Power Generation

EU ENVI Committee Amendments 38–232 on Accelerating Permit‑Granting for Energy Infrastructure

In May 2026 the European Parliament’s ENVI committee tabled a large package of amendments to its draft opinion on the permitting directive, adjusting how EU renewables, grid, storage and recharging projects would be authorised and assessed across Directives 2018/2001, 2019/944 and 2024/1788. The proposals point to a future regime that combines faster, digitally enabled permitting with tighter conditions on environmental impact assessment derogations, more cautious use of tacit approval, and greater transparency for communities and nature protection authorities.

25 May 2026, 18:28europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

German Bundestag Publishes June 2026 Plenary Agenda With Key Climate and Cyber Resilience Bills

In May 2026 the German Bundestag published its 10–12 June plenary agenda, confirming debates and first readings on major climate, energy, cyber resilience and environmental crime legislation. These agenda decisions signal that core elements of Germany’s climate targets, building energy rules, electricity capacity design and digital product security regime are entering the parliamentary decision-making phase, so affected sectors should track outcomes and begin scenario planning for compliance.

25 May 2026, 17:12bundestag.deGermany

Hebei Province Clarifies Registration For Green Power Direct-Connection Projects With Separate Generator And Load

Hebei province has clarified that green power direct-connection projects, including those where the generator and electricity load are different legal entities, can register and trade directly in the power market under China’s new multi-user green power framework. This widens corporate options for on-site and near-site renewable power in Hebei while also pushing projects to assume market-facing responsibilities and comply with national pricing and green certificate rules when structuring investments and contracts.

25 May 2026, 17:11ndrc.gov.cnChina

Missouri HB3073 Would Require Decommissioning Plans and Financial Assurance for Utility-Scale Solar Projects

Missouri’s HB3073 would require utility-scale solar project owners to secure DNR-approved decommissioning plans, maintain financial assurance, and restore project sites within defined timeframes. If enacted, it would raise upfront planning and bonding obligations for solar developers in Missouri while reducing long-term decommissioning and land-restoration risk for landowners and the state.

25 May 2026, 17:10documents.house.mo.govUnited States

Slovenia Backs Phased Closure Programme for Velenje Coal Mine

In May 2026 Slovenia advanced strategic and implementation programmes to phase out coal mining at the Velenje Coal Mine by 2033, with closure, remediation and monitoring works extending to 2045, and authorised their use in a state aid notification to the European Commission. This step sets a clear timetable for coal exit and associated remediation and workforce transition measures in a key mining and power region, signalling reduced long-term reliance on lignite power in Slovenia’s energy mix subject to EU state aid approval.

25 May 2026, 15:47gov.siSloveniaEuropean Union

Rhode Island Senate Engrosses S2800 on Energy Storage Systems at Abandoned or Contaminated Properties

In May 2026 the Rhode Island Senate engrossed S2800, a bill that would treat energy storage systems on abandoned or contaminated properties as permitted uses by right and state that they are not deemed to have negative environmental impacts. If passed by the House and signed into law, this change could ease siting and permitting for energy storage projects on disused or contaminated land in Rhode Island, influencing site selection, zoning strategy, and risk assessments for developers and operators.

25 May 2026, 15:35webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

Vermont House Concurs In Senate Amendments To Portable Solar Energy Generation Devices Bill S.202

Vermont’s portable plug‑in solar bill S.202 advanced on 22 May 2026 as the House concurred in Senate amendments to its earlier changes while proposing a further amendment. If enacted, the measure would enable low‑barrier UL‑certified plug‑in solar up to 1,200 W while exempting them from traditional interconnection and zoning hurdles, so utilities, local authorities, and building owners should prepare for safe integration without relying on net metering revenue.

25 May 2026, 15:33legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Belgium Comments On Second Presidency Compromise Of EU Permitting Directive (WK 4894/2026)

Belgium has submitted further formal comments on the second Presidency compromise text of the EU Permitting Directive, signalling continued concerns about mandatory digital permitting portals, tacit approvals, broad environmental derogations, and prescriptive benefit-sharing rules in the fast-track permitting package. This shows that key choices on how far to centralise portals, shorten timelines, and relax environmental tests remain contested in Council, so the eventual obligations for large renewable, grid, storage, and EV charging projects may still shift before adoption and transposition.

25 May 2026, 15:33data.consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionBelgium

EU Council Circulates Portugal Comments On Recast TEN‑E Regulation (Chapters V–VIII)

The Council has circulated Portugal’s detailed comments on the draft recast TEN-E Regulation, proposing changes to how cross-border electricity and hydrogen infrastructure costs, congestion revenues, and EU funding are allocated. If taken up in the final text, these changes could materially affect risk-sharing and financing conditions for transmission operators, hydrogen network developers, and energy-intensive manufacturers relying on cross-border grids, especially in peripheral regions.

25 May 2026, 15:30data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Permitting Directive: Latvia’s Comments on Second Presidency Compromise Text

A 30 March 2026 Council working paper sets out the second Presidency compromise text for the EU Permitting Directive and records Latvia’s detailed comments on proposals to accelerate permitting for renewable energy, electricity grids, storage and vehicle recharging infrastructure. If adopted broadly as drafted, the Directive would streamline permitting through digital single portals, shorter timelines, tacit approvals and targeted environmental assessment flexibilities, but Member State concerns over Natura 2000 protections, grid security and local participation show that key design choices and thresholds remain open and should be monitored closely.

