August 2, 2013

Energy & Clean Technology Connections: Your Law Firm Link to Industry News -- August 2013

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In the August edition of Energy & Clean Technology Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of what’s new in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.

This month, the Energy & Clean Technology Practice would like to note the upcoming event, NextWave Greentech Investing, which will take place in Menlo Park on September 12, 2013. Hosted by Greentech Media, this event will provide a forum for participants to engage in discussions about investments in green tech market reinvention. Mintz Levin’s Energy & Clean Technology team will be in attendance and we hope to see you there!

On July 12, ML Strategies monitored the Center for Strategic and International Studies briefing on the new Power Africa initiative that President Obama announced in South Africa on June 30. The initiative leverages public and private sector funding totaling $7 billion to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. For those interested in this and other African matters, please see ML Strategies’ weekly Africa Update.

In Washington last month, the seat of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, which had been vacant since late 2012, was filled by Gina McCarthy. Following a confirmation process that took over five months and culminated in a 59 – 40 vote in the Senate, Secretary McCarthy is now tasked with carrying out President Obama’s recently released climate change plan. This includes developing regulations limiting carbon emissions from power plants with specific rules tailored to each state. Secretary McCarthy will also focus upon coal ash regulations, a review of ozone national ambient air quality standards, and finalize Tier 3 standards and a definition for “solid waste.” Along with Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz as the lead energy official, and Secretary of State John Kerry guiding environmental protection and energy regulation discussions and decisions on an international scale, Secretary McCarthy rounds out Obama’s environmental protection and energy regulation “big three” with her domestic regulatory authority.

In Congress this month, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved two energy bills on July 17. The Energy Consumers Relief Act (H.R. 1582), approved on a 25 – 18 vote, will prevent the EPA from finalizing any regulations that the Department of Energy found would strain the economy and exceed costs of $1 billion. The second bill, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (H.R. 1900), requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to either approve or deny a natural gas pipeline certificate application within 12 months of receiving it. The House will take up both bills before the August recess. Also, during a July 17 hearing by the House Natural Resources Committee, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell defended proposed federal regulations for hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas on publicly owned land. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of building more naturally resilient infrastructure, such as mangrove swamps, which can ease the effects of climate change and protect a community from the effects of natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

During a hearing held on July 18 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Department of Energy Loan Program Office Executive Director Peter Davidson stated that the application process for financing opportunities (including master limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts, state green banks, tax reform, and placing a price on carbon) has been streamlined. The Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works also held a hearing on July 18 to address the threats posed by climate change, including temperature trends, the increasing and rising intensity of natural disasters, and economic costs related to such changes.

Mintz Levin’s Energy & Clean Technology blog brings you the latest information and events impacting the energy and clean technology industries. The blog includes in-depth analysis from the Associates and Members that work within our Energy & Clean Technology Practice. Please visit the following link that will bring you directly to the blog: http://www.energycleantechmatters.com/.

We hope that you enjoy this month’s edition of the newsletter. For the most up-to-date information on federal legislation and programs, read the most recent ML Strategies Energy & Environment Update.

Mintz Levin’s Monthly Innovator Profile

New York City is furthering its interest and investment in the clean technology field through the construction of a 10,000-square-foot incubator in downtown Brooklyn that is set to be opened in the fall. The incubator, which is possible through a partnership between the New York City Economic Development Corp. and the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU), will be called the Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center and will have space for 20 start-ups focused on energy efficiency, resilience, climate adaption, and other technologies. This focus on data and digitally enabled technologies to address environmental, energy, and resource constraints is known as “Green 2.0.” NYU and the Polytechnic Institute are trying to replicate their incubator successes in other parts of the city by opening in Brooklyn’s Tech Triangle. This is the third incubator that the city has run in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of NYU. To date, these incubators have generated $251 million in economic activity, created more than 900 jobs, and contributed $31.4 million in local, state, and federal tax revenue. We would like to congratulate Micah Kotch, director of innovation and entrepreneurship for NYU-Poly and the NYU-Poly team.

In This Edition

In the News: United States
In the News: World
Government Financial Assistance
Privately Sourced Financial Grants
Federal & State News
Legal News
Events

In the News: United States

US and European PV Developers Hold Lead, as Chinese Advance

Renewable Energy World – July 31, 2013

Energy & Clean Technology Connections: Your Law Firm Link to Industry News -- August 2013

US and European PV Developers Hold Lead, as Chinese Advance

Rank ’Em: The Most Solar-Friendly States in the US

Climate Study Predicts a Watery Future for New York, Boston, and Miami

BP Calls Off Sale of US Wind Business

With Too Much Rain in the South, Too Little Produce on the Shelves

Which States Are Leading in Smart Grid?

