Featured Articles

Sen. Kerry's Energy Tax Bill Would Help Energy Storage Technologies

August 23, 2010 18:04

On August 5, 2010, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced S.3738—the Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010—which would have some impact on the growth of energy storage technologies in the United States.  Among other things, the bill would provide for an extension and...

President Obama Directs USDA to Promote and Expand Biofuels

John Laney
May 06, 2009 17:13

On, May 5, 2009, President Obama announced federal efforts to increase investment and use of advanced biofuels. The President signed a Presidential Directive establishing the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, ordering the Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) to implement financing...

DOE to Invest $6 Million in Midsize Wind Turbine Technology Development

May 26, 2010 00:31

  DOE today announced that it will provide up to $6 million over 2 years for the development, testing, and commercialization of domestically manufactured, midsize wind turbines (i.e. nameplate capacity of between 100 kilowatts and 1 megawatt). DOE anticipates making up to four grants...

Show me the Money: $350 million in Stimulus Funds Available Now for Geothermal Projects

John Laney
June 09, 2009 19:07

On May 27, 2009, President Obama announced that the Department of Energy ("DOE") would deploy $350 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("Recovery Act") to be used to expand development, deployment, and use of geothermal energy throughout the United States....

Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Carbon Dioxide Nuisance Suit Against Utilities

William H. Holmes
September 22, 2009 02:19

  My partner Tom Wood recently composed and circulated this email alert about the return of the "Global Warming" case against several electric utilities:   Five years ago eight states and New York City made headlines when they sued several electric utilities alleging that their...

Recent Articles

Upcoming Event: Energy Storage for the Grid: Watchful Waiting or the Perfect Storm?

William H. Holmes
March 21, 2012 01:40

I'll be moderating Energy Storage for the Grid: Watchful Waiting or the Perfect Storm? at the MIT Enterprise Forum Northwest's May 8, 2012 program at Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) , 2700 24th Ave East.  The event, which includes a networking...

PG&E Announces Plans to Issue 2012 Solar PV RFO

William H. Holmes
March 20, 2012 00:11

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that it expects to issue its 2012 Solar Photovoltaic PPA RFO (“PV PPA RFO”) in late March or April .  PG&E's goal in this second round of the RFO is to procure 50 MW of new PV generation.  Two of...

Wisconsin Wind Siting Rules Effective Today

March 16, 2012 21:07

After years of uncertainty, the Wisconsin legislature allowed statewide wind energy siting rules to go into effect today. The new rules (known as “PSC 128”) require wind turbines to be located at least 1,250 feet from the nearest residence and at a distance 1.1 times the height of...

FAQ on Army's $7 Billion Draft RFP for Renewable Energy

March 14, 2012 18:37

On February 24, 2012, the U.S. Army Engineering & Support Center issued a draft request for proposals for renewable and alternative energy (the “Draft RFP”). Since posting our initial blog and Energy Law Alert, we have received a number of inquiries about the details of the...

BPA Submits Compliance Filing in FERC Environmental Redispatch Proceeding

Dina Dubson
March 13, 2012 00:23

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is gearing up for spring with its revised Oversupply Management Protocol (OMP), submitted last week as a compliance filing in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceeding on BPA’s “Environmental Redispatch”...