What's Happening in Small Hydro and Hydrokinetics?
Some very noteworthy things have happened this month in the world(s) of small hydro and hydrokinetics in the United States. Here’s a quick summary:
1. U.S. Departments of Energy and the Interior Award ~$17 Million for Advanced Hydropower R&D. On September 6, 2011, Secretaries Chu and Salazar announced that the two agencies will provide nearly $17 million in funding over three years for research and development projects to advance hydropower technology. The money was awarded to 16 projects in 11 states through a competitive grant process first announced at the National Hydropower Association conference in April 2011. Congratulations to the winners:
· Sustainable Small Hydro Projects: Earth by Design, Hydro Green Energy (2 awards), Percheron Power, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Near Space Systems, Natel Energy, New Mexico State University, Walker Wellington, and Weisenberger Mills.
· Sustainable Pumped Storage Hydropower: Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Argonne National Laboratory.
· Environmental Mitigation Technologies for Conventional Hydropower: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Regents of the University of Minnesota.
· System Testing at Bureau of Reclamation Facility: Natel Energy.
For more on the announcement and the categories considered under the Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000486), see my blog covering the announcement from April 2011.
2. FERC Approves First Small Hydro Project Under MOU with Colorado. In August of 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and the State of Colorado signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) which has finally borne fruit. On September 14, 2011, FERC granted a license exemption for the 23 kW Meeker Wenschhof hydroelectric project (FERC Docket No. P-14230), to be located on an existing irrigation pipeline near the town of Meeker in Rio Blanco County. This is the first project approved by FERC under the new simplified procedures adopted under the MOU. The approval took a mere 2 months. The announcement can be found here. For FERC’s press release, click here. To read more about the MOU, see my blog from last year which includes a summary and a link to the MOU.
3. The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011 Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. On September 21, 2011, Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA), together with Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK), introduced H.R. 2994, legislation that would boost research grants, loans and tax incentives available for scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs working to develop and deploy ocean-generated energy in the United States. Mr. Deutch’s district (Florida 19) is home to the Southeast Marine Renewable Energy Center located at Florida Atlantic University. The bill has been referred to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee. For the full text of the bill, click here.
Upcoming Energy Conference Highlights
Through industry presentations and publications as well as through our blog, our energy attorneys are dedicated to helping you stay informed and knowledgeable about legal developments that affect your business.
Visit our website for the latest calendar of events. Upcoming highlights include:
Utah Solar Tour 2011
September 24 – Salt Lake City, UT
Join Stoel Rives attorney Julia Pettit for the Utah Solar Energy Association’s annual Solar Tour. This year’s tour features sites with geothermal heat pumps, small wind, passive solar design, solar shingles, and many energy efficiency design techniques. Stoel Rives is proud to be a Gold sponsor at this event.
In-Depth Tax Planning for Renewable Energy Projects
September 26 – Chicago, IL
Stoel Rives attorneys Greg Jenner, Adam Kobos, Carl Lewis and Kevin Pearson will serve as faculty for this course which will outline tax issues involved in developing renewable energy projects and negotiating tax equity incentives.
REFF West
September 26-27 – San Francisco, CA
Join Duff Bryant, Julia Pettit, John McKinsey and over 400 senior executives and investors as they discuss opportunities for private equity and venture capital in clean tech energy companies. Review in detail the latest technologies moving the industry forward, and examine prospects for rapid renewable growth across the West Coast. Be sure to visit Stoel Rives in the exhibit hall!
National Hydropower Association Pumped Storage Workshop
October 3 – Bellevue, WA
Join Stoel Rives attorneys Bill Holmes, David Benson, Cherise Oram, and Michael O’Connell for this workshop intended for industry professionals with an interest in the development of new pumped storage projects. Bill Holmes will join the discussion panel What Would Energy Storage Asset/Revenue Modeling Look Like? from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Independent Energy Producers Association Annual Meeting
October 3-5 – South Lake Tahoe, CA
John McKinsey and Seth Hilton will be in attendance at The IEP 30th Annual Meeting, featuring speakers from CPUC, CARB, CEC, and FERC. Stoel Rives is a proud sponsor at this event.
Developing Grid Storage Projects
October 5-6 – Dallas, TX
John Thompson, David Hattery and Bill Holmes are headed to Dallas to explore market opportunities, models, technologies and barriers to energy storage. Bill Holmes will Chair the conference, and instruct the pre-conference workshop, Developing the Business Case for Grid Storage on October 5. Other Stoel Rives presentations on October 5 include John Thompson, presenting Intellectual Property Protection for Grid Storage, and David Hattery, presenting Negotiating the Terms and Navigating the Risk of a Procurement Contract and Other Financial Documents.
Biogas USA West 2011
October 11-12 – San Francisco, CA
Visit with David Benson and Lee Smith, who will join the discussion panel Project Development Optimization on October 11. Be sure to attend the post-conference event reception, proudly hosted by Stoel Rives.
Solar Power International
October 17-20 – Dallas, TX
Stoel Rives attorneys David Benson, Kristen Castaños, Bill Clydesdale, David Hattery, Bill Holmes, Greg Jenner, Morten Lund, Jennifer Martin, Julia Pettit, David Quinby and Howard Susman are headed to Dallas! Julia Pettit will join the Financing Strategies for Utility-Scale Projects discussion panel, and Bill Holmes will moderate the discussion panel, Energy Storage Market and Policy Developments. Visit Stoel Rives at booth #3043 in the exhibit hall!
GEA Geothermal Energy Expo & GRC Annual Meeting
October 23-26 – San Diego, CA
Stoel Rives attorneys John McKinsey and Erin Anderson will be in attendance at the Geothermal Energy Association Energy Expo, co-located with the Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting. Erin Anderson will present during the pre-meeting workshop, held on Friday, October 21 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. While you’re there be sure to visit Stoel Rives in the exhibit hall!
CALIFORNIA RPS: Meeting the Mandate
October 24-25 – Los Angeles, CA
On Monday, October 24, Seth Hilton will present, In-State vs. Out-of-State Renewable Resources to Satisfy RPS Requirements from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Green Energy M&A Outlook for 2012
November 15-16, 2011 – Santa Clara, CA
Stoel Rives’ Duff Bryant and Ed Einowski, will serve as Summit Co-Chairs, and on Tuesday, November 15, Julia Pettit will moderate the discussion panel, The Green Corporate M&A Landscape, from 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. Stoel Rives is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of this event.
To see the full calendar of events, click here.
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