Energy & Utilities Law, Commercial Law & Contracts

Dispute Over Duke’s 2012 Proposed Rate Increase Continues

by Mary Kathryn (Katie) King | Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC on 5/23/2013

On April 12, 2013, the N.C. Supreme Court stepped into the ongoing dispute regarding the 7.2 percent rate increase sought by Duke Energy and approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) in January 2012. Duke...more

DOE Issues Second LNG Export License for Non-FTA Countries

by Sandra Safro, David Wochner | K&L Gates LLP on 5/23/2013

On May 17, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued an order authorizing the Freeport LNG Terminal (“Freeport”) in Quintana Island, Texas to export liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) to nations with which the United...more

Trigeneration - Tips and Traps for the Uninitiated: Baker & McKenzie

by Sebastian Busa, Peter Davis, Jennifer Fitzalan, Alex Hartmann | Baker & McKenzie Australia on 5/22/2013

Given the escalating costs of energy and increasing corporate focus on sustainability, building owners and occupiers are increasingly seeking ways to produce and use energy more efficiently....more

Lessor Is Not Entitled To Royalty On Hedging Profits

by Charles Sartain | Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C. on 5/22/2013

A Louisiana lessee does not owe its lessor royalties based on hedging profits, said a federal district court in Cimarex Energy Co. v. Chastant. ...more

I Thought We Broke Up Years Ago! Why You Should “Throw Out” Trade Secrets As Soon As A Business Relationship Ends

by Valerie Goo | Orrick - Trade Secrets Group on 5/21/2013

The Fifth Circuit’s affirmance last week of a $44.4 million trade secrets award in the Wellogix v. Accenture case is a weighty reminder of the power of circumstantial evidence in trade secrets cases, and the importance of...more

Innovations and Opportunities in Energy Efficiency Finance

by Kendall Bodden, Josh Bushinsky, Charlotte Kim, Randy Lewis, Wendra Liang, Robert O’Connor, Sheridan Pauker, Scott Zimmermann | Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on 5/21/2013

In this white paper: - Introduction - Energy Efficiency Finance Structures, New and Familiar, and Negotiating Key Agreements - Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Applying REITs to Energy...more

European Union Pending Legislation Requiring Additional Transparency from Extractive Industries

by Raymond Banoun | Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP on 5/20/2013

On April 9, 2013, the European Union agreed to a preliminary deal requiring oil, gas, mining and forestry companies to report in greater detail any payments at or above €100,000 (approximately $130,000) they make to foreign...more

Resource nationalism and its impact on infrastructure projects

by Peter Cassidy, Joseph Otoo | Reed Smith on 5/19/2013

Introduction - The global demand for natural resources continues unabated. As revenues increase and profits soar in the face of this demand, there has been a resurgence of “resource nationalism” with resource-rich host states...more

Senate Includes Buy American Requirement in Water Resources Development Act of 2013: Provision Would Mandate Use of American Iron,...

by King & Spalding on 5/18/2013

The United States Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 by an overwhelming 83-14 margin on May 15, 2013. The legislation included an amendment sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sherrod Brown...more

Energy Usage Disclosure Finally Going On-Line

by Lisa Stalteri | Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll, Thompson & Horn -... on 5/17/2013

As of July 1, 2013, California Public Resources Code §25402.10 requires the owner of a non-residential building with a total gross floor area of 50,000 square feet or more in the event of a sale, lease or finance of the...more

Reed Smith Marcellus Shale Tax Update - Recycle, Reuse, Reduce Your Tax Burdens

by Stephen Blazick, Daniel Dixon, Lee Zoeller | Reed Smith on 5/17/2013

Pennsylvania’s broad mining exemption from sales and use tax also includes an exemption for pollution-control devices that is less well known than the general exemption for mining equipment. The pollution-control exemption...more

Tax-Efficient Capital Vehicles for Unregulated Utilities: REITs, MLPs and Up-Cs Considered

by Nickolas Gianou, David Levy, Sean Shimamoto | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on 5/15/2013

Over the last several years, a confluence of political and market developments have made capital for renewable energy projects harder to come by, which has affected the ability of unregulated affiliates of public utilities...more

Budget 2013-14: The Government targets multinationals to recover from the GFC - Baker & McKenzie

by Dixon Hearder, Amrit MacIntyre, John Walker | Baker & McKenzie Australia on 5/15/2013

The Treasurer has delivered the 2013-14 Budget. With the Treasurer noting that almost $170 billion has been wiped off tax receipts since the GFC, a series of measures increasing the tax burden of multinationals, foreign...more

City of Philadelphia moves forward with plan to sell its regulated gas division

by Dawn Crowder, Wendell Holland, Mark Kropilak | Saul Ewing LLP on 5/15/2013

The Mayor of Philadelphia recently announced the hiring of two investment bankers to start the solicitation process for selling the city’s gas division. As a unique feature of this transaction, the gas division is regulated...more

MoFo New York Tax Insights - Volume 4, Issue 5 - May 2013

by Open Weaver Banks, Hollis L. Hyans, Kara M. Kraman, Irwin M. Slomka | Morrison & Foerster - State + Local Tax... on 5/14/2013

In This Issue: New York Enacts Significant Changes to Related Member Royalty Add-Back Law; Nuclear Power Plant That Produces Steam and Water to Generate Electricity Not Eligible for Investment Tax Credit; Appellate...more

Superfund Liability for the Repair of a Useful Product

by Robert S. Sanoff | Foley Hoag LLP - Environmental Law on 5/14/2013

A few months ago, I blogged on the decision in Duke Energy Progress Inc. v. Alcan Aluminum Corporation where a court held that a company would not be held liable for selling used transformers to a recycling facility for...more

Canada To Strengthen Its Laws Against Bribery Of Foreign Public Officials

by Alan Monk | Dentons on 5/13/2013

Mining and exploration companies with projects in developing nations should take note that an amendment to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) has been approved by the Senate and is currently before the...more

Is That Covered? Tanker Fire

by Michael R. Kelley | McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC on 5/13/2013

On May 9, 2013, a tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, overturned and caught on fire on a ramp near Interstate 81 and route 322 in Harrisburg....more

In FCPA Enforcement Sometimes Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction – The Cilnis Complaint

by Thomas Fox on 5/13/2013

I often marvel at some of the stories which come up in the context of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations and enforcement. If you made up some of the things which are reported, I fear that people might find...more

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Oil & Gas Litigation: New Decision May Impede Fracking on Federal Land

by King & Spalding on 5/10/2013

Recently, a California federal court blocked drilling on certain federal land located in California’s Monterey Shale Formation play. In reaching its decision, the court relied heavily on perceived risks of fracking, holding...more

California Energy Commission Amends Nonresidential Building Energy Disclosure Regulations

by Kirsten Day, Teresa Jacobs | Perkins Coie on 5/10/2013

The California Legislature adopted Section 25402.10 of the California Public Resources Code in 2007. The Code requires each nonresidential building owner throughout the state to document and disclose a building’s energy use...more

Power Plant Project Suspended After California Public Utilities Commission Ruling - Move Highlights Importance of Commission’s...

by Sophie Akins | Best Best & Krieger LLP on 5/10/2013

In a ruling that highlights how California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) decisions can have broad impacts on proposed power projects, the CPUC recently denied San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) the authority to...more

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Energy & Utilities Law › Commercial Law & Contracts