Industries

Helping clients meet their business challenges begins with an in-depth understanding of the industries in which they work. That’s why KPMG LLP established its industry-driven structure. In fact, KPMG LLP was the first of the Big Four firms to organize itself along the same industry lines as clients.

How We Work

We bring together passionate problem-solvers, innovative technologies, and full-service capabilities to create opportunity with every insight.

Learn more

Careers & Culture

What is culture? Culture is how we do things around here. It is the combination of a predominant mindset, actions (both big and small) that we all commit to every day, and the underlying processes, programs and systems supporting how work gets done.

Learn more

First 100 Days: Upcoming Regulatory Signals for Energy

Indicators of potential regulatory shifts to agency objectives and regulatory focus 

Columns

KPMG Regulatory Insights

  • Quick Actions/Long Tail: With rapid “Day One” Energy actions, a recognition of the processes and dependencies that will be impacted by new policy directives.
  • Regulatory Withdrawals: A likelihood for a flurry of regulatory withdrawals, particularly related to climate and GHG, with growing global divergence.
  • Regulatory Shifts: A shift in regulatory approach to permitting processes, federal and state collaboration and public/private partnerships to help drive both energy and AI dominance, acknowledging the inter-relationship of these two sectors.

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

February 2025

The initial flurry of ‘Day One’ Executive Orders (EOs) focused quickly on the Energy sector – from the declaration of a national emergency to the opening of the energy supply to exiting from the Paris Agreement. Issuances from the incoming agency leadership look to execute their agency objectives and regulatory focus in line with these EOs. Preliminary signals include:

  1. Agency Objectives, including Energy “Dominance”, AI Leadership, Regulatory Withdrawal, and Global Pullback
  2. Regulatory Focus, including Federal Collaboration, State Collaboration, Resiliency, and Consumer Costs

1.  Agency Objectives  

Across the various Energy agencies, leadership is setting parameters for regulatory activity going forward, including initial support for:

Signals

Description/Examples

Source

Energy “Dominance”

Implementation of the Executive Order declaring a “national energy emergency” with actions related to both energy supply and infrastructure, across all energy types and focusing on national “energy independence”

White House

DOI release

EPA release

DOE release

Emphasis on enhancing energy transportation infrastructure, especially pipelines

White House

DOI release

Plans to expedite permits and approvals for energy projects, using emergency authorities to bypass regulations

White House here, here and here

DOI release

Focus on developing domestic/Alaskan energy resources, reversing previous restrictions, prioritizing Alaska LNG

White House

Rollback of climate-related regulations, aiming to encourage fossil fuel development and reduce energy costs

White House here and here

DOI release

AI Leadership

Implementation of Executive Order on “Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure” (still in force from the previous administration), which allows for expansion of data centers and related facilities and supports the Administration’s goal of global AI leadership:

  • Emphasis on domestic leadership in energy for AI data centers
  • Build AI infrastructure to protect national security and economic competitiveness
  • Priority on domestic sources for energy for AI data centers, matching new generation resources
  • Government-private sector cooperation to build and secure AI infrastructure
  • Modernize energy infrastructure and reduce regulations for permits, with emphasis on lowering costs

EO 14141 here

White House

EPA release

Regulatory Withdrawal/Pullback

Rescission of select previous Administration Executive Orders on energy and climate-related development and regulation (e.g. EO 14082, “Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”, and EO 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad”)

White House

Implementation of Executive Orders on “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” and “Unleashing American Energy” that direct review of rules, orders, guidance, policies, and other actions that may be inconsistent with the Administration’s policies

Withdrawal and/or reconsideration given to standing regulations (and regulations currently under legal challenge), including greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and coal combustion residuals (CCR)

Reassessment of natural gas and permitting regulatory reform, in the context of large energy infrastructure, nuclear development, etc.

White House here and here

Potential reconsideration of previously granted waivers (e.g., CA)

EPA release

Shift away from “climate change” terminology in agency materials/actions

 

Withdrawal of support for previous administration rule requiring enhancement and standardization of climate-based disclosures

SEC statement

Global Pullback

Implementation of the Executive Order, “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements”, including withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

White House

 

2. Regulatory Focus

Likewise, agency leadership is also noting potential changes in key regulatory areas, including:

Signals

Description/Examples

Source

Cross-Departmental Coordination

Execution of the duties of the National Energy Dominance Council- (comprised of federal departments and agencies  including State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation, EPA and others) to advise the President on ways to expand all forms of energy production including processes for permitting, production, regulation, and transportation and recommending a National Energy Dominance Strategy for long-range goals for achieving energy dominance (e.g., innovation, private sector investment, “cutting red tape”)

White House

State Collaboration

Look to shorten permitting times and processes with federal and state partnerships to incentivize investment

EPA release

Promote federal and state collaboration (e.g., FERC and state utility regulators)

FERC release

Resiliency

Focus on reliability of generation units and construction of new power generation

FERC release

DOE release

Consumer Costs

Focus on lowering consumer costs related to previous climate and energy policies (e.g., food costs, power costs, residential construction and consumer goods) by reducing regulatory requirements

White House here and here

EPA releases here and here

FERC release

DOE release

Assessment of agency programs/programs to identify/recommend actions to lower consumer costs

White House

DOI release

Dive into our thinking:

First 100 Days: Upcoming Regulatory Signals for Energy

Indicators of potential regulatory shifts to agency objectives and regulatory focus

Download PDF

Explore more

Get the latest from KPMG Regulatory Insights

KPMG Regulatory Insights is the thought leader hub for timely insight on risk and regulatory developments.

Meet our team

Image of Amy S. Matsuo
Amy S. Matsuo
Principal, U.S. Regulatory Insights & Compliance Transformation Lead, KPMG LLP
Image of Angela Gildea
Angela Gildea
U.S. Sector Leader, KPMG LLP

Thank you

Thank you for signing up to receive Regulatory Insights thought leadership content. You will receive our next issue when we publish.

Get the latest from KPMG Regulatory Insights

KPMG Regulatory Insights is the thought leader hub for timely insight on risk and regulatory developments. Get the latest perspectives on evolving supervisory, regulatory, and enforcement trends. 

To receive ongoing KPMG Regulatory Insights, please submit your information below:
(*required field)

By submitting, you agree that KPMG LLP may process any personal information you provide pursuant to KPMG LLP's Privacy Statement.

An error occurred. Please contact customer support.

Thank you!

Thank you for contacting KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Contact KPMG

Use this form to submit general inquiries to KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

By submitting, you agree that KPMG LLP may process any personal information you provide pursuant to KPMG LLP's Privacy Statement.

An error occurred. Please contact customer support.

Job seekers

Visit our careers section or search our jobs database.

Submit RFP

Use the RFP submission form to detail the services KPMG can help assist you with.

Office locations

International hotline

You can confidentially report concerns to the KPMG International hotline

Press contacts

Do you need to speak with our Press Office? Here's how to get in touch.

Headline