25 May 2026, 15:30data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council: Belgium Submits Comments on Permitting Directive 2nd Presidency Compromise

Belgium has submitted detailed comments on the EU Permitting Directive’s 2nd Presidency compromise text, pushing for flexible digital permitting portals, cautious use of tacit approval, and targeted adjustments to rules for renewables, grids, storage and charging infrastructure. These positions will shape ongoing Council negotiations and influence how far the final directive accelerates permitting while preserving Member State autonomy, environmental safeguards and legal certainty for large energy projects.

25 May 2026, 15:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Working Party Receives Spain’s Comments on Permitting Directive Compromise Text

In March 2026 the EU Council’s energy working party received Spain’s detailed comments on the draft Permitting Directive to accelerate permitting for renewable energy, grid and hydrogen infrastructure. Spain backs faster procedures but pushes back on strict EU‑level deadlines, blanket tacit approval and wide environmental assessment exemptions, signalling likely adjustments to the final EU framework for energy project permitting.

25 May 2026, 15:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council: Greek Comments on Permitting Directive 2nd Presidency Compromise (WK 4818/2026)

Greece has submitted detailed comments on the EU Permitting Directive’s 2nd Presidency compromise text, backing faster, more flexible permitting rules for renewable, storage, grid and hydrogen infrastructure across the EU. While non-binding, this intervention signals strong Member State support for streamlining measures (including equal treatment for hydrogen/CCS, broader derogations and extended acceleration-area timelines), increasing the likelihood that the final directive will materially shorten project permitting lead times.

25 May 2026, 15:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council: Austria Comments on Permitting Directive Compromise Text

In March 2026 Austria submitted detailed comments on the EU “Permitting Directive” compromise text, signalling how it wants to shape faster permitting rules for renewables, grids, storage, EV charging and hydrogen by amending core energy and environmental legislation. Its positions favour accelerated procedures and strong overriding-public-interest presumptions but push for extensive Member State discretion on benefit sharing, tacit approvals, species protection and environmental assessments, which could materially influence the final balance between speed, environmental safeguards and local community roles in EU permitting.

25 May 2026, 15:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Spain (Aragón) Environmental Authority INAGA Revises Integrated Environmental Authorisation for Repsol’s 800 MW Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Escatrón

Aragón’s environmental authority INAGA has revised the integrated environmental authorisation for Repsol’s 800 MW combined-cycle power plant in Escatrón, with the resolution adopted on 5 May 2026 and published in the regional official journal on 22 May 2026. The plant operator now needs to review and implement any updated emissions, monitoring, or operational conditions in the revised permit, and similar large energy installations in the region should expect continued scrutiny of their environmental authorisations.

25 May 2026, 15:27boa.aragon.esSpain

Delaware Senate Passes SB 308 "Load Forecast Accountability Act" Expanding PSC Oversight of Load Forecasts

In May 2026, the Delaware Senate passed SB 308 (the Load Forecast Accountability Act) to expand Public Service Commission oversight of electricity load forecasts submitted by regulated utilities to PJM. If enacted, this would tighten scrutiny of demand assumptions driving grid investment and capacity costs in Delaware, particularly for data centres, electric vehicle charging and building electrification projects.

24 May 2026, 21:05legis.delaware.govUnited States

Delaware Legislature Proposes In-State Renewable Energy Requirements for Large Energy Use Facilities (HB 445)

Delaware legislators have introduced HB 445 to require large energy use facilities to ramp up in-state renewable energy generation to 100% of their electricity use within ten years while expanding the Public Service Commission’s oversight of electric suppliers. If adopted, this would create significant long-term energy sourcing and siting obligations for new large facilities in Delaware, drive demand for local renewable projects, and tighten planning around grid reliability impacts.

24 May 2026, 20:50legis.delaware.govUnited States

England: Environment Agency Issues Variation V012 to Saltend Power Station Environmental Permit EPR/QP3539LE

In May 2026 the Environment Agency issued a variation and consolidated permit for Saltend Power Station in Hull, adding a new gas‑fired boiler, revising NOx and cooling‑water conditions, and updating reporting under the Industrial Emissions Directive. The decision tightens monitoring and formalises operating caps and commissioning requirements that energy and chemicals operators must factor into steam and power supply planning, environmental compliance, and longer‑term investment decisions.

23 May 2026, 19:20assets.publishing.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Council: Greece Comments on Recast TEN‑E Regulation (Chapters V–VIII)

The Council has circulated Greece’s comments on the second Presidency compromise text for the recast TEN-E Regulation, covering offshore grid planning, hydrogen network development, cross-border cost allocation and ring-fenced congestion income rules. These positions indicate how the final TEN-E framework may shape cross-border electricity and hydrogen infrastructure planning, financing and use of congestion revenues across EU priority corridors, with implications for future PCI investment and network strategies.

23 May 2026, 19:17data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) Social Minister Urges Federal Framework for Offshore Rescue in Wind Parks

In May 2026, Schleswig-Holstein’s social minister publicly pressed the German federal government to create clear nationwide legal rules, responsibilities and long-term funding for offshore rescue in wind parks to address long rescue times and gaps in worker protection at sea. This statement, rooted in a rejected 2025 Bundesrat initiative to amend the federal offshore wind law, signals renewed political pressure for future federal action on offshore emergency and medical structures, with potential cost and compliance implications for offshore wind operators once concrete proposals emerge.

23 May 2026, 09:09schleswig-holstein.deGermany