Topics

Algae

CARB Proposes New Regulations for Alternative Diesel FuelsCalifornia Issues 2012 Bioenergy Action PlanStoel Rives' Mark Hanson and Loren Hulse to speak at Metabolic Design and Algae World Summit 2011

Antitrust

New FTC "Green Guides" Are Out of the GateMitsubishi Wind Turbine Antitrust Claims Put on IceCompetition over Wind Turbine Technology Heats Up

Bankruptcy

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. - "363 Sale" of Solar Business Unit

Biofuels

Key Energy Related Bills Introduced in the 2019-2020 Legislative SessionFERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry's "Resiliency" NOPR, Finding It Legally DeficientCalifornia Legislative Session Wrap-up

Biomass

FERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry's "Resiliency" NOPR, Finding It Legally DeficientWhen the Big One Hits, We’ll All Be Thankful for Grid “Resiliency”California Legislative Session Wrap-up

California

PG&E Proposes New Electric Rule No. 30 for Transmission Level Electric Retail Service in Response to Rapid Increase in Transmission Level Demand and Data CentersCAISO Releases Addendum to Interconnection Process Enhancements Final Proposal Ahead of Board of Governors MeetingStakeholders Express Concern That CAISO’s Interconnection Scoring Criteria May Prioritize Load-Serving Entity Selection

China

China’s Renewable Policy Shift and its Global Implications

Cleantech

DOE Announces 7 Hydrogen Hubs Eligible for $7 Billion in FundingCalifornia Releases Its Draft Deployment Plan for Federal Funding Under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) ProgramMINNESOTA PAVES THE WAY FOR MORE EV TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS

Climate Change

U.S. District Court Upholds California's Cap-and-Trade Agreement with QuébecRenewable Energy Trending in State Legislative SessionsKey Energy Related Bills Introduced in the 2019-2020 Legislative Session

Community Solar

Minnesota Community Solar Garden Updates – New Program To Begin Accepting ApplicationsCalifornia Community Solar Forum Points to Need for ReformsCPUC and CEC Announce Joint Policy Forum on Future of Retail Electricity in California

Distributed Generation

Interconnection Modernization Underway in MinnesotaDOE Directs FERC to Enact Special Compensation Rule for Coal PowerCalifornia Agencies Hold En Banc on Retail and Customer Electricity Choice

Energy Policy

PJM Files Reliability Resource Initiative at FERC Requesting Expansion of Transition Cycle #2 for Reliability ResourcesU.S Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List the Monarch Butterfly as Threatened, Seeks Comments on Developing a Final RuleFERC Issues Order Expanding Findings Related to Non-Independent Directors and Affiliation

Energy Storage

New Legislation Authorizes Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council to Certify Standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems but Stops Short of Including Clear Land Use Approval PathwayD.C. Circuit Affirms FERC's Broadview Order Confirming that Qualifying Facilities May Install Greater than 80 MW of Nameplate Generating CapacityEffective Immediately, California Energy Commission Jurisdiction Expands to Include Non-Thermal Projects Greater Than 50 MW

Environmental

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Final Rule Affecting Take Permits Under the Endangered Species ActCouncil on Environmental Quality Publishes Final Rule Substantially Amending NEPABiden Administration Revokes Trump Administration MBTA Rule and Initiates Rulemaking for MBTA Incidental Take Permitting Program

Feed In Tariff

California's Utilities Must Lower Barriers to Energy Storage SystemsLong Island Power Authority Announces New And Expanded Clean Solar Initiative Feed-In Tariff ProgramCPUC Approves Standard Contract for New California Feed-In Tariff

FERC

PJM Files Reliability Resource Initiative at FERC Requesting Expansion of Transition Cycle #2 for Reliability ResourcesFERC Issues Order Expanding Findings Related to Non-Independent Directors and AffiliationCAISO Interconnection Process Enhancements Proposal Faces Protest at FERC

Geothermal

Effective Immediately, California Energy Commission Jurisdiction Expands to Include Non-Thermal Projects Greater Than 50 MWFERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry's "Resiliency" NOPR, Finding It Legally DeficientWyoming: Partying Like It's 1899

Green Building

Updates to Energy Related Bills in the 2017-2018 California Legislative SessionUpcoming Energy Efficiency Conference in PortlandGov. Kitzhaber Names Margi Hoffman as Oregon's Energy Policy Advisor

Hydrogen

DOE Announces 7 Hydrogen Hubs Eligible for $7 Billion in Funding

Hydropower

California Public Utilities Commission Ruling Seeks Comments on Preferred System Plan for 2022-2032FERC Initiates Proposed Rulemaking Affecting Interconnection FacilitiesCongress Passes Extension and Modification of Production Tax Credit

Illinois

Seventh Circuit Upholds Illinois’ ZEC Program and Leaves the Door Open for State Subsidization of GenerationAnother Court Upholds a State Generation Program and Dismisses Challenges to Illinois’ Nuclear Subsidies

Integration

California Lawmakers Introduce Clean Peak Standard LegislationSprint to the Finish! Fast Work at the Conclusion of the 2015 Minnesota Legislative Session Results in Few but Significant Energy Policy ChangesMinnesota Can Reliably Integrate 40% Renewables According to DOC Transmission Study

International

ITC Prepares to Vote on the Suniva/SolarWorld proceeding re Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic CellsGuest Post: Decoding the Paris Climate AgreementChile Announces New Public Land Concessions for Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Projects

Legal

Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Proposes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsCPUC Considers Party Proposals on Implementing New Prevailing Wage Requirements for Renewable Energy Projects in California

