Energy and Clean Tech Connections (May 2011)
5/20/2011
In the May 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.
This month, the Energy & Clean Technology Practice Group would like to congratulate Mintz Levin’s client, EnerNOC. EnerNOC, a Boston-based energy management company, announced Wednesday, May 18, that it will provide demand response services to Electricity North West Limited, a major distribution network operator in England that delivers power to 2.4 million domestic and industrial customers. This five-year agreement will promote efficient electricity use within Electricity North West’s service territory and enable regional businesses and organizations to be paid to reduce their energy usage when capacity is needed to support the grid. Furthermore, we would like to congratulate our good friend Ian Bowles, former energy and environment secretary under Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, on his new consulting and project development venture, Rhumb Line Energy, LLC.
On Capitol Hill, Republicans are pushing measures to codify pro-drilling legislation as Democrats consider legislation that would end tax breaks for large oil and natural gas companies. On May 11, the House passed two measures (H.R. 1129 and H.R. 1231) that would expedite offshore oil and natural gas drilling, and legislation (H.R. 1230) that directs the administration to proceed with three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one off the coast of Virginia was approved May 5. In the Senate, legislation introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act (S. 940), would eliminate $21 billion in oil and gas tax subsidies and apply the savings to deficit reduction. This differs from an outline proposed April 28 by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), which would apply the savings to clean energy infrastructure and fuel-efficient vehicles.
In upcoming events, Lazard Capital Markets will host its Third Annual Alternative Energy Investor Summit, June 1–2, 2011 to address strategic issues facing the renewable and energy efficiency and storage industries. Tom Burton, Chair of Mintz Levin’s Energy & Clean Technology Practice Group, will be participating in a panel entitled “Sustaining Convergence of Alternative Energy and Energy Industry, What Does it Take?” Other significant events in June include the Clean and Green Investment Forum, taking place June 6–7 in San Francisco, and the Clean Technology Conference & Expo in Boston, June 13–16.
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 & Environment Update. In addition, read our California Energy & Environment Update, which provides reporting on energy- and environment-related legislative, regulatory, and legal issues in California.
