Picture1

In recent years, the U.S. government has become increasingly concerned about foreign ownership of agricultural land. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, foreign owners (primarily Canadian) hold an interest in nearly 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land.

Blurred image of business people walking in modern office with sunlight.

For consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) founders, understanding the complexities of business structures and tax consequences is essential to maximize growth and attract investors. The Qualified Small Business Stock (“QSBS”) exclusion provides considerable tax advantages when structuring a corporate entity. For example, founders and early investors may be eligible to exclude up to 100% of capital gains on qualifying startup stock from federal income tax—up to $15 million or ten times their investment—which can result in substantial tax savings.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission headquarters building exterior in Washington, DC

On January 14, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accepted new rules proposed by Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) regarding the interconnection of High Impact Large Loads (HILLs) and the interconnection of new generation facilities that will be used to serve them, called High Impact Large Load Generation Assessment (HILLGA) in Docket No. ER26-247. This order, along with the recent order directing PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) to propose rules for Co-Located generation and large loads, offer the first glimpse into how FERC will address the challenges facing the nation’s electricity grid. These include balancing resource adequacy, grid reliability, and fair cost allocation for any needed grid expansions to accommodate new AI-driven data centers.