Energy & Sustainability

The Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth Releases Recommendations for the Future of Transportation in Massachusetts

December 14, 2018 | Blog | By Sahir Surmeli

November Elections Bring New Leadership to the House of Representatives

November 15, 2018 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin

Following the November 6th United States Federal elections, Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) is expected to become the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Pallone issued a statement on the Democrats winning the House majority, indicating his intent to take on the role of Chairman. “Last night’s election results were a big win for our nation and for the American people. In the coming days, I will be asking my Democratic colleagues for their support to lead our party as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.”

You’re Invited to Apply — RealLeaders 100

August 30, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas R. Burton, III

Do you work for an impact company, or know an impact company that is leveraging the engine of capitalism for greater profit and greater good?

Mintz Publishes Article for the National Association of Corporate Directors about the Opportunities and Challenges Sustainability Presents Boards

August 13, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

As the sustainability movement grows, so too do the ambiguities under which boards of directors govern. In this article published by the National Association of Corporate Directors, Thomas R. Burton and Benjamin D. Stone provide suggestions for how boards can navigate this exciting but still developing sector and help corporations generate both profits and positive impact.

Expansion of Clean Energy Policies Continues

August 10, 2018 | Blog

A law recently enacted by the Massachusetts legislature and signed by Governor Charlie Baker will increase the use of renewable fuels to produce electricity, allow the development of more offshore wind farms, enable more technologies to qualify for energy efficiency incentives and increase the use of technologies that store electricity.

Battery Companies Drive Innovation in Energy Efficiency Storage Technology

August 3, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

A hot new area for the development of energy efficiency storage technology is refrigeration. Last month, this blog covered the recent success of Mintz client Axiom Exergy.

The Four Things You Need To Know About The Future of Energy Efficiency

July 23, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

At the Northeast Clean Energy Council’s (NECEC) latest Emerging Trends Seriesforum on July 11, 2018, leaders from the clean energy industry and the public sector convened to discuss the future of energy efficiency in the Northeast.

Update on Massachusetts SMART Program: Where Are We Now?

June 26, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

It has been over two years since Governor Baker enacted the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, and nearly one year since the state’s Department of Energy Resources (DOER) released its final set of proposed regulations for the program.

June 2018 Leader in the News: Axiom Exergy Closes $7.6 Million Series A with a New Thermal Storage Model for Grocery Stores

June 12, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

In May, Mintz Levin client Axiom Exergy closed an impressive $7.6 million Series A round to scale its cold-storage device for grocery stores, bringing its total fundraising to $12.5 million.

Village Capital Report Highlights Transportation as New Focus For Cleantech Investors

June 5, 2018 | Blog

In a report titled Moving Electrons, investment firm Village Capital highlighted the transportation sector as the next big focal point for cleantech investors seeking opportunities to support firms and sectors that are likely to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

June 2018 Washington Update

June 4, 2018 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin

On May 10, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing to discuss the state of the country’s electric transmission infrastructure. This hearing was a continuation of the Subcommittee on Energy’s Powering America series, a series of hearings dedicated to examining aspects of the nation’s power sector.

New Report Highlights Offshore Wind as the Future of Energy in the Northeast; ML Strategies Client Deepwater Wind Ready to Lead the Way for Massachusetts

May 8, 2018 | Blog

Wind is blowing up in the Commonwealth! A report from Environment Massachusetts shows that offshore wind could help power the state’s electricity needs 19 times over – and major generators are already working to make it happen.

May 2018 Leader in the News: NBD Nanotechnologies

May 3, 2018 | Blog | By Sahir Surmeli

This month we are excited to highlight our client NBD Nanotechnologies! The Boston-based innovator recently secured an $8 million Series B financing to further grow its business while continuing to innovate within its proprietary platform focused on specialty chemical products that change the surface properties of materials like glass and plastic.

May 2018 Washington Update

May 2, 2018 | Blog

On April 12, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2019 Department of Energy Budget” with testimony from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

Blockchain in Energy – Where Do We Stand? Where Do We Go From Here?

March 16, 2018 | Blog

For all the publicity generated by the recent increase in value of Bitcoin, as well as the generally increasing awareness of the existence of blockchain technology, Greentech Media’s recent Blockchain in Energy Forum 2018 held in New York City demonstrated that the technology is incredibly young and all stakeholders—utilities, regulators, entrepreneurs, consumers and investors—are still struggling with the ultimate impact of distributed ledger systems.

Save the World, Reduce Your Cost of Capital: How Danone is Turning ESG Impact into Lower Borrowing Costs

March 15, 2018 | Blog | By Sahir Surmeli

The world is changing! Over the last several years, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria have been an emerging focus in the investing world, primarily driven by equity investors where it can be harder for a company raising funds to correlate capital costs with ESG impact.

New Bloomberg Report Finds that Renewables Supply All-Time High of 18% of U.S. Energy Generation

March 6, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

Analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance finds that roughly 18% of U.S. energy generation is supplied by renewable sources. The details can be found in the 2018 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, Bloomberg’s dive into the country’s energy mix and evaluation of how various renewable energy industries are faring.

Massachusetts Achieves Milestone with over 2,000 Megawatts of Installed Solar Capacity

March 1, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

On February 7, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts has installed more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity through 78,646 projects across the state. The achievement represents the culmination of various projects that make Massachusetts a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency and help the Commonwealth meet greenhouse gas reduction requirements set out by the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Administration Gives Northern Pass a Second Chance for Energy Procurement

February 26, 2018 | Blog | By Thomas Burton

After releasing a request for proposals in March 2017 seeking long-term contracts for clean energy projects, on January 25 the Baker-Polito administration selected the Northern Pass Hydro (Northern Pass) project to move forward to contract negotiations with Massachusetts’ electric distribution companies in an effort to bring over 1,000 megawatts of electricity to the Commonwealth.