Despite the urgency of the crisis gripping Wall Street, the Senate stepped up yesterday to resoundingly pass HR 6049. Kudos to renewable energy leaders like Senator Cantwell and Representative Inslee who have steadily advocated for the industry. Unless one of the pending bills is successful, the sun will set on the Production Tax Credit, Investment Tax Credit and several related measures that have proven highly effective in the expansion of the wind, solar and biofuels industries.
Continue Reading Senate Passes Renewable Extensions
Portland General Electric’s RFP Garners offers of 3,000 MW
The Portland Business Journal is reporting that Portland General Electric Company received 38 offers in its April 2008 RFP totaling up to 3000 MW in renewable energy. Continue Reading Portland General Electric’s RFP Garners offers of 3,000 MW
When is a Green Building Lease Like a Power Purchase Agreement? Avoiding Deja Vu All Over Again
On April 16, 2008, Northern States Power filed a petition with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a determination that "Xcel Energy has all legal rights necssary to possess, use and dispose of any renewable energy credits (‘RECs’) arising from the production of renewable energy that Xcel purchases under its renewable energy power purchase agreements
More on The Oregon Public Utility Commission’s Decision in Honeywell
For those who have been tracking the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s In re Honeywell proceeding, Stephen Hall and Pat Boylston have just released a Stoel Rives Energy Law Alert explaining the significance of the decision for third party "on site" solar and wind generation and net metering.
Gail Kinsey Hill reported on the decision and
More Good News for Solar!
Coming on the heels of the Oregon PUC’s decision in the Honeywell case (see Steve Hall’s blog below), scientists at MIT announced today that they had discovered a cheap way to separate oxygen from hydrogen using techniques learned from studying plant photosynthesis. Once separated, the hydrogen and oxygen can be used to power a fuel
Oregon Public Utility Commission Gives Green Light to Third-party Ownership Model for Distributed Generation
Now for some good news. Today the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) issued an important decision giving a green light to companies seeking to own and operate solar and wind-powered distributed generation facilities. Third-party ownership of renewable distributed generation—especially solar—has really taken off in the past few years because it allows a utility customer to enjoy the benefits of on-site renewable energy, but pay the facility owner only for the electricity generated by the facility.
Continue Reading Oregon Public Utility Commission Gives Green Light to Third-party Ownership Model for Distributed Generation
Comments on 500+ Page MMS Rule Due September 8
On July 9, 2008, the Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued proposed regulations for granting leases, easements and rights of way for alternative energy project activities and for alternative uses of existing facilities located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). For those who are less than excited at the prospect of wading
Relocating the Wind: Creative Transmission Solutions
A recent article by my partners Marc Wood and Jennifer Martin explores the transmission challenges faced by wind and other intermittent energy resources and then explains how transmission obstacles can be reduced by the effective use of dynamic scheduling, physical storage and exchange (shaping), or some combination of the two. The article urges FERC to initiate
Ohio’s New RPS Yields Duke Renewables RFP
Spurred by Ohio’s new renewable energy portfolio standard, Duke Energy Ohio is requesting proposals for renewable energy resources that would begin delivering energy in 2009-2012. Duke is interested both in PPAs and asset acquisitions, and the resources must be able to deliver energy to the MISO grid. Bids are due by August 8, 2008.
In Ohio, "renewable energy
Lex Helius: The Law of Solar Energy Now Available!
As technologies develop and commercial acceptance grows, solar photovoltaic installations are increasingly providing a viable alternative for the small-scale distributed generation of electricity to supplement more traditional polluting sources. The growth of the solar industry in the United States over just the past two years has been phenomenal. Having a rooftop solar photovoltaic installation on corporate headquarters, major distribution centers, and other high-profile real estate has become a significant way fro major global corporations to demonstrate their commitment to a cleaner environment. New sources of investment capital are flooding into this niche, and power buyers large and small have been drawn to solar as a way of demonstrating their independence from traditional generation sources and desire to play a part in moving the United States toward a more independent future. States across the country have moved to fill the federal leadership vacuum, in many cases enacting renewable portfolio standards and state renewable energy tax credits, which are critical to the continuing development of our solar resources. The industry is vibrant.Continue Reading Lex Helius: The Law of Solar Energy Now Available!