Litigation

U.S. District Court Upholds California's Cap-and-Trade Agreement with QuébecNinth Circuit Strikes Down California ReMAT in Winding Creek Solar CaseAnd Now the Second Circuit Upholds New York’s Nuclear Subsidy Program

Michigan

Michigan’s PURPA Overhaul - Updating Avoided Cost Calculations And Expanding Standard Offer Contracts

Minnesota

Minnesota Community Solar Garden Updates – New Program To Begin Accepting ApplicationsMinnesota Court of Appeals Handles Supreme Court Remand by Deferring to MPUC’s Findings on Gas Plant NeedMEPA Review Not Required as Part of Wisconsin Gas Plant Affiliated-Interest Agreements, Says Minnesota Supreme Court

Nuclear

And Now the Second Circuit Upholds New York’s Nuclear Subsidy ProgramSeventh Circuit Upholds Illinois’ ZEC Program and Leaves the Door Open for State Subsidization of GenerationFERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry's "Resiliency" NOPR, Finding It Legally Deficient

Ocean/Wave Energy

FERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry's "Resiliency" NOPR, Finding It Legally DeficientObama Administration Releases National Ocean Policy Implementation PlanArmy Holds Pre-Proposal Conference in Huntsville on Renewable Energy Procurement

Oregon

Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsNew Legislation Authorizes Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council to Certify Standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems but Stops Short of Including Clear Land Use Approval PathwayOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Proposes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy Projects

Patent Applications

Substantial Increase in Solar Patent Activity in 2010LexisNexis Selects Renewable + Law Blog to its Top 50 Environmental Law Blogs ListThis Week in Biofuels, A Patent Perspective

Project Finance

Battery Storage Procurement: It’s the Wild West Out ThereLIBOR Transition Will Begin to Accelerate as 2021 Approaches

Regulation

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List the Monarch Butterfly as Threatened, Seeks Comments on Developing a Final RuleFERC Issues Order Expanding Findings Related to Non-Independent Directors and AffiliationU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Final Rule Affecting Take Permits Under the Endangered Species Act

Renewable

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List the Monarch Butterfly as Threatened, Seeks Comments on Developing a Final RuleOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsCAISO Releases Interconnection Process Enhancements Final Proposal

RFP

Key Energy Related Bills Introduced in the 2019-2020 Legislative SessionCalifornia IOUs Request Approval of 175 MW of New Energy Storage ResourcesUpdates to Energy Related Bills in the 2017-2018 California Legislative Session

Show Me the Money

Joint Agency Effort to deploy $510 Million to Support Drop-In Aviation and Marine BiofuelsUnused ARRA Grant Funds Related to Electric Vehicles, Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Infrastructure ProjectsODOE Announces Funding for Small Renewable Projects Gone

Siting

Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Proposes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsEffective Immediately, California Energy Commission Jurisdiction Expands to Include Non-Thermal Projects Greater Than 50 MW

Smart Energy

California Public Utilities Commission Ruling Seeks Comments on Preferred System Plan for 2022-2032California Lawmakers Introduce Clean Peak Standard LegislationUpcoming Energy Efficiency Conference in Portland

Smart Grid

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds FERC Demand Response Rule in Energy Story of the YearGov. Dayton Signs 2015 Jobs and Energy Bill into LawMN Special Session Jobs and Energy Bill Posted

Solar

Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Proposes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsMinnesota Community Solar Garden Updates – New Program To Begin Accepting Applications

States

PG&E Proposes New Electric Rule No. 30 for Transmission Level Electric Retail Service in Response to Rapid Increase in Transmission Level Demand and Data CentersOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsCAISO Releases Addendum to Interconnection Process Enhancements Final Proposal Ahead of Board of Governors Meeting

Sustainable Development

The Western States’ Plan for EV Charging Infrastructure - Lessons Learned and Things to WatchSprint to the Finish! Fast Work at the Conclusion of the 2015 Minnesota Legislative Session Results in Few but Significant Energy Policy ChangesCalifornia Air Resources Board Issues Draft Update to AB 32 Scoping Plan

Tax

Tax Equity Investors Wave Goodbye to FPA Section 203Maryland Passes Bill to Allow 30% State Income Tax Credit for Energy StorageWyoming: Partying Like It's 1899

Texas

Public Utilities Commission of Texas Adopts New Winter Weatherization Rules in Response to Winter Storm Uri

Trade

ITC Prepares to Vote on the Suniva/SolarWorld proceeding re Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells

Transmission

PJM Files Reliability Resource Initiative at FERC Requesting Expansion of Transition Cycle #2 for Reliability ResourcesFederal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues Long-Awaited Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation Final RuleCAISO Releases Addendum to Interconnection Process Enhancements Final Proposal Ahead of Board of Governors Meeting

Uncategorized

U.S. EPA Moves to Repeal Clean Power PlanOregon selects 15 solar projects for development under Solar Development Incentive programWhile Washington DC Wrestles with Ratings, Massachusetts Proposes 100% Renewables by 2035/2050

Utah

The Western States’ Plan for EV Charging Infrastructure - Lessons Learned and Things to WatchUtah PSC Compromises, Reduces Maximum PPA Contract Terms under PURPA to 15 Years

Wind

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List the Monarch Butterfly as Threatened, Seeks Comments on Developing a Final RuleOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Finalizes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy ProjectsOregon Energy Facility Siting Council Proposes Rulemaking to Clarify Contested Case Procedures for Energy Projects