National Energy Policy: Executive Order Revokes Renewable Energy Subsidies
On July 7, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to end federal subsidies for wind, solar, and other energy sources. The order directs the Secretary of the Treasury “to strictly enforce the termination of the clean electricity production and investment tax credits.” The order states that such subsidies distort energy markets, threaten grid reliability, and risk national security by relying on foreign supply chains. Within 45 days, these departments must review and revise relevant policies and submit reports outlining their actions.
Production and Operation: Department of the Interior Proposes Commingling Regulation Update
On July 7, 2025, the United States Department of the Interior proposed an update to a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulation that would increase commingling. Commingling involves producing oil and gas from multiple different pools and leases through a single well pad or production plant. Current commingling regulations restrict the practice to leases that are near identical. The Interior Department plans to move quickly to amend the old regulations (43 CFR Subpart 3173).
Crude Oil by Rail: BLM Approves Expansion of Wildcat Oil Transfer Facility in Utah
On July 7, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the expansion of the Wildcat Loadout Facility in Helper, Utah, under a fast-tracked 14-day environmental review tied to a declared national energy emergency. The project, led by Coal Energy Group 2, LLC, will increase the facility’s capacity to transfer Uinta Basin crude oil by adding new infrastructure such as unloading zones, a tank farm, and loading systems. The expansion remains within the facility’s existing 270-acre footprint. BLM officials stated that the project aligns with national energy priorities while maintaining stewardship of public lands.
GHG Emissions: RGGI Releases Newest Rule Update; Aims for Larger Reduction and Raises Allowance Cost
On July 3, 2025, the third program review and agreement for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was released. The RGGI is an agreement between ten Northeastern states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont), to cap-and-trade carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The cap-and-trade forces certain emitters of CO2 to acquire an allowance for each ton of CO2 emitted. Each allowance is obtained through an auction in the state, and there is a limited number of allowances, corresponding to the maximum amount of emissions allowed. The newest agreement aims for a 60% or more cap reduction by 2037, compared to the current 2025 levels. It further increases the minimum amount an allowance can be purchased at, and the price increases year-by-year.
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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
Understanding the Basics of ADA Compliance for Agritourism Operations
The Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), will present the next webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series:
“Understanding the Basics of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance for Agritourism Operations”
- July 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. More Information and Registration Here
Jackie Schweichler to Join PA Small Business Development Center in Agritourism Seminar
On August 13, 2025, at 1:00pm (ET), staff attorney Jackie Schweichler will join the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center to present at this year’s Ag Progress Days. The event, “Fields of Opportunity: Starting Your Agritourism Journey,” will be held in the Red Barn Annex.
- August 13 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. More Information and Registration Here
Solar Law Symposium Virtual Live Webinar
Penn State Extension and the Penn State Center for Energy Law and Policy will host their fifth annual Penn State Solar Law Symposium, co-sponsored by Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law. Staff Attorney Brook Duer will co-present a session on the ethics of solar leasing as part of the program.
- August 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:45 pm. More Information and Registration Here
Follow us on Twitter @AgShaleLaw to see the latest with our #ShaleLaw HotLinks
Connect with us on Facebook.
Penn State Farmland Energy Legal Podcast: Listen to the latest episode here.
