Policy
Across the country, energy demand is rising. Data centers, advanced manufacturing, population growth, and electrification are all putting new pressure on the grid.
Unfortunately, that has spilled over and is now also putting pressure on your wallet. If Florida wants to lower electricity costs and attract continued investment, the state needs to take the driver’s seat. House Bill 1461 does exactly that. It sets Florida up to lead the nation in energy innovation and, at the same time, help spur continued economic growth.
By Josh T. Smith and Mark Miller4 min readFebruary 26, 2026
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Policy
For the past two decades, U.S. climate policy has been driven more by legal and administrative maneuvering than by legislative consensus. The result has been regulatory inefficiency, policy whiplash between administrations, and little progress toward a durable, politically sustainable framework for managing climate risk.
By David Kemp4 min readFebruary 23, 2026
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Energy
If you ask the average person what the biggest technology breakthrough since the turn of the century has been, the smartphone is a safe bet for the most common answer. Recency bias could lead to some artificial intelligence (AI) responses. Unless you’re in the business or completely fixated with Landman, it’s unclear how many folks are saying the Shale Revolution.
By Nick Loris6 min readFebruary 20, 2026
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Conservation
Last month, Utah and the U.S. Forest Service announced a new partnership to accelerate forest restoration, reduce wildfire risk, and improve forest management across the state. Known as a shared stewardship agreement, the partnership establishes a long-term cooperative framework through which the state and federal government jointly set restoration priorities and coordinate the use of existing authorities to carry them out.
By Shawn Regan5 min readFebruary 19, 2026
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Policy
A new idea has emerged in the federal permitting reform space: “de-risking” permits via a government-managed insurance program. The context for this development is that investors lack confidence in their ability to secure federal permits due to the power of political appointees at permitting agencies to delay, cancel, or revoke permits. This has resulted in a new permitting reform priority: “permitting certainty,” or the notion that a permit, once granted, won’t be reversed under a future administration. While this is a laudable goal, policymakers must appreciate that government interventions can make these problems worse.
By Philip Rossetti5 min readFebruary 17, 2026
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Conservation
Washington, D.C., may long be tired of the frigid temps, above-average snowfall, and icy roads. But out West, signs reading “Pray for snow” are everywhere. Utah Governor Spencer Cox even encouraged Utahns to join together in prayer for snow.
By Cecilia Fassett4 min readFebruary 12, 2026
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Policy
The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to temporarily stop assigning dollar values to the projected health benefits of reducing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone has sparked renewed controversy over air pollution regulation. As I discussed last week, the agency framed the move as a response to persistent uncertainty in estimating PM2.5 health effects, not as a withdrawal from regulating air pollution or considering public health impacts.
By David Kemp4 min readFebruary 11, 2026
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Policy
As energy affordability becomes an increasing concern and energy demand continues to rise, America’s ability to efficiently permit and build infrastructure will be crucial to its success.
Last month, the EPA proposed reforming the Clean Water Act’s Section 401. This isn’t just a good idea. It’s long overdue.
By Walter Blanks Jr4 min readFebruary 9, 2026
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Energy
The Department of Energy recently announced that certain advanced nuclear reactor projects can qualify for a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) full review process. The move is a practical step forward to accelerate innovation, reduce unnecessary cost and delay, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in nuclear energy.
By Nick Loris4 min readFebruary 4, 2026
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Conservation
A recent report from ConservAmerica analyzed two decades of energy and infrastructure projects to quantify the ESA’s effects. What it found is that the United States regularly spends billions of dollars fighting over endangered species in court when it should prioritize preventative conservation and economic incentives.
By Cecilia Fassett4 min readFebruary 3, 2026
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