Topics: Utilities, NY REV, Energy Policy, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy

Topics: Carbon Emissions, Energy Policy, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Legislation, Distributed Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

In a previous post, we detailed how pro-renewables groups, like the Green Tea Party, are making significant inroads in many traditionally conservative states – such as Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana – that, in the past, have largely rejected policies that support renewable energy development. These groups, an unusual mix of conservatives and environmentalists, are breaking down political partisan barriers with a unified message that renewable energy development promotes national security, free market competition, and technological innovation.

Topics: Energy Policy, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

In an era conscious of water scarcity, the water-energy nexus made the agenda of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which is considering broad based, bi-partisan legislation, the “Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015.” The nexus between water and energy refers generally to the fact that the provision of water and wastewater services tends to be highly energy intensive, while most types of power generation tend to be highly water intensive.

Topics: Water Energy Nexus, Utilities, Water, EPMA, Energy Policy, Energy Management

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday gave the first go ahead to extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and other tax incentives to renewable energy developers, among other beneficiaries. The tax extension will apply to new wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, hydroelectric and ocean energy projects, provided the projects commence construction by December 2016. The PTC that expired at the end of 2014 provided a rebate of $0.023/kWh for wind, geothermal, closed-loop biomass projects and $0.011/kWh for other eligible technologies that were under construction on the expiration date. The IRS has issued guidelines as to what constitutes commencement of construction for qualifying projects.

Topics: Energy Policy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

Cuba’s classic cars are not the only relics from the 1950s on the island; Cuba’s electricity grid, a dirty and inefficient infrastructure suffering under five decades of a U.S. embargo and a state-run economy falls into the antique category as well. With the Obama administration’s recent announcement that Cuba has been removed from the U.S. list of countries sponsoring terrorism, the door for trade and investment has been cracked open for the first time in many years. The question now is how and when U.S. investment dollars can begin flowing to relieve the island nation’s economic isolation.

Topics: Energy Policy, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

In the absence of a national green infrastructure bank that could provide financing for clean, renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects, individual states have stepped up to fill the gap and provide financial incentives and promote and facilitate investment. We discussed earlier in this blog how New York and New Jersey are rethinking energy finance and embracing green banks to support investment in renewable energy and distributed energy resources.

Topics: Energy Policy, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Efficiency, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is back on the docket for the Senate Finance Committee, and Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is likely to release the draft of his bill as early as this week. The Committee is considering a two-year extender for tax incentives for new wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas and ocean energy projects during a markup. Also being considered is the extension of second generation biofuel producer tax incentives for production of biodiesel and renewable diesel. The extenders package covers 52 items concerning a wide range of industries in addition to renewable energy, including mortgage lenders, education, and retail and restaurant improvements. The 30% investment tax credit for solar and fuel cell projects is not expected to be on the table. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) urges the solar community to advocate the investment tax credit, which is set to step-down in 2016 without an extension.

Topics: Biofuels, Biomass, Energy Policy, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

Topics: Utilities, Energy Policy, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Storage, Energy Efficiency, Microgrid, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Public/Private Partnership, Wind

In an era which often seems to be defined by partisanship, renewable energy has recently shown that it is one issue that can defy party lines.

Topics: Carbon Emissions, Energy Policy, Distributed Energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy