The results are in for the third California cap and trade auction. A metric ton of CO2e went for $14 in the third auction, which took place on May 16, 2013. The top bid at the auction was $50.01, with a mean bid of $16.67 submitted. All of the 14.5 million 2013 vintage allowances available
Governor Dayton Signs Bill Creating Solar Energy Standard
By Thomas Braun on
Posted in Community Solar, Solar
Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed the Omnibus Energy Bill into law. After months of negotiations, state legislators came to an agreement that brings Minnesota to the forefront of solar power following the creation of a solar energy standard, community solar garden program, and a unique value of solar tariff. Key provisions of the new…
Voting Underway for Biofuels Digest Hottest Partners List
By Graham Noyes on
Posted in Biofuels
Voting is underway for the 2013 Hottest Partners in Biofuels and BioBased Products, a poll conducted by our friend Jim Lane of Biofuels Digest. Poll categories include:
- Distributors
- Engineering, procurement & construction
- Enzymes, yeasts & sugars
- Feedstocks (energy crops)
- Feedstocks (gases and residues)
- Finance (early-stage)
- Finance (commercialization)
- Lab services
- Pretreatment systems
- Professional counselors
…
California Public Utilities Commission Sets Fourth and Fifth Solicitations for the Renewable Auction Mechanism Program
By Allison Smith on
Posted in California, Renewable
On May 9, 2013, the California Public Utilities Commission adopted Resolution E-4582, scheduling the fourth Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) auction to close on June 28, 2013 and setting a fifth RAM auction for no later than June 27, 2014. The RAM program allows renewable energy developers to bid their 3 MW to 20 MW projects to …
Update: Minnesota Senate Passes Energy Omnibus Bill
By Thomas Braun on
Posted in Solar
Today the Minnesota Senate passed its omnibus energy bill by a vote of 37-26. This follows the Minnesota House of Representatives’ passage of its version of the bill on Tuesday. The bills now move to a conference committee for consolidation. After the conference committee completes its work, the consolidated bill will then return to each…
Update: Minnesota House Passes Aggressive Solar Standard
By Thomas Braun on
Posted in Renewable
On May 7th, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed its omnibus energy bill by a vote of 70-63. The bill includes a provision that requires investor-owned utilities to obtain 4 percent of their power from solar by 2025, with a goal of reaching 10 percent by 2030. In contrast to the aggressive House bill, the…
RIN Futures Become a Reality
By Graham Noyes on
In a development that will increase liquidity and transparency in the RIN market, two major providers are making RIN future contracts available to be traded. Both CME Group and the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) will have RIN products available to be traded by mid May.
Continue Reading RIN Futures Become a Reality
Minnesota Set to Boost In-State Solar Industry
By Thomas Braun on
The Minnesota State Legislature is considering a bold move to assist Minnesota’s fledgling solar industry. A new provision in the House transportation omnibus bill requires that any solar array installed on a building, highway, road, bridge, or land owned or controlled by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, must consist entirely of panels manufactured in Minnesota. …
Obama Administration Releases National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan
By Chad Marriott on
Posted in Ocean/Wave Energy
Almost three years ago, I reported that the White House Council on Environmental Quality had issued the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. Since that time, the Nation Ocean Council, formed by President Obama in Executive Order 13547, has been working diligently to prepare an agency roadmap to put the new National Ocean Policy into action.…
IRS Issues Clarification Regarding “Binding Written Contract” in its “Start of Construction” Guidance for PTC or ITC Energy Credits
By Greg Jenner on
As we originally noted, the IRS guidance issued April 15 regarding the "start of construction" requirement for energy projects to qualify for PTC or ITC contained a "big surprise" regarding its definition of a binding contract. Unlike previous incentive programs, the guidance provided that contracts that limit damages to a specified amount, such as…