On May 1, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 13920 (“Executive Order”) prohibiting Federal agencies and U.S. persons from engaging in certain “transactions” defined thereunder—specifically, acquiring, importing, transferring, or installing certain items defined in the Executive Order as “bulk-power system electric equipment”—with “foreign adversaries.” Such equipment classifications and types are specified in the order and include “items used in bulk-power substations, control rooms, or power generating stations.” The prohibitions apply to transactions involving such equipment if such items are (i) designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by a foreign adversary, or by persons under the control, direction, or jurisdiction of such adversaries and where (ii) such equipment pose an unacceptable risk to national security and America’s safety.

The Executive Order also authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”), in consultation with other Executive Branch agencies, to (i) establish a “pre-qualified” list of vendors to ensure that future equipment transactions are not in violation of the order; (ii) develop recommendations to identify, isolate, monitor, or replace existing bulk-power system electric equipment presenting a security risk from foreign adversaries; and (iii) oversee a Task Force to update the Federal government’s acquisition regulations and to develop policy recommendations and issue reports.
Continue Reading Executive Summary of Executive Order 13920 — Securing the U.S. Bulk-Power System

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” report has named Troutman Sanders LLP as the 2020 “Law Firm of the Year” in Energy Law. Only one law firm is awarded “Law Firm of the Year” in each nationally eligible practice area. Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the …

Troutman Sanders’ client, Alterra Power Corp. (Alterra), won the Renewable Energy M&A Deal of the Year award for its $1.1 billion acquisition by Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (Innergex). Alterra is a diversified renewable power generation company based in Canada, and Innergex develops, acquires, owns and operates run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, wind farms, solar photovoltaic farms and…

Troutman Sanders LLP has authored the 2019 Alternative Energy & Power Guide for Chambers and Partners. The firm’s Energy and Capital Projects & Infrastructure practices were asked by Chambers to be the exclusive contributor for the section. Associates Jamond Perry and Meghan Mandel and partners Christopher Jones, Amie Colby, Anne Dailey, Bill Derasmo…

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) members on June 19, 2018, affirmed their commitment to regional energy market stability. Their remarks came in response to a leaked Trump administration draft plan and President Trump’s own June 1, 2018 public statement that Secretary of Energy Rick Perry “take immediate steps” to prevent coal and nuclear plant closures.

Such a directive could mean a policy of requiring regional grid operators to buy electricity from selected coal and nuclear plants, which, in turn, could undermine the current power markets developed with FERC assistance over recent decades. “Avoidance of any significant distortion in organized markets would very much be a concern of ours that we would keep an eye on as we proceeded with the rate matter,” said FERC Chairman Kevin McIntyre in response to a leaked draft plan from the White House. “I don’t see any reason why any of that should interfere with our ongoing consideration of the grid resilience issues and the very good input we’ve gotten on those issues.”…
Continue Reading White House Memo May Indicate Future Coal and Nuclear Subsidies

Hayden Baker has joined Troutman Sanders LLP as a partner in the firm’s Capital Projects and Infrastructure Practice. Baker, who is based in the firm’s New York office, previously practiced at Sullivan & Worcester LLP. Baker assists clients in mergers and acquisitions, energy and infrastructure projects, real estate deals and financing transactions. He…

Originally posted on Troutman Sanders’ Washington Energy Report

On February 12, 2018, the White House issued its proposed framework for an infrastructure bill to Congress.  Notably, the White House’s infrastructure plan proposes to (1) establish a firm deadline of 21 months for lead agencies to complete their National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) reviews and an…