Renewable Energy

Crowdfunding Renewable Energy Projects in Early Stages and Growing in the U.S.

by Laura Neumeister | Foley & Lardner LLP on 5/21/2013

Direct investment in renewable energy projects has been an anticipated financing option among editorialists and bloggers the past year, and seems to finally be gaining traction in the United States....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

Renewable Energy Update -- May 7, 2013

by William R. Devine, Emily L. Murray, Patrick A. Perry | Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 5/10/2013

Renewable Energy Focus - Providing a level playing field for renewables - PV-Magazine - Apr 26: U.S. Senators have decided to level the playing field for renewable energy sources by providing investors in renewable...more

Renewable Energy Update -- May 3, 2013

by William R. Devine, Emily L. Murray, Patrick A. Perry | Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 5/10/2013

Renewable Energy Focus - National Renewable Energy Laboratory helps U.S. Navy cut energy usage - EarthTechling - Green Tech, Green Products & Energy News - Apr 25: The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable...more

Real Estate Tip – Renewable On-Site Power: Who Pays to Charge a Tenant’s Chevy Volt?

by Richard Smith | Bernstein Shur on 5/10/2013

In two previous LEED tips, Part 1 and Part 2, we explored how taking steps that result in LEED certification may yield little if any improvement in energy efficiency. Another efficiency-neutral LEED concern is clean on-site...more

DOE Renews MSU Biofuels Funding

by Bruce Goodman | Varnum LLP on 5/8/2013

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $25 million per year for another five years to fund the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Michigan State University is a partner in the Center which is physically based at the...more

Energy Law Alert May 2013 - Clean Energy Takes Center Stage in Obama’s 2013-2014 Proposed Budget

by Michael Faltischek, Stanley Klimberg | Ruskin Moscou Faltischek on 5/8/2013

A glimpse at President Obama’s recently released 2013-2014 federal budget proposal reveals major steps in funding for energy projects. A sizeable $28.4 billion allocation has been set aside for The Department of Energy...more

Ontario Court Dismisses “Speculative” Challenge to a Prospective Wind Turbine Project

by Jack Coop, Jennifer Fairfax, Daniel Kirby, Lindsay Rauccio, Patrick Welsh | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 5/7/2013

In Wiggins v. WPD Canada Corporation, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief and $16.6 million in damages against a prospective (not yet approved) wind turbine project,...more

Renewable News - Spring 2013

by Alan Claus Anderson, Anne Callenbach, Frank Caro, Jr., Martin Frost, Mark Gershon, J. Britton Gibson, Rodney Gray, Luke A. Hagedorn, Tracy Hammond, Margaret LaBianca, more +Susan Henderson Moore, Darren Neil, Matthew Ross, David Streicker, Steven Willman, Andy Wright | Polsinelli on 5/6/2013

In This Issue: - Federal Policy Update - TradeWind and Alabama Power Announce PPA for Kansas Project - NextEra Energy Resources Finalized Purchase of Kansas Project - Incentives Announced for $66 Million...more

BLM Issues Right-of-Way Application Rule In An Effort To Spark Renewable Energy Development

by Ben Rubin | Nossaman LLP on 5/1/2013

As reported earlier today by a number of news outlets (see for example this KCET article by Chris Clarke), the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") will be issuing a Final Rule to facilitate right-of-way applications for lands...more

IRS Construction Deadline Guidance Highlights Disparate Treatment of Renewable Energy Technologies

by Charles Henck, Darin Lowder | Ballard Spahr LLP on 5/1/2013

The IRS recently released guidance in the form of an IRS Notice implementing a rule change under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 concerning the construction deadline that renewable energy facilities must meet to...more

CEQA Reform: The Cure May Be Worse Than The Disease

by Marc Bruner, Julie Jones, Barbara Schussman | Perkins Coie on 4/30/2013

According to the author’s April 23, 2013 press release, the amended version of Senate Bill 731 is a “comprehensive reform” of CEQA, “modernizing the law to aid California’s economic growth.” But a close review shows that the...more

Legal Alert: IRS Clarifies "Binding Written Contract" Definition in Renewable Energy Tax Credit Begun Construction Guidance

by David Cho, Dorothy Black Franzoni, Jonathan Goldman, Amish Shah, Ram Sunkara, Thomas Warren | Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP on 4/29/2013

