North America: Energy and Natural Resources

Here is a look at the groundbreaking recommendations from the SB 254 reports and other significant wildfire legislation introduced for the 2026 legislative session, which could fundamentally alter wildfire liability in California.

U.S. battery energy storage installations reached record highs in Q1 2026, while California pushes forward with ambitious offshore wind plans and major solar-plus-storage projects secure billions in financing. Despite federal headwinds, state officials and industry leaders remain committed to renewable energy targets, with significant developments spanning from California's Central Valley to New York's community solar initiatives.

In a case of first impression, a North Carolina court has dismissed a climate lawsuit brought by the town of Carrboro against a public utility company, finding that the matters raised in the claim were not justiciable or, in other words, inappropriate for determination by a court.