S&W, in conjunction with the World Association for Decentralized Energy (WADE), recently released our EDGE Advisory:  Distributed Energy Finance Report for May 2016.  EDGE examines energy macro-trends in distributed generation through articles and expert contributions focusing on market direction, policy updates, and innovations in finance. 

Topics: Edge

Co-author Morgan M. Gerard

India’s story for the last decade has been one of rapid industrialization and a growing thirst for energy, regardless of the carbon profile of the energy source. As the world moves towards carbon conscious energy generation, there has been a global push to direct this rapid industrializer towards more low- and zero-emission sources.

Topics: Green Bonds, Renewable Energy, India Green Bank, India, India Green Bond, Green Bank, India Renewable Energy

On April 14, S&W hosted a stakeholder dialogue sponsored by the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), Partnership for Change and the Nobel Peace Prize Forum as a part of the ancillary discussions surrounding the spring International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank meetings. The dialogue focused on carbon pricing—a principal focus of many global leaders after the success in Paris this past December at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Twenty-First Conference of the Parties (COP 21).  Last week, the Carbon Pricing Panel released a Vision Statement with signatures by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Dessalegn, President of France François Hollande, and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel.

Topics: COP21, carbon tax, carbon pricing, citizens climate lobby, world Bank

 

On April 1, 2016 Jeffrey M. Karpwith the assistance of Morgan M. Gerard filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of Adobe Systems, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., Ikea North America Services LLC and Mars Incorporated in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). The Motion and Brief, described the challenges that these major brands from diverse industries face in procuring low- and zero- greenhouse gas emitting energy, and the challenges that climate related risks pose to their businesses.

The following press release issued by Ceres is republished below.

Topics: Clean Power, clean power plan, Clean Air Act, Blue Cross and Blue Sheild of Massachusetts, Adobe Systems, Inc., Mars Incorporated, Ikea

Last week’s U.S. Offshore Wind Leadership Conference in Boston had the vibe of a technology sector ready to break out. Industry leaders, federal officials, and a panel of Massachusetts legislators extolled the economic opportunities, and U.S. Senator Edward Markey and Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton delivered inspiring keynotes. Speakers were interspersed with high-energy videos of offshore wind installations in European waters, along with many side meetings among project developers and hopeful supply chain participants.

Offshore wind is garnering more than just hype in 2016. Key developments have this once fledgling energy source poised to finally gain momentum in the United States.

Topics: Wind, Massachusetts, Offshore Wind, Wind Energy, DONG Energy, Deepwater Wind, BOEM, Siemens

 

Topics: Green Bonds, Renewable Energy, Green Energy, Distributed Generaton, Renewable Energy 2016, Apple

Republished from Solarplaza by Jason Deign & Susan Kraemer

US investors are questioning what measures could stimulate the secondary market for PV now yieldcos have lost their luster. Solar investors are looking for new formulas to boost the secondary market after yieldcos, the most popular vehicle to date, took a beating last year.

Topics: Solar Energy, Solarplaza, Solar Rooftop

Despite the currently low prices of oil and natural gas, renewable electric power generation is poised for rapid growth. Based on a “business-as-usual” scenario, Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s New Energy Outlook, June 2015 predicted a $6.9 trillion investment in new renewable electric power generation over the next 25 years. A newly published report by Ceres, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and Ken Locklin, Managing Director for Impax Asset Management LLC, predicts a much greater opportunity for private sector companies and commercial financiers to invest in new renewable energy.

Topics: Carbon Emissions, Biomass, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, COP21, ITC, Energy Investment, Investment Tax Credit, renewable energy investment, PTC, carbon tax, Wind Energy, Climate change, Ceres, United Nations, UNFCCC, production tax credit, cap-and-trade, renewable portfolio standard, feed-in-tariff, COP22, carbon pricing

Co-authors Jeffrey M. Karp and Morgan M. Gerard

Topics: Renewable Energy, United States Supreme Court, Investment Tax Credit, clean power plan, renewable energy investment, clean power plan delay, united states energy policy, Climate change, Clean Air Act, scotus, clean power plan stay

The New York City Council is considering a breakthrough bill to mandate installation of solar power systems on all municipal buildings.  The Big Apple in many ways has already taken the initiative and adopted policies to promote cleaner air and combat the local greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. To this end, the de Blasio administration has articulated the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.  Merrill L. Kramer recently testified at a hearing on the bill where he applauded the Council’s initiative, but also discussed the private market challenges facing roof-top solar that may hinder the Mayor in achieving his carbon reduction goals.  Particularly, Mr. Kramer identified delays and bottlenecks at the Department of Buildings (DOB) and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for obtaining permit approvals, and the lack of a "one-stop shop" decision-making authority to identify problems and implement processes for streamlining permitting.  Mr. Kramer highlighted the manual review process for solar permit applications as the single largest obstacle to deploying roof-top generation, causing delays for projects already on a tight timeline. The State of New York offers city residents a property tax abatement for the value of their panels, which expires at the end of the year. 

Topics: Distributed Energy, Solar Energy, New York City, DG, DER, Distributed Generaton, New York City Solar, New York Solar, rooftop Solar, Rooftop PV, new york city rooftop solar