On April 25, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service updated guidance issued on April 15, 2013, that explained how to satisfy the new “begun construction” requirement for the renewable energy section 45 production tax credit (PTC)...more

Renewable Energy Update -- April 23, 2013

by William R. Devine, Emily L. Murray, Patrick A. Perry | Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 4/25/2013

Renewable Energy Focus - ..Weakest quarter for clean energy investment since 2009, Bloomberg - Apr 14: Global investment in clean energy in the first three months of 2013 was lower than in any quarter for the...more

DoD Commercial-Scale Energy Initiatives Update: PPA RFI, MATOC Announcements, and Alternative Contracting, Oh My!

by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on 4/25/2013

While many in industry assume that months of virtual silence indicates that the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) commercial-scale energy initiatives have been subjected to drastic sequestration measures, the opposite...more

Exporting Pure Michigan: Time For Michigan’s Energy Supply Chain To Look Abroad

by Bruce Goodman | Varnum LLP on 4/24/2013

Two years ago President Obama challenged the nation to increase its exports. American exports are up 34 percent since that time, with 70 percent of total exports being manufactured goods. “Made in America” still has a huge...more

IRS Issues “Begin Construction” Guidance for Renewable Energy Tax Credits

by Jordan Collins, Bryan M. Stockton, Sahir Surmeli | Mintz Levin - Energy & Clean Technology on 4/23/2013

On April 15, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued long-awaited guidance updating eligibility requirements for renewable project developers seeking to utilize the 2.3 cent/kWh Renewable Electricity Production Tax...more

Earth Matters - April 2013: Making Solar Power More Affordable for New Yorkers

by Donald Ross | Phillips Lytle LLP on 4/22/2013

New York State continues to be a national leader in renewable energy initiatives, particularly in encouraging practical, everyday applications of solar power. Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo, as part of his ongoing “NY-Sun”...more

IRS Releases “Start Construction” Guidance for Renewable Energy Facilities

by Douglas Davidson, Paul Gordon, Kenneth Kulak, Gabriel Quihuis, Richard Shortz, Wayne Song | Morgan Lewis on 4/19/2013

Long-awaited guidance regarding eligibility for production or investment tax credits largely tracks guidance under the Section 1603 cash grant program....more

Have You "Begun Construction"? IRS Issues Guidance for Renewable Energy Tax Credits

by David Cho, Dorothy Black Franzoni, Jonathan Goldman, Amish Shah, Ram Sunkara, William Warren | Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP on 4/17/2013

On April 15, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS) issued much - anticipated guidance that will help developers of wind, solar, biomass and certain other renewable energy facilities qualify for federal renewable energy...more

Doing Business in the U.S.

In This Issue: - Preface - Chapter 1 Choice Of A Business Entity - Chapter 2 Introduction To Federal Securities Laws - Chapter 3 From Let’S Go Shopping To Closing: U.S. M&A Process - Chapter 4...more

Renewable Energy Update -- April 12, 2013

by William R. Devine, Emily L. Murray, Patrick A. Perry | Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 4/16/2013

Renewable Energy Focus - ..DOE awarding more than $1.2 billion in energy subsidies despite sequester: The Washington Examiner - Apr 3 - More than $1.2 billion in cash payments has been awarded to...more

Green Energy - Introduction to microFIT

by Matthew J. Wilson | Lerners LLP on 4/12/2013

The microFIT Program was launched in 2009 as part of the Ontario government’s efforts to increase renewable energy in the province. The Program provides eligible participants with the opportunity to develop a small, or...more

NREL Launches Solar Clearinghouse

by Mintz Levin - Energy & Clean Technology on 4/10/2013

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched an initiative to build an open-source database of real-world performance from solar facilities across the country. As part of DOE’s...more

Watt’s New? Michigan Energy Newsletter - March 2013

by Laura Chappelle, Matthew B. Eugster, Bruce Goodman, Randall Kraker, Timothy J. Lundgren, Toni Newell, David Preston, Jack Sage, Eric Schneidewind, Matthew Zimmerman | Varnum LLP on 4/9/2013

In This Issue: - Highlights of MPSC Annual Report - Good Neighbor Fund Payments Made - Coal Plants Sued for Pollution Exceedances - Pure Michigan Solar Panel - New Grant for Efforts to Remove Barriers to...more

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