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Renewable Energy Update -- November 20, 2012

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Renewable Energy Focus

Sen. Murkowski floats five-year phaseout of wind credit

Capitol Hill's Energy & Environment Blog - Nov 15

Congress should extend a wind power tax credit for one year as a bridge to an eventual phaseout, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’s ranking member, said Thursday. Congress has generally extended the credit for two-year periods since its inception in 1992.

Tax credit for wind farms blown into "fiscal cliff" debate

Reuters News - Nov 13

Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley said he is hopeful Congress will renew a tax credit for wind energy but acknowledged that its fate depends on sweeping negotiations over tax and spending issues in coming weeks. Grassley, instigator of a 22-year-old production tax credit that has driven expansion of wind farms and related manufacturers, made his comments as governors from wind-producing states and companies involved in the industry pushed to keep the subsidy alive.

LA Metro will power its trains on recycled kinetic energy

The Verge - Nov 14

The Los Angeles Metro will begin capturing and repurposing the kinetic energy of its own trains, thanks to a new $3.6 million contract with energy company VYCON . The new system will use flywheel technology to store energy generated by braking trains that enter the Westlake and MacArthur Station and use it to power their acceleration as they depart. VYCON claims this system will help reduce energy consumption and lowering power demands during peak train hours.

Delaware Offshore Wind Project Gets Green Light

Domestic Fuel - Nov 9

The first lease for commercial wind energy development in federal waters has been given to an offshore wind energy project approximately 11 nautical miles off the coast of Delaware. This is the first lease awarded under the Department of Interior’s “ Smart from the Start ” program to ensure environmentally responsible offshore wind energy development along the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

Changes to Hawaii's solar energy tax credit may slow photovoltaic industry

Biz Journal - Bankruptcy News - Nov 9

Hawaii’s fast-growing solar photovoltaic industry may be slowing down just a bit, thanks to changes to the state’s solar energy tax credit. The main point of the new temporary administrative rules on tax credit, which apply to systems installed and placed into service on or after Jan. 1, 2013, limits the number of tax credits that homeowners may claim on multiple systems.

Calif. company to bring solar to military housing

Washington DC Examiner - Nov 13

Thousands of military homes in southern New Mexico and West Texas will be fitted with solar panels as part of a $1 billion plan by a California company to bring solar to military installations across the country.

Maine DEP rejects Wind Project on Passadumkeag Mountain

National Wind Watch - Nov 10

State Environmental Regulators have rejected a proposal from a Texas based company to put wind turbines on Passadumkeag Mountain. Quantum Utility Generation, LLC wanted to put 14 wind turbines on the mountaintop, which is located in Grand Falls Township not far from Greenbush. DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho rejected the application because she said the project had an adverse impact on scenic views, specifically from Saponac Pond, considered a scenic resource of state and national significance.

Planners OK more time to build state's largest wind farm

National Wind Watch - Nov 9

The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission granted the Yavapai Ranch several time extensions Wednesday to build the largest wind farm in Arizona. Two days earlier, the Board of Supervisors approved Yavapai Ranch owner Fred Ruskin’s request for a zoning change for 12,500 homes and 96 acres of commercial development along Williamson Valley Road about 35 miles north of Prescott.

Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals

El Paso Electric and Element Power Sign Power Purchase Agreement for 50-MWAC Macho Springs Solar Project

eSolar Energy News - Nov 14

El Paso Electric and Element Power today announced the execution of a power purchase agreement for the total output from Element Power’s Macho Springs Solar Project, a 50-MWAC solar photovoltaic power plant located near Deming, New Mexico, on land leased from the New Mexico State Land Office.

Siemens, Pattern nail down California wind farm contracts

Recharge News - Nov 13

Siemens and developer Pattern Energy have finalized a contract for turbine supply and related services for the 265MW Ocotillo Wind power project in southern California, with most turbine components to be manufactured in the US.

GCL-Poly completes sales of 48MW solar projects in California

Digi TImes Solar News - Nov 15

GCL Solar Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of China-based solar firm GCL-Poly, has announced the completion of sales of two solar projects totaling approximately 48MW DC with an undisclosed buyer for a total consideration of approximately US$50.5 million.

Construction Begins On 266 MW Mount Signal Solar Farm

ReNew Grid News - Nov 12

8minutenergy Renewables LLC, a California-based solar developer, has announced that it has completed all requirements to begin construction on the 266 MW Mount Signal solar farm in Imperial County, California. The final hurdle to construction - finalizing $636 million in project financing - was recently closed by 8minutenergy's joint development partner, AES Solar. San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) will buy the project's energy output under a 25-year power purchase agreement, and Mount Signal will connect with SDG&E’s Imperial Valley substation.

Ground broken for 1.68 MW PV plant in Oakley, California

Solar Server News - Nov 11

Hayworth-Fabian LLC, the City of Oakley and the Oakley Chamber of Commerce have broken ground on a 1.68 MW solar photovoltaic power plant located in Oakley, California. The PV facility will use S-Energy's 295 W solar modules to provide shaded parking for the RVs and boats at the executive RV & boat storage facility in Oakley.

Buffett energy company acquires two California wind farms

Recharge News - Nov 9

A unit of Warren Buffet’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings has completed acquisition of the 168MW Alta Wind VII and 132MW Alta Wind IX projects in California from a subsidiary of developer Terra-Gen Power. Financial terms were not made public. Both projects are located near Tehachapi, about 35 miles (56km) east-southeast of Bakersfield.

US Geothermal increases plant output at San Emidio

Think Geo Energy News - Nov 14

U.S. Geothermal Inc. – in its update last week on its 100% owned San Emidio Project near Reno, Nevada – reports that “the new power plant output rating has now been increased from 8.6 to 9.0 net annual average megawatts based upon results of final capacity testing. Since achieving commercial operation in May 2012, the plant has been producing and the project has been selling electrical power.

Devine William R

William R. Devine
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Perry Patrick A

Patrick A. Perry
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Murray Emily

Emily L. Murray
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Los Angeles
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Topics:  Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Power

Published In: Administrative Law Updates, Energy & Utilities Law Updates, Environmental Law Updates, Tax Law Updates

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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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