With 3/5 of the States having Renewable Portfolio Standard in place and the prospect of a Federal RPS, many utilities are seeking to become first time purchasers of the output from wind projects. And utilities with a history of purchasing wind are seeking additional resources. In 2009, the presenters collectively worked on over 40 wind…

The Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced today that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”) will invest up to $12 million in total funding ($10 million from funds allocated to NREL under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”)) in four companies – three California and one North Carolina –  to take early stage PV…

The Department of Energy today announced the award of more than $37 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 17 projects supporting solid-state lighting core research, product development, and domestic manufacturing.

Solid-state lighting, which uses light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) and organic light-emitting diodes (“OLEDs”) instead of incandescent bulbs, has the potential to be ten…

On January 14, the Geothermal Energy Association will host a one-day Geothermal Energy Finance Forum in New York.  Almost 30 speakers are confirmed for the Forum, including heavy hitters from investment groups and banks, geothermal energy developers, and the DOE and Treasury.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will deliver the keynote address.  My colleague, John McKinsey…

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important ruling clarifying how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must apply the Mobile-Sierra doctrine.  The Mobile-Sierra doctrine informs how FERC should evaluate whether a contract rate for energy is just and reasonable, and the doctrine provides that FERC’s sole concern should be whether the contract rates being challenged…

Concern is mounting over whether the smart grid awards and project grants to be distributed by the Department of Energy (“DOE”) will be taxable in the hands of the recipients.  Certain grants administered by  federal, state, or local programs for renewable energy projects located in the US may be reportable by the recipient.  The 100 smart grid award recipients, …

On January 5, 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) issued a proposed rule designating 70,600 square miles of critical habitat for endangered leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) along the West Coast, covering portions of Washington, Oregon, and California. Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) requires NMFS to designate critical habitat …

In a January 8 letter to the Minnesota Public Service Commission, Xcel Energy informed the Commission that it intends to conduct competitive negotiations with wind projects that are able to interconnect at Xcel’s Angus Anson generating station in Sioux Falls.  

The Angus Anson plant is a gas-fired peaking facility that has firm transmission to deliver its output.  Xcel…