Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has filed with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) a Request for Proposals for All Generation Sources (the all-source RFP) and a Request for Proposals for Electric and Demand Side Resources (energy-efficiency RFP). PSE filed the draft all source RFP on August 1, 2011 and plans to issue a
PNWER Annual Summit Hosts First Ocean Energy Panel and Moderated Forum
Last week, the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (“PNWER”) Annual Summit here in Portland, Oregon played host to its first-ever ocean energy panel and moderated forum. The four-hour session was organized by Oregon state Representative Deborah “Debbie” Boone (D.- Cannon Beach) and Richard “Rick” Williams of Science Applications International Corporation. The five initial panelists [1] were joined by members of the Alaska and Washington legislature, industry representatives, environmental and project development consultants, and others in a frank discussion about the potential for developing an offshore wave and tidal energy industry in the Pacific Northwest.
The conversation was a good one, with a handful of topics taking up the majority of the air time:Continue Reading PNWER Annual Summit Hosts First Ocean Energy Panel and Moderated Forum
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Interactive Tidal Energy Resource Map
Today, Mike Reed, the Water Power Team Lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ("DOE") Wind & Water Power Program, announced a new resource to help developers assess the quality of the tidal energy resource along the coast of the United States.
Called the "Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States," the online
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 +
4th Annual Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference
On Friday April 29, Stoel Rives partner Cherise Oram will be presenting on "Accelerating the Decision Making Process for MHK Facilities" at the 4th Annual Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference in Washington, D.C.
This year’s conference takes place from April 27 – 29. Here’s a brief summary of what to expect:
- Wednesday April 27 is Industry Development
COMMISSIONER FLORIO NOTICES ALL-PARTY MEETING CONCERNING 2011 RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD PROCUREMENT
On February 11, 2011, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Administrative Law Judge Burton Mattson issued a Proposed Decision conditionally accepting the 2011 Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Procurement Plans for Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. If adopted, the Decision would set a schedule for
Army Corps Proposes New Nationwide Permit for Offshore Wind and Hydrokinetic Pilot Projects
The Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) is seeking comments on a new proposed nationwide permit (“NWP”) for offshore wind and hydrokinetic pilot projects. In its February 16, 2011 Proposal to Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits, the Corps described a new NWP for “Water-Based Renewable Energy Pilot Projects” that could give developers a reprieve from obtaining permits under § 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and § 404 of the Clean Water Act for the “construction, expansion, or modification of water-based wind or hydrokinetic pilot projects and their attendant features.” Continue Reading Army Corps Proposes New Nationwide Permit for Offshore Wind and Hydrokinetic Pilot Projects
BOEMRE Proposes to Streamline Leasing on the OCS
There’s good news for offshore wind and hydrokinetic project developers looking to site projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”). The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (“BOEMRE” or the “Bureau”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NOPR”) on February 16, 2010 to delete a step in the regulatory process for issuing noncompetitive leases to renewable energy projects on the OCS when an applicant responds to a Request for Interest (“RFI”) or a Call for Information and Nomination (“Call”) issued by BOEMRE. Continue Reading BOEMRE Proposes to Streamline Leasing on the OCS
New Jersey Adopts Rules for Offshore Wind Energy Approval
In a long-awaited announcement, last week the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities adopted rules to codify the State’s Offshore Wind Economic Development Act. The new rules provide the process for an applicant to submit project information and to propose a pricing method and structure for Offshore Renewable Energy Credits (ORECs) for the Board’s
National Offshore Wind Strategy Announced
On Monday February 7, 2011, the DOE issued an ambitious plan to spur development of offshore wind facilities in federal and state waters off the eastern seaboard. The report identifies the key challenges to widespread development are reducing both the cost and the timeline of project development. It estimates that the current cost of offshore