Energy & Clean Tech Connections: Your Law Firm Link to Industry News

December 2012

In the December edition of Energy & Clean Tech Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of what’s new in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.

We would like to congratulate our client, EnerNOC, for winning the 2012 Platts Global Energy Industry Leadership Award. This honor is awarded to an energy company that has taken decisive action resulting in a substantial transformation or change of direction in the energy industry itself. In addition, earlier this month, EnerNOC was named the New England Clean Energy Council’s Employer of the Year. In September, EnerNOC’s Chairman and CEO Tim Healy was named “CEO of the Year” by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC). We look forward to seeing EnerNOC’s continued leadership in the Energy and Clean Technology industry.

We would also like to congratulate the New England Clean Energy Council for hosting its 5th Annual Green Tie Gala. The event was a success, bringing together key industry leaders as well as Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who gave a compelling keynote address on the current state of the New England Energy and Clean Technology industry. A range of companies and individuals was recognized with awards. Congratulations to our friends at Harvest Power, Joule Unlimited, Ocean Renewable Power Company, EnerNOC, and Timberland as well as to Clean Energy Hall of Fame Inductee, Susan Tierney, and Clean Energy Leadership Award Winner, Hemant Taneja.

On Capitol Hill, on November 28, the Senate approved an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would restore the military’s ability to invest in biofuels. Sen. Mark Udall’s (D-Colo.) amendment, 2985, strikes Section 313 of the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3254, which bars the military from purchasing biofuels that cost more than petroleum. Those supporting the amendment, which passed on a 62-37 vote, said it would save lives and money. On November 13, the Congressional Budget Office released a paper finding that a carbon tax would impose a disproportionate burden on low-income households. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a report this summer finding that a carbon tax starting at $20/MT in 2013 and rising 4% annually could raise $1.5 trillion and reduce CO2 emissions 20% below 2006 levels by 2050.

In other news on Capitol Hill, the House passed the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011 (S. 1956) on November 13 to prohibit United States airlines from participating in a European Union plan to include international airlines in its Emissions Trading System for greenhouse gas emissions. The vote came on the heels of a November 12 European Commission proposal to delay the inclusion of flights into and out of the European Union’s emissions cap and trade system to allow more time to reach a global solution for reducing airline emissions. Over 20 countries, including China and India, have also expressed opposition to the plan. President Obama is expected to soon sign the bill into law.

In upcoming events, we look forward to the 2012 National Summit on RPS to be held in Washington, DC. The State-Federal RPS Collaborative serves as a forum for government officials, energy experts, and stakeholders to exchange ideas, experiences, and lessons learned regarding the implementation of state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policies. It is coordinated by the Clean Energy States Alliance and supported by the Energy Foundation and the US Department of Energy. Also, please mark your calendars for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Council's New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable on December 21st in Boston, MA. For the December roundtable, US EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy will provide the keynote address at the 132nd Roundtable on what we can expect from US Climate, Air, and Energy Policy in the Second Obama Administration and what this might mean for New England.

We would also like to direct your attention to Mintz Levin’s newly established blog that will bring you the latest information and events impacting the clean technology industry. The blog includes in-depth analysis from the associates and members that work within our Energy & Clean Technology section. Please visit the following link that will bring you directly to the blog: http://www.energycleantechmatters.com/

We hope that you enjoy this month’s edition of the newsletter. For the most up-to-date information on federal legislation and programs, read the most recent ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update.

Mintz Levin’s Monthly Innovator Profile

In this month’s Innovator Profile, we give you HEVT, the winner of the Cleantech Open’s Business Competition Grand Prize. HEVT, based out of Chicago, Illinois, created a game-changing motor technology that leverages smart software with optimally designed hardware to empower the next generation of electric motors. HEVT has a patented switched reluctance motor (SRM) that provides a high-performance alternative to induction and permanent magnet motor/generators. HEVT’s technology can be used to power everything from air conditioners and bicycles to gas pumps, and as an added bonus, it does not require any rare minerals.

