Department of Transportation Announces a Streamlined Regulatory Exemption Process for Autonomous Vehicles
On June 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced changes to the process for exempting autonomous vehicle companies from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) under 49 C.F.R. Part 555. Part 555 offers an important route for the sale and deployment of innovative autonomous vehicles. The recent announcement evidences a desire to speed up agency decisions on Part 555 exemptions, though the application process will continue to be a substantial undertaking.
Proactive Risk Management in the Face of Opposition to Data Centers and Crypto Mining
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and cryptocurrency continues to drive unprecedented U.S. demand for energy. This acceleration is encountering an increasingly organized wave of opposition, particularly to the siting of electric generation assets required to operate data centers and crypto mining facilities. A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), A Pollution Footprint the Size of Texas, sharply criticizes the permitting of new natural gas power plants in Texas — many of which are being built for proposed to power data centers and crypto mines.
FERC Orders Action on Co-Location Issues Related to Data Centers Running AI
Earlier today, at the February 20, 2025 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Open Meeting, FERC Commissioners voted unanimously to launch a review of issues associated with the co-location of large loads at generating facilities at PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM). The review will look at whether the PJM tariff needs to establish rules to provide clarity on co-location while ensuring grid reliability and fair costs to consumers.
States, Advanced Reactor Developer Challenge NRC’s Authority to License Advanced Reactors
The outcome of a lawsuit filed at the end of 2024 challenging the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (“NRC’s or the Agency’s”) authority under a 1956 rule to license certain nuclear facilities could have important implications for advanced reactor licensing processes and the supply of electricity in the U.S. in the years ahead.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Proposes New Licensing Framework for Advanced Reactors
Since the U.S. adoption of commercial nuclear power, large-scale commercial reactors — typically boiling or pressurized water designs — have been licensed under the provisions of 10 C.F.R. Part 50 (Part 50) and later 10 C.F.R. Part 52 (Part 52). Under these licensing approaches, license applicants submit construction and operating license permits in a multiyear process largely tailored to address the risks and controls necessary to operate bespoke, large-scale nuclear power plants at a specific site.