Report: Small Business Impacts from Climate Change, Extreme Weather

CSP Key Players Focus on the Desert

From Cities to Soap, Recognizing the US EPA's Newest Top Green Power Users

As Solar Costs Drop, Energy Storage Solutions Take Center Stage

First Wind Energy Propose New England’s Largest Wind Farm

Renewables Provide 25% of New US Electrical Generating Capacity in First Half 2013

Judge Rules Against BP Attempt to Suspend Payments

Is Fracking for Enhanced Geothermal Systems the Same as Fracking for Natural Gas?

The Cost of New Renewable Power Generation: Approaching Parity?

Ideas to Bolster Power Grid Run Up Against the System’s Many Owners

US Government Assessment of BP Oil Spill “Will Not Account for Damage”

US, China Unveil Joint Climate Initiatives

US Passes 10 GW Installed Solar PV Capacity Milestone

SolarWorld Shuttering Oregon Silicon Operations in US Restructuring Finale

GE Brilliant Wind Turbines Heading Down Under as Part of $350 Million Boco Wind Farm Project

RPS Helped Drive $100 Billion in Private Investment for Clean Energy

China and EU Agree on Solar Trade Deal

Shale Threatens Saudi Economy, Warns Prince Alwaleed

World Energy Use to Jump 56% by 2040, Study Says

Towards a Green Economy in Europe: EU Environmental Policy Targets and Objectives 2010 – 2050

Vice President Biden Keeps HFCs at Top of US Geo-Political Agenda During India Visit

European Investment Bank Cuts Lending to Fossil Plants, Supports Renewables

Vattenfall Hails Wind Farm Radar Breakthrough in UK as Company Readies to Split in Two

Building-Integrated Solar PV Market Set to Triple by 2015

Germany’s Energy Storage Subsidy Is No Solar Miracle

Cuadrilla Prepares to Drill for Oil in Sussex

India’s Renewable Energy Potential Remains Untapped

World Bank Turns Away from Coal

India GHG Program Launches with More Than 20 Leading Companies

The Renewable Energy Pain in Spain

China’s Feud with West on Solar Leads to Tax

Offshore Wind Investment to Average Almost €15 Billion Per Year

Europe Doubles Its Offshore Wind Capacity, but Policy Uncertainty Still a Challenge

Investors Pair Up for Chilean Wind-Solar Projects

Peru Solar Power Program To Give Electricity To 2 Million Of Poorest Peruvians

China Says It Will Not Set Carbon Cap

UK Feed-In Tariff Generated Nearly 380,000 Renewable Installations In Three Years

Chinese Makers Boost Domestic Solar Output on Tariff Concerns

Federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit

Federal Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

Federal Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction

California Self-Generation Incentive Program

California Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems

Massachusetts Incentives / Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program – MicroWind

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Commonwealth Solar II

Massachusetts Energy Efficiency for Businesses & Institutions

Massachusetts RPS Solar Carve-Out

GE Ecomagination Challenge

The Carbon Trust: Innovation

Democrats Launch CoalBlue Project

Senators Weigh High Stakes Test Votes on Keystone XL, Climate During Efficiency Debate

White House to Focus Comprehensive Energy Review on Infrastructure

O’Malley Releases Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan at Climate Change Summit

Maryland Governor Unveils Strongest US Plan to Fight Climate Change

Solar Installer Fraud and a Rebate Fight in Missouri

What Will Replace the California Solar Initiative?

Energy Department Announces New Awards to Small Businesses to Accelerate Commercialization of Clean Energy Technologies

California and Texas Lead Smart Grid Progress

Massachusetts Among Top Solar States

US Sets September Date for Virginia Offshore Wind Auction

Vestas Joins DOE, Texas Tech to Break Ground on Unique Wind Research Facility

Texas A&M Launches World’s Biggest Solar Photovoltaic R&D Facility

Solar Helps New York Tackle High Electricity Costs, Utility to Solicit 100 MW

California High-Speed Rail to Have Net Zero Emissions

As World’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Opens, California Looks to End Solar Wars

$54 Million for New York State Solar Projects

Another Banner Year for California Rooftop Solar as Successful Rebate Program Winds Down

Coalition for Renewable Heating and Cooling Forms in Massachusetts

DOE to Toughen Energy Efficiency Standards for New Federal Buildings

Why the Military Is a Game Changer for Clean Power

Los Angeles Kicks Off Second Round Solar Feed-In Tariff