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As a proud Exhibit Hall sponsor of E3, the Midwest’s premier energy, economic and environmental conference, Stoel Rives LLP would like to encourage you to attend this annual event. Hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, E3 will focus this year on the intersection of innovative technologies and policies…

During yesterday’s webinar entitled “The Stimulus Bill: Structured Tax Incentives” Greg Jenner (Stoel Rives LLP attorney), Victoria McDowell (Chief Administrator of the Treasury ITC Grant Program), and Kevin Pearson (Stoel Rives LLP attorney) walked webinar participants through the background of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant program and the application process.

Ms. McDowell provided…

This afternoon, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conditionally approved the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator’s (MISO) proposed tariff amendment regarding allocating the cost of network upgrades for generation interconnection projects meeting MISO’s regional expansion criteria and benefits (RECB) standards.  See my previous blog entry for a more detailed discussion on the history of the tariff amendment, as well…

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) highlighted smart grid technologies in its strategic plan for fiscal years 2009-2014 (the “Strategic Plan”). FERC found that our nation could potentially reduce peak electricity demand by up to 20% through the deployment of new technologies, including smart grid and demand response technologies.
 

In the Strategic Plan, FERC is…

The University of Minnesota’s annual conference on Energy, Economics and the Environment – E3 – will be held in St. Paul on November 17. Hosted annually by the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE), this year’s conference will explore current technologies, environmental benefits and market opportunities in renewable energy.

Stoel…

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the first awards of cash grants in lieu of the investment tax credit (ITC) today.  The total award value was over $502 million.  Recipients include projects in Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas.  Click here for a detailed list of the awards…

In recent days, there have been rumors circulating that Treasury would issue "pre-approvals" for ITC grants in cases where construction begins in 2009 or 2010 but the project is not placed in service before 2011.  You will recall that projects may still qualify for the ITC grant in those cases if they meet the placed…

On July 16, 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Policy Statement on smart grid technologies, providing guidance on future smart grid interoperability standards and establishing an interim incentive rate policy that applies to near-term smart grid deployments (even those used in pilot or demonstration projects).  Notably, FERC identified four technologies as being…