Legislation + Regulation

  The U.S. Department of Commerce has implemented a major expansion of Section 232 tariffs, raising the duty rate to 50% on a broad spectrum of steel and aluminum products, including both raw materials and a newly created category of “derivative” goods. This action significantly increases the coverage of tariffs, now affecting 407 product categories [...]

  The American Lighting Association (ALA) put out a great tariff update, last week. Republished with the permission of ALA: Pause on China Tariffs Extended for 90 Days This week, President Trump signed an Executive Order extending the ongoing tariff truce with China by 90 days, pushing the new expiration date to November 10, 2025. Before [...]

The House Appropriations Committee recently approved the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, a critical legislative measure that sets federal spending priorities for agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill attempts to save the popular ENERGY STAR program within the EPA—an initiative long [...]

The Trump administration has created sweeping changes and accelerated phase-outs to energy efficiency and clean energy tax credits through the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Key implications of the OBBBA are: Accelerated Sunset of Major Credits: The OBBBA rapidly ends or shortens the lifespan of most major tax credits related to residential and [...]

  I recently had the pleasure of appearing on the The Project Advantage video podcast with Neil Peterson, CEO of LED Lighting Supply. The episode is titled, Fluorescent Light Ban: Why LEDs Are The Smarter Choice. A wide range of topics were discussed including: mercury lamp bans in 10 states and Canada how utility LED [...]

The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) will significantly impact the landscape for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Here’s a breakdown of the key impacts: Reduced Incentives: The OBBB eliminates the federal tax credit for new EVs ($7,500) and used EVs ($4,000), potentially making EVs less affordable for consumers and impacting adoption rates. Federal [...]

  Boston has become the first city in the US to mandate that most large new buildings achieve net-zero carbon emissions from the day they open. This regulation, within amended zoning codes, passed in January 2025, and is considered the most stringent building emissions rule in the United States. The new requirement marks a significant [...]

The Smart Surfaces Coalition, in partnership with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, has launched an updated Smart Surfaces Policy Tracker, a comprehensive tool designed to help U.S. cities and states track, compare, and implement policies that address extreme urban heat and flooding through innovative surface design strategies. The tool compiles over 1,935 policy [...]

  The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has launched a new Building Performance Standard (BPS) program aimed at improving energy efficiency in existing large commercial buildings across the state. This initiative, established through the passage of House Bill 3409 by the Oregon Legislature in 2023, marks Oregon as the fourth state in the nation to [...]