Leases for solar energy facilities offer property owners the potential for a predictable, long-term revenue stream. But, because of the potential decades-long duration of a lease for solar energy facilities, things like...more
In 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Renewable Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards ("Standards"), which required that all investor-owned utilities in the state obtain 12.5% of their energy needs from...more
Background and General Provisions - Governor Brian Kemp recently signed House Bill 300 (the “Act”), which amends the Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015 by adding decommissioning requirements that must be...more
The Biden administration on April 25 finalized a rule meant to speed up federal permits for major transmission lines, part of a broader push to expand America’s electric grids. Administration officials are increasingly...more
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has finalized the Renewable Energy Rule, which will cut fees by up to 80% for wind and solar projects developed on federal land. In addition, the DOI announced...more
Our Currents’ focus article this month is on developments in the growth of solar electric power generation and obstacles to future growth that are occurring around the U.S. from environmental groups and other energy producers...more
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is proposing $6.1 billion in transmission projects, primarily to help deliver offshore wind to customers, according to a draft transmission plan released on April 1....more
While imagery of the American Dream used to be picturesque farm towns, robust bounties and families gathered around the table for a meal, values have shifted, and once-robust farming communities have become forgotten lands,...more
In January 2024, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) released the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, Version 1.0 (Handbook). The Handbook provides guidance to implement construction stormwater...more
Hail the size of golf balls, softballs, and even grapefruit has always made weather news. Each spring and early summer, local weather stations and people across the United States share photos and videos on social media of...more
On the heels of its recent lawsuit filed against MC Solar, Florida Attorney General (AG) Ashley Moody filed two additional lawsuits against Vision Solar and SetUp My Solar for allegedly deceiving Floridians in violation of...more
Adding solar energy facilities to a rooftop or a parking lot is an excellent way to put developed land to even more productive use. Hosting a solar array can create value for a property via a new revenue stream from rent...more
NY Governor's Veto of Wind Power Bill “Undermines Industry," Critics Say- “The bill known as the ‘Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act’ has been working its way through the state legislature since April 2023.” Why...more
On June 23, 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 3179, which changes the definition of energy facilities subject to mandatory Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) jurisdiction. Signed by Oregon’s...more
Kilpatrick’s John Livingston recently spoke at “The 2023 Appalachian Clean Energy CLE Workshop” where he led a panel discussing recent legislative updates to the decommissioning requirements in North Carolina for utility...more
In recognition of the substantial effect that widespread use of electric vehicles (EVs) will have in reducing carbon emissions, the state and federal government have set ambitious goals to increase the number of EVs on the...more
On October 5, Arkansas Attorney General (AG) Tim Griffin issued an enforcement advisory to Arkansas solar installation companies. The letter outlines solar installation companies’ legal obligations under the Arkansas...more
The Biden administration hopes to create a commercial nuclear fusion facility within 10 years as part of the nation’s transition to clean energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Monday. Fusion works by...more
The California Legislature voted Thursday to give Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration permission to buy massive amounts of electricity, a move aimed at avoiding blackouts by shoring up the state’s power supply while...more
President Joe Biden traveled to Philadelphia last Thursday as his administration announced the first-ever sale of offshore wind leases in the Gulf of Mexico, which caps several years of advancing offshore wind in the Pacific...more
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills on Monday aimed at streamlining the construction of solar and wind farms, reservoirs, bridges, railways, and other infrastructure projects in California....more
The U.S. solar industry had the most growth of any quarter in its history in Q1 2023, as delayed projects from 2022 came online and supply chain constraints showed signs of loosening. According to a new report from Wood...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) earlier this week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the up to 20 percentage point additional investment tax credit (ITC) for certain solar and wind facilities...more
The NC Department of Revenue sought to throw some shade at the financing regimes through which solar farm and other renewable energy projects are built by challenging the flow of tax credits from LLC developers to their...more
Solar farm developers who do not enter into surface use agreements with Pennsylvania oil, gas and mineral owners (and their lessees) could create legal jeopardy for their solar farm projects. All surface developments in...more