Energy Policy Perspectives Vol. 14 - March 6, 2026 The Trump administration released the Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation on March 4th. The voluntary agreement signed by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Oracle, OpenAI, and xAI aims to prevent the expansion of AI data centers from increasing residential and small commercial electricity bills. The Pledge “requires” participating companies to cover the full cost of the incremental generation and grid infrastructure for t

Energy Policy Perspectives Vol. 13 - February 23, 2026 Earlier this month, President Trump issued a new Executive Order (EO): “ Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet ”.  We believe this EO will indeed temporarily slow coal retirements and preserve dispatchable capacity during this period of rapid load growth and infrastructure constraints by providing financial support to many coal plants, some of which had bee

New Managing Director & Head of Midwest Region to be Based in Chicago Office Chicago, IL – February 17, 2026 –  Siebert Williams Shank & Co. (SWS) continues to bolster its position in the municipal finance markets for 2026 with the addition of Eric Avila, who brings 20 years of public finance experience, primarily serving clients throughout the Midwest Region. He joins the firm as Managing Director and Head of Midwest Region.  Eric Avila joins Siebert Williams Shank’s Chicago

The Rev. Jesse Jackson stood as a beacon of hope, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice for the least amongst us. Throughout decades of tireless advocacy, he championed the rights of the marginalized, uplifted voices too often ignored, and inspired countless individuals to pursue a more equitable world. As a civil rights leader, Jackson’s actions have sparked meaningful change—bridging divides, promoting dialogue, and leading with compassion and courage. His legacy