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

February 2014

In the February edition of Energy & Clean Technology Connections, we bring you recent industry highlights, the latest news from Capitol Hill, and a list of upcoming energy industry events. For links to industry grant opportunities and stories from the business, policy, and research sectors of the energy and clean technology industry, please see our new Energy Navigator.

The month began with a reaffirmation of the US government’s support of climate change mitigation efforts. In his annual address to the nation on January 28, President Obama set the tone for 2014, saying the country would take all steps necessary to maintain and further its position as a global leader in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, utilizing renewable fuel sources, and implementing environmentally friendly technologies. Read the details in the Washington Update below.

Leaders in the News

Kudos to industry clients and friends on their recent awards and accomplishments:

We are excited to announce that our client XL Hybrids was named one of the World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Energy by Fast Company this month. The magazine said the Boston-based company, which retrofits vans and trucks with a more efficient hybrid diesel-electric technology, has introduced “a novel and hugely important strategy in reducing emissions.”
Congratulations to our friends at Canaccord Genuity on successfully helping Rubicon Technology on its recent public offering.
EnerNOC, a Mintz Levin client whose energy-intelligence software has helped businesses save thousands and improve their bottom lines, was named the Most Admired Public Technology Company in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal. Congratulations, Team EnerNOC!
Congratulations also to our friends at Harvest Power on being named one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company.

Washington Update: President Obama Announces Plans to Continue Lowering Greenhouse Gases in His 2014 State of the Union Address

President Obama addressed climate change and the US government’s plans to mitigate its effects in his State of the Union address on January 28, 2014. He noted that the United States has made more significant reductions in total greenhouse gas emissions over the last eight years than any other country and vowed to move forward with greenhouse gas emissions standards for power plants — with or without the help of Congress. Though the administration has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, it will need Congress’s cooperation to act on other pieces of energy-related legislation, including a bill to end approximately $4 billion per year in tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry and establish an Energy Security Trust Fund.

Though President Obama plans to move to end these significant tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry, he also noted he plans to continue to work with that industry to sustain production and create jobs.

The Renewable Fuel Standard has recently come under fire from both industry leaders and members of Congress. In late January, 32 food industry organizations sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA), saying the Renewable Fuel Standard was unworkable and in need of legislative reform. A similar sentiment was expressed by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) in the letter they sent to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy in late January, calling on her to reconsider the Renewable Fuel Standard’s biofuels reduction in order to ensure continued growth and investment in the industry. The letter stated that the economic and environmental benefits of advances in biofuels must be taken into account as the standards are finalized.

Two key pieces of energy legislation went forward this past month, including the Electricity Security and Affordability Act (HR 3826), which was advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on January 28. If passed, the measure, sponsored by Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY) would restrict the EPA’s authority to complete greenhouse gas emission regulations for new and existing power plants. The organization would be forced to wait until carbon capture and storage technologies are observed at six power plants for at least a year. The House and Energy and Commerce Committee also approved the Better Buildings Act (HR 2126) on January 28, which will promote energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The act was sponsored by Representatives David McKinley (R-WV) and Peter Welch (D-VT) and seeks to direct the EPA to establish a Tenant Star program resembling the existing Energy Star appliance-labeling program.

The weekly Energy & Environment Update from ML Strategies provides an overview of what’s happening on and off Capitol Hill and around the world that may impact energy and environmental policies and industry players. Read the Update here.

Event Highlights

In upcoming events, we look forward to the MIT Energy Conference on February 21 and 22. The goal of the MIT Energy Conference is to bring together leaders in the fields of technology, policy, industry, and finance to develop solutions for the tremendous challenges present in today’s energy markets. The convergence of environmental and security concerns has created an opportunity for fundamental change in the way the world produces and consumes energy. The MIT Energy Conference will showcase promising technology and policy approaches that have the potential to achieve critical scale and make a significant impact on the global energy landscape.

The MIT Energy Conference is organized by the MIT Energy Club, a student organization dedicated to formulating ideas and generating discussion on the global energy landscape. The leadership team coordinating the conference includes, among others, Mustafa Ali, Chris Babcock, Ash Bharatkumar, Sam Massey, Julie McNamara, Avner Penchas, Alex Pina, Anthony Roffino, Haley Sawyer, and Ryan Shields. For more information, click here.

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Events