On December 15, 2010, Idaho Wind Partners 1, LLC (“Idaho Wind”) filed a petition for declaratory order with FERC (Docket EL11-12) on behalf of its eleven qualifying facilities ("QFs") in Idaho to approve an unconventional plan to sell RECs into California. Idaho Wind is seeking confirmation that the plan (1) would not violate any of
Reclamation Issues Draft Resource Assessment of Existing Hyrdo Facilities
Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation ("Reclamation") issued a draft report titled "Hydropower Resource Assessment at Existing Reclamation Facilities" (the "Resource Assessment") for public comment. The Resource Assessment provides information on 530 exiting Reclamation sites and makes a preliminary determination about whether or not hydropower development at each facility would
PG&E Suspends WaveConnect Project
On October 28, 2010, Pacific Gas & Electric ("PG&E") announced that it was suspending development of its Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project (FERC Docket No. P-12779) off of the Northern California coast. The company stated that "several major challenges made the project unviable at its current location and configuation." However, "PG&E remains committed to [wave energy] technology."
In fact
WCGA Schedules Marine Spatial Planning Workshops
In response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s federal funding opportunity ("FFO") to support Regional Ocean Partnerships ("ROPs"), the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health ("WCGA") will hold workshops in California, Oregon, and Washington next month to help develop its proposal for a portion of the funding. The WCGA is the ROP for the
REMINDER: Applications for SBIR and STTR Phase I Grants Due November 15th
Don’t forget that the deadline for Phase I grant applications under the U.S. Department of Energy’s ("DOE") Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") and Small Business Technology Transfer ("STTR") programs is 8:00 p.m. Eastern, November 15, 2010. Qualified small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering in any of the research areas identified
Maine Seeks to Assert Itself as Leader in Offshore Energy
In recent months, the State of Maine has sought the spotlight in the offshore renewable energy space. This entry summarizes three major events that have marked the state’s move toward a leadership role.
Maine Signs MOU with Nova Scotia
On July 12, 2010, Governor John E. Baldacci signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Nova
Colorado Signs MOU for Small Hydro Development with FERC
On August 25, 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and the State of Colorado signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") which could lead to simplified procedures and regulations for authorizing small-scale hydropower development in Colorado. Although traditional hydropower has not seen significant new development in recent years, interest in small, low-impact projects is on the
Sen. Kerry’s Energy Tax Bill Would Help Energy Storage Technologies
On August 5, 2010, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced S.3738—the Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010—which would have some impact on the growth of energy storage technologies in the United States.
Among other things, the bill would provide for an extension and modification of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (the “MTC”), a
DOE Designates New Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center
The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") continued its support of marine and hydrokinetic ("MHK") technology development on Tuesday, announcing that Florida Atlantic University has been designated as the nation’s third national center for ocean energy research and development. The Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center ("SNMREC") joins centers in the Northwest, at the University of Washington
Senators Propose Making Energy Storage Property Eligible for ITC & CREBs
Last week, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), introduced legislation that would add grid-connected energy storage property to the list of technologies eligible for the federal investment tax credit (the "ITC"). Under the Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy Act of 2010 (the "STORAGE 2010 Act"), eligible energy