Category — Government Incentives

As promised, EPA has finally issued guidance and other implementation tools for the new greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting requirements scheduled to take effect January 2, 2011, less than two months from now.  The information applies to two permitting programs— the “PSD” program, under which new and modified sources having the potential to emit air pollutants above a certain amount must obtain a preconstruction air quality permit, and the Title V program, under which sources having the potential to emit air pollutants above a certain amount must obtain an operating permit. EPA’s Tailoring Rule set forth the applicable thresholds under these programs for GHGs.  [Read more →]

As published by the National Law Journal Online (http://www.nlj.com)

Two major stimulus packages spawned by the financial crisis have reshaped the federal policy landscape for renewable power. Most notably, qualifying solar, wind and other renewable energy-generation projects can choose either a 30% investment tax credit or a 30% cash grant in lieu of the ITC (the Treasury Grant Program). Wind and other nonsolar projects formerly eligible only for the production tax credit can for a limited time elect any of the PTC, the ITC or the Treasury cash grant. [Read more →]

Article written by New York partner Philip H. Spector
Public Utilities Fortnightly
October 2010

“Many public utilities have entered into long-term power-purchase agreements for power produced by wind, solar, biomass and geothermal projects. Some utilities have embraced these technologies and taken on ownership and operation of renewable assets. [Read more →]

On September 23, 2010, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) passed a renewable portfolio standard (“RPS”) that will require 33 percent of the electricity sold in California to come from renewable energy.   The new standard was created in response to the Governor’s Renewable Electricity Standard Order in 2009, and the state law Assembly Bill 32, the law seeking to bring emissions down to 1990 levels by the year 2020. [Read more →]

Qualifying solar, wind and other renewable energy generation projects can choose either a 30% investment tax credit (“ITC”) or a 30% Treasury cash grant in lieu of the ITC. To qualify for the cash grant, projects must either be operational (placed in service) by the end of 2010 or else must begin construction by then and be placed in service by the end of 2012 for wind and by the end of 2016 for solar. To learn more about the Treasury grant program, visit the U.S. Treasury Web site. Please also view our summary of the program, and updates here and here. [Read more →]