In This Edition

In the News: United States

In the News: Europe and Asia

Government Financial Assistance

Privately Sourced Financial Grants

Federal and State Happenings

Legal News

Events

In the News: United States

Garage Ventures Launches New Corporate Fund for Cleantech

Greentech Media – December 4, 2012

Energy & Clean Tech Connections: Your Law Firm Link to Industry News

Garage Ventures Launches New Corporate Fund for Cleantech

U.S. Department of Interior Announces First Leases for Offshore Wind Energy Areas in Federal Waters

SolarCity IPO Launches This Week

Fulcrum BioEnergy Secures $75M in Financing Commitments for First MSW-to-Biofuels Project

With Senate’s Support, Advanced Biofuel Industry Ready for Takeoff

ARPA-E Announces $130 Million for 66 Research Projects

Cape Wind Power Deal Brings Offshore Wind Closer

US Senate Votes 62-37 to Back Military Aviation Biofuels

Installed Price of Solar PV Systems in the U.S. Continues to Decline at a Rapid Pace

Topaz and the Top Ten PV Projects Under Construction in the US

Georgia Power’s 210 MW Solar Initiative Gets Green Light

“Solar Sandy Project” Assists Hurricane Relief Efforts

New National Economic Study Shows Hundreds of Old Coal Generators Are Candidates for Closure

Study Breaks Down Hydro Potential State-by-State

Google Invests $75 Million in Iowa Wind Farm

E2 Report: Military Biofuel Programs Poised To Drive Major Economic, Job Growth

FERC Approves California EV Charging Network

Renewable Energy Leaders Respond to Election Results

DOI Announces Lease for Delaware Offshore Wind

USDA Announces $3 Million in Smart Grid Funding

Final Answer: U.S. Hits Chinese Solar Makers with Tariffs

LightSail Raises $37.3 Million From Thiel, Khosla, Gates, Innovacorp, and Others

E.ON Climate & Renewables Secures $223.6 Financing for Texas Wind Farm

Wind Farm Operating Costs Fall 38% in Four Years, BNEF Says

US Solar Energy Jobs Increase by More Than 13 Percent

Britain on the ‘Cusp of an Energy Renaissance’

China May Eclipse Germany as the Largest PV Market in 2013: Yingli

UK Government’s Long-Awaited Energy Bill Laid Before Parliament

China Powers Ming Yang for Wind Energy in India

Vestas and Mitsubishi Planning to Build Biggest Offshore Wind Turbine

Hitachi Closes Deal to Buy E.ON and RWE’s Nuclear Venture

Denmark to Decide on U.K. Power Cable Grid Next Year, Grid Says

India and China Sign New Cleantech Partnership Deal

China’s Dumping Probe of US and EU Begins

Wind Installations “Falling off a Cliff” In India

GWEC: Wind Power Could Provide More Than 20% of Global Electricity by 2030

China to Hit 60GW On-grid Wind Power by Year-end, Says Official

China Grabs Share in Latin America Wind Energy Cheap Loans

IFC Funds Solar, Wind Projects in India

Solar Balance-of-System Costs Account for 68% of PV System Pricing: New GTM Report

Uncertainty over EU Funding for UK Carbon Capture Projects

IEA: Renewables to Become World’s Second-Largest Power Source by 2015

PV Power to China’s State Grid Rockets Upward

BP Cancels Florida Ethanol Plant, Extends Renewable Exit

Renewable Energy Incentives for Homes & Businesses

Federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit

Federal Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

Federal Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction

California Self-Generation Incentive Program

California Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems

Massachusetts Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program – Micro Wind

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Commonwealth Solar II

Energy Efficiency Programs Offered by Massachusetts Utilities

Massachusetts RPS Solar Carve-Out

New Generation Energy Grants, Loans & Microloans (Ongoing)

GE Ecomagination Challenge: Powering the Grid

The Energy Foundation Grants (Ongoing)

The Carbon Trust: Entrepreneurs Fast Track

Cape Wind Power Deal Brings Offshore Wind Closer

ARPA-E Awards $130 Million for 66 Transformational Energy Technology Projects

Texas Grid Sets New Wind Power Record & Aims Much Higher

Energy Department Announces New Investment in U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design and Commercialization

Energy Department Provides Additional Emergency Fuel Loan to Department of Defense as Part of Hurricane Sandy and Nor’easter Recovery

DOI Announces Lease for Delaware Offshore Wind

Senate Passes Amendment Keeping Biofuel Investments in Defense Bill

Senate Strikes Restriction on Military Biofuel Development

Obama Signs Bill Shielding US Airlines from EU Carbon Fees

ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update

ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update

ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update

ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update

2012 National Summit on RPS

Mass Energy Consumers Alliance 30th Annual Meeting

AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit – Southwest

North Shore Technology Council Sustainability Forum

New England Venture Summit

14th Annual Environmental Business Council Winter Garden Party