Category: Green Building

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Updates to Energy Related Bills in the 2017-2018 California Legislative Session

In our first post, the Stoel Rives’ Energy Team provided a summary of energy related bills introduced by California legislators during the first half of the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. Provided below is a summary of changes to bills we have been following, as well as a list of energy related bills not included in our … Continue Reading

Upcoming Energy Efficiency Conference in Portland

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB), in partnership with the Univeristy of Oregon School of Law, will be presenting its 2nd Annual Policy conference on Energy Efficiency: The Next Generation on Friday, October 26, 2012, at the University of Oregon’s White Stag Block (70 NW Couch Street).  The all-day conference will focus on energy efficiency in the … Continue Reading

Gov. Kitzhaber Names Margi Hoffman as Oregon’s Energy Policy Advisor

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber announced today that he has named Margi Hoffman to serve as his Energy Policy Advisor.  She will join the Governor’s office on April 2. Ms. Hoffman has served as Senior Vice President and Director of Oregon Operations with Strategies360, a strategic consulting firm, and has also worked closely with Renewable Northwest Project (RNP) … Continue Reading

LEED Avoids Class Action, Energy Savings Claim Left Untested

There’s big news in the battle between consultants in the green building industry and the U.S. Green Building Council (“USGBC”). Following almost a year of litigation, it appears that the USGBC may have defeated a $100 million class action lawsuit brought by engineers and designers, according to a court order issued last week. The plaintiffs’ complaint filed … Continue Reading

PSU’s Hatfield School of Government Offers “Summer Series on the New Energy Economy”

This summer, the Center for Public Service at the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University will be offering a series of short, 2-3 day classes under an umbrella called the "Summer Series on the New Energy Economy."  These are non-credit courses, specifically designed for energy industry leaders, a wide range of professionals, and … Continue Reading

Unused ARRA Grant Funds Related to Electric Vehicles, Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Infrastructure Projects

Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition has announced that it has roughly $400,000 in unused ARRA grant funds available for alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure projects.  Examples of eligible vehicles include: Vehicles using alternative fuels recognized by the Energy Policy Act (complete list here: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/about/epact_fuels.html); Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles; Electric Hybrid Vehicles (including certain Plug-in Hybrid … Continue Reading

LexisNexis Selects Renewable + Law Blog to its Top 50 Environmental Law Blogs List

Having first reported to our readers in February that LexisNexis had nominated the Stoel Rives Renewable + Law Blog for its Top 50 Environmental Law & Climate Change Blogs for 2011 award, we are pleased to announce we made the list of winners! In publishing its Top 50 list, LexisNexis declared that our Renewable + … Continue Reading

New Tool for Renewable Energy Investors, Entrepreneurs, and Companies

On June 30, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") launched its Technology Commercialization Portal (the "Portal").  The Portal is an online resource that provides a mechanism for investors, entrepreneurs and companies to identify new technologies coming out of DOE laboratories and other participating research institutions.  Relevant technologies include: Advanced Materials Biomass and Biofuels Building Energy Efficiency Electricity Transmission and … Continue Reading

Zino Green Investment Forum

The ZINO Society, a Seattle-based angel investment group, announced last week that its annual “ZINO Green Investment Forum” would be held on March 4, 2010, at the McKinstry Innovation Center in Seattle.   Up to fifteen early-stage companies in “green tech, clean tech, and sustainable products or services” will be selected by the ZINO Green screening board to … Continue Reading

Come Visit Us at E3, The Midwest’s Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference, on Nov. 17, 2009

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, … Continue Reading

News from the Sustainability Front

My partner Eric Grasberger and I were recently interviewed for an article in the Oregon State Bar Bulletin (October 2009) entitled "Advancing the New Economy: Oregon Lawyers Embrace Sustainability," by Barry Woods.  The article, which we’ve summarized here, provides an interesting take on how lawyers at Stoel Rives and other law firms are integrating concepts of … Continue Reading

November 17: Energy, Economics and Environment (E3) Conference

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 … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Washington State Issues Final Guidance for Competitive Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $3.2 billion for energy efficiency and conservation block grants. Most of this money has been allocated directly to various local governments. Washington has an additional $6.4 million available through a competitive grant program. Washington’s competitive grant program is administered through its Department of Commerce. Today, the Department of Commerce has announced … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: DOE Proposes Amendments to its Loan Guarantee Program

Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend 10 CFR Part 609, the rule regulating the loan guarantee program authorized by section 1703 of Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  The two principal goals of section 1703 of Title XVII are to encourage commercial use of new or … Continue Reading

Six Years, Not Ten–New Time Limits Govern Certain Claims against Designers, Consultants and Contractors

Owners and developers of commercial buildings in Oregon, "green" or otherwise, should be aware that, effective January 1, 2010, the Oregon Legislative Assembly has reduced the time period within which to assert claims against those who performed design, planning, surveying, architecture, engineering, construction, repair, or construction supervision or inspection of or for the building, from … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Applications Available for the Washington State Energy Program

Washington previously received $60.9 million in Recovery Act funding for its State Energy Program (“SEP”). The Washington Legislature later provided $38.5 million to the Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development (“CTED”) agency to administer a loan and grant program for eligible projects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean energy innovation (see … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Up to $31 Million for the Building America Partnerhsip

On June 29, 2009 the Department of Energy ("DO") issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement to provide up to $31 million in grants to implement the Building America ("BA") program. The BA program is part of DOE’s Building Technologies Program, and its long-term goal is to develop cost-effective, production-ready systems in five major climate zones that will result … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Applications Available now for Washington’s State Energy Program

On July 1, 2009, Washington State’s Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (“CTED”) issued application guidelines and forms for its State Energy Program (“SEP”) (available by clicking here). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”) provided $60.9 million in new funding for Washington’s SEP. Subsequently, the Washington Legislature allocated $38.5 million to … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: $7.5 Million Available to Develop Commercial Energy Efficiency Training Programs

On June 26, 2009, the Department of Energy ("DOE") released a funding opportunity announcement ("FOA") to deploy $7.5 million in Recovery Act funds to further its goals of reducing energy consumption and achieving net zero-energy buildings (defined as buildings that produce as much energy as they consume).  In order to reach these goals, DOE recognizes that a … Continue Reading

Stoel Rives Expands Its San Diego Office

  We welcome energy attorneys Morten Lund and David Quinby to the firm’s San Diego office as members of the Energy and Telecommunications group. They join attorneys Howard Susman and Brian Nese. The San Diego office has relocated to a larger space at 12265 El Camino Real, Suite 303, to accommodate further expansion (new contact … Continue Reading

Green Trademarks and Eco-Friendly Claims

Jere Webb, a partner in our Trademarks and Intellecutal Property Group, recently wrote the following interesting piece about green marketing claims: It is evident that virtually every business now is trying to position itself as being “green”. For a discussion of restrictions on “green advertising”, particularly the FTC’s green ad guidelines (the “Green Guides”), and similar … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Florida, Idaho, and Kansas State Energy Programs Received $77.1 Million from the Recovery Act

On June 24, 2009, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to ten states for their State Energy Programs ("SEPs").  Here is a summary of how the monies will be used in Florida, Idaho, and Kansas: Florida’s SEP will fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative fuels projects in the state.  … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Conneticut and Utah State Energy Programs

Today, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to ten states for their State Energy Programs ("SEPs").  Here is a summary of how the monies will be used in Connecticut and Utah: Connecticut will use its SEP funding to further a variety of programs. Examples include the deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles … Continue Reading
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