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On August 21, NV Energy issued a press release reminding renewable energy developers of that it has issued a Request of Information (RFI) for renewable energy that can be provided on a short-term basis.  This solicitation is separate from NV Energy’s recently announced 2009 Renewable Energy Request for Proposals.  NV Energy will consider proposals for…

On August 14, 2009, the Department of Energy ("DOE") State Energy Program ("SEP") announced that more than $119 million in funding from the Recovery Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects has been awarded to Alabama, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota and Wyoming.

Here is a summary of how the monies will be used by each of the states and territories:

  • Alabama has been awarded $22,228,000 in federal stimulus funds.  Alabama will utilize the Recovery Act  SEP funding to promote energy efficiency of businesses (with a particular focus on the automotive supplier industry), schools, and correctional facilities and the development of renewable energy resources in the state.  The state will also use funds to create a new "energy revolving loan fund" to stimulate the creation and retention of jobs and increase the generation of renewable energy by providing low-interest loans for new and existing industries in the state.  The loans will be used for the installation of renewable energy systems and the implementation of energy efficiency measures.  After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Alabama will receive nearly $28 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $55 million.  Click here for more information regarding Alabama’s state energy program and use of Recovery Act funds.
  • American Samoa was awarded $7,420,000 in federal stimulus funds.  American Samoa will utilize the Recovery Act SEP funding to expand the use of renewable energy across the territory, as well as to supplement weatherization funds to improve home energy efficiency for low-income residents.  Specifically, the territory will install a 1,000 kW photovoltaic solar-energy array near the Tafuna Power Station, 19 smaller 28 kW solar arrays on the roofs of government and other buildings, and a solar water heating system at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.  American Samoa is also interested in expanding its use of wind power, and will use Recovery Act funds to set up eight anemometers to measure and quantify the territory’s wind potential.  After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the territory will receive more than $9 million in additional funding, for a total of $18 million.

Continue Reading Show Me the Money: State Energy Programs for Seven States and Territories Awarded $119 Million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”)

On July 13-14, 2009, I attended Infocast’s Storage Summit in La Jolla, California. The conference attracted over 200 attendees.

On day one, Jim Woolsey, Venture Partner and Senior Advisor for VantagePoint Venture Partners and Former Director of the CIA, delivered a keynote address that focused on the theme of the role of energy storage in achieving…

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced this week that up to $22 million from the Recovery Act would be allotted to up to 4 eligible communities nationwide in order to encourage utility-scale renewable energy systems that provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for their communities, while creating jobs and new economic development opportunities. The projects will demonstrate how…

Yesterday, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $154 million in Recovery Act funding to four states for their State Energy Programs (“SEPs”). The funds were awarded to California, Missouri, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
Continue Reading DOE Announces $154 million in Funding for State Energy Programs

On June 24, 2009, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $204 million in ARRA funding to ten states for their State Energy Programs (“SEPs”).

Here is a summary of how the monies will be used in Minnesota, South Carolina and South Dakota:

Minnesota has been awarded $21.7 million in federal stimulus funds for…

President Obama has issued a memorandum calling for the creation of a temporary Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a unifying framework for responsible development and ecosystem management for the nation’s oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes. Specifically, within 90 days the Task…

The Western Governors’ Association ("WGA") gathered in Park City, Utah for its annual meeting, which was held on June 14-16, 2009.   Attendees at the meeting included Governors Bill Ritter (Colo.); C.L. "Butch" Otter (Idaho); Brian Schweitzer (Mont.); Dave Heineman (Neb.); Bill Richardson (N.M.); Benigno Fitial, Northern Mariana Islands; Ted Kulongoski (Ore.); Mike Rounds (S.D.); Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.); and Jon Huntsman, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert (Utah) , along with Canadian Premiers Ed Stelmach, Alberta; Gary Doer, Manitoba; and Brad Wall, Saskatchewan. 

The morning session on Monday, June 15, 2009, was kicked off with the unveiling of the Western Renewable Energy Zones-Phase 1 Report, which was a product of a joint initiative between the WGA and the U.S. Department of Energy (the "WREZ Initiative").  The intention of the WREZ Initiative is twofold:  (1) to identify Western Renewable Energy Zones in the Western Interconnection and (2) to facilitate the development of high voltage transmission to those areas with abundant high-quality renewable resources and low environmental impacts.  Governor Schweitzer provided an overview of the WREZ Phase I report, which included a summary of the process for obtaining feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders to provide the analysis and tools for constructing a plan to facilitate the construction of new, utility scale renewable energy facilities and any needed transmission to deliver that energy across the Western Interconnection.  The WREZ Initiative has developed a modeling tool for evaluating the relative economic attractiveness of costs of delivered renewable energy, including transmission costs, from specific renewable resource areas delivered to specific load centers. Continue Reading Strategies for Tapping the West’s Renewable Energy Potential

The Western Governors’ Association ("WGA") will hold its annual meeting in Park City, Utah on June 14-16, 2009.  Based on a review of the Agenda posted to the WGA’s website, the focus of the meeting will be on developing regional and global strategies for addressing important issues related to energy resources, climate change and water.  I will be attending the annual meeting this year and reporting on the outcome of discussions on the following topics:

On June 14, 2009, there will be a panel discussion on policies and technologies to address water use in an era of declining water supplies due to climate change.  Panelists include:  Dr. Peter H. Gleick, co-founder and president of the Pacific Institute; Professor Eilon Adar, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Resources, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Doug Miell, Principal, Miell Consulting; Cameron J. Brooks, Ph.D., Director of Solutions and Business Development for IBM Corporation’s Big Green Innovations initiative.

On June 15, 2009, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff will provide their perspectives on developing large amounts of clean energy in the West and the transmission lines needed to bring it to market.  Following their remarks, they and the Governors will have the opportunity to discuss what cooperation is needed between states and the federal government to accelerate progress.  An outline of discussion points that might be expected from the Governors during this session could include topics addressed in the letter dated May 1, 2009 from the WGA to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee.Continue Reading Annual Meeting of the Western Governors’ Association: June 14-16, 2009, Park City, Utah

On Friday, June 5, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2009-52, which provides guidance informing taxpayers how to elect to claim the Investment Tax Credit under IRC § 48 in lieu of the Production Tax Credit under IRC § 45 with respect to qualifying projects. This election was provided for as part of the American Recovery…