Oil & Gas Law & Policy Resources:
Boyd, The Right to a Healthy Environment as a Catalyst for Urgent and Ambitious Climate Action at the IACtHR (July 15, 2025)
McFarland, Cromwell v. Anadarko – Texas Supreme Court weighs in on construction of lease habendum clause (July 16, 2025)
Gehring, Jus Cogens and the Climate Crisis: The IACtHR’s Landmark Climate Emergency Advisory Opinion and its Jus Cogens Verdict (July 16, 2025)
Hug, Das, Reiter, Mallen, and Coffman, FERC Proposes to Eliminate WECC Soft Price Cap (July 17, 2025)
Akin Gump, Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Further Promote American Energy (July 17, 2025)
Sartain, Another Louisiana Post-production Cost Case … and More (July 18, 2025)
Zahabi, Keegan, Kennedy, Mitchell, Walter, O’Malley, and Smith, EU Moves to Simplify Taxonomy Disclosures Without Undermining Green Goals (July 18, 2025)
FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES
ICYMI: Energy Secretary: The World Needs More Reliable American Energy (July 14, 2025)
Energy Department Announces Pilot Program to Build Advanced U.S. Nuclear Fuel Lines and End Foreign Dependence (July 16, 2025)
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES
EPA Administrator Zeldin Joins President Trump in Pittsburgh for Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit (July 16, 2025)
EPA Administrator Zeldin Reaffirms EPA’s Indian Policy, Hosts National Tribal Caucus Meeting in DC (July 17, 2025)
EPA Announces Next Set of Actions on Coal Ash Program (July 17, 2025)
EPA Announces Reduction in Force, Reorganization Efforts to Save Taxpayers Nearly Three-Quarters of a Billion Dollars (July 18, 2025)
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register July 14 – 21, 2025)
Environmental Protection Agency
90 FR 31997 Notice: “Certain New Chemicals or Significant New Uses; Statements of Findings-May 2025” (July 16, 2025)
90 FR 33283 Rule: “Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (24-3.5e)” (July 17, 2025)
90 FR 33942 Notice: “Environmental Impact Statements; Notice of Availability” (July 18, 2025)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
90 FR 31197 Notice: “Northwest Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Wild Trail Project” (July 14, 2025)
90 FR 31640 Notice: “EONY Generation Limited; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment” (July 15, 2025)
90 FR 31990 Notice: “Federal and State Current Issues Collaborative; Notice of Meeting and Agenda” (July 16, 2025)
Energy Department
90 FR 31138 Rule: “Rescinding Obsolete Transfer of Proceedings Regulations “(July 14, 2025)
90 FR 31137 Rule: “Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance” (July 14, 2025)
90 FR 31134 Rule: “Procedures for Acquisition of Petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve” (July 14, 2025)
90 FR 31132 Rule: “Amending the Administrative Procedures With Respect to the Import and Export of Natural Gas” (July 14, 2025)
90 FR 31131 Rule: “Application for Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Connection, Operation, and Maintenance of Facilities for Transmission of Electric Energy at International Boundaries” (July 14, 2025)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
90 FR 31593 Rule: “Procedures for Implementing NEPA; Processing of Department of the Army Permits” (July 15, 2025)
Land Management Bureau
90 FR 33318 Rule: “Rescission of Regulations Regarding Plans of Operations for Mining Claims” (July 17, 2025)
90 FR 33314 Rule: “Rescission of Regulations Regarding Mining Claim and Millsite Use” (July 17, 2025)
90 FR 33310 Rule: “Rescission of Regulations Regarding Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale” (July 17, 2025)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
90 FR 31748 Notice: “Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities” (July 17, 2025)
90 FR 31745 Notice: “Hazardous Materials: Notice of Applications for New Special Permits” (July 17, 2025)
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office
90 FR 34005 Notice: “Determination of Valid Existing Rights Within the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia” (July 18, 2025)
Ocean Energy Management Bureau
90 FR 32015 Notice: “Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore American Samoa-Request for Information and Interest; Extension of Comment Period” (July 16, 2025)
U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
H.R.4415 “To require the Secretary of Energy to relocate the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” (Introduced July 15, 2025)
H.Con.Res.44 “Recognizing a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting the fundamental rights of children due to the Trump administration’s directives that unleash fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, while suppressing climate change science.” (Introduced July 16, 2025)
H.R.4493 “To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency in connection with health risks associated with climate change, and for other purposes.” (Introduced July 17, 2025)
U.S. SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
H.R.3657 “Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act” (Passed House July 15, 2025)
PN416-7 “David LaCerte — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” (Receieved July 16, 2025)
STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES
Getting Permitting Done: DEP Reduces Permit Backlog by 98% and Has Reviewed Nearly 20,000 Permit Applications So Far This Year (July 14, 2025)
Shapiro Administration Announces More Than $6 Million in Flood Recovery Projects in Nine Counties Through Emergency Watershed Protection Program (July 18, 2025)
PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 29 – July 19, 2025)
Department of Environmental Protection
51 Pa.B. 2878 Notice: “Applications, Actions and Special Notices.”
Written by:
Benjamin Aronovitch, Research Assistant
Caden Dean-Sauter, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney
