Category — Planning & Development

On April 18, 2013, the New York State Public Service Commission (“NYPSC”) approved construction of the 1,000 MW Champlain-Hudson direct current transmission line. When built, the Champlain-Hudson line is anticipated to deliver primarily hydroelectric power from Canada to New York City. [Read more →]

On April 23, 2013, FERC’s Director of Office of Energy Projects, Jeff C. Wright, testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources concerning draft legislation aimed at increasing hydropower production in the United States. The draft legislation at issue included S. 545, “Hydropower Improvement Act of 2013” and H.R. 267, “Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013.” In his testimony, Wright discussed FERC’s authority under the Federal Power Act (“FPA”) to issue licenses or exemptions for hydropower projects under its jurisdiction. Wright further detailed FERC’s recent efforts to support small and “innovative” projects, including marine and hydrokinetic projects, and pumped storage projects. [Read more →]

On April 18, 2013, the Commission dismissed a self-recertification filed by an Exempt Wholesale Generator (“EWG”), Prairie Breeze Wind Energy LLC (“Prairie Breeze”). The Commission provided additional guidance regarding self-recertification for EWGs, and specifically what constitutes a “material change in facts” prompting the need for self- recertification. [Read more →]

From MercuryNews.com (4/8/2013 – 4:48 PM PDT)  Solar financing startup Mosaic, widely known as the “Kickstarter for solar,” has a financing platform that allows individuals to invest in small to medium-size rooftop solar energy projects. [Read more →]

From GigaOM (Apr. 8, 2013 – 8:20 AM PDT) There’s one area of solar that is going gangbusters in 2013, and that’s companies that are financing and installing solar panels on rooftops. On Monday morning solar financing startup Clean Power Finance announced that it has raised a round of $37 million in growth equity from investors including Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins and Claremont Creek Venture.

Odds are, it’s a pretty safe bet even for the venture capitalists that have been scared off by the lack of consistent returns in cleantech investing. Last year there were a record-breaking 3.3 gigawatts worth of solar panels — or 16 million individual solar panels — installed in the U.S., making solar power the fastest-growing energy source domestically, according to Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research.

Click here to read the full article from GigaOM.