Energy & Sustainability

On May 5, 2016, the IRS released new guidance regarding the renewable energy production tax credit (“PTC”) and energy investment tax credit (“ITC”) which most in the renewable energy industry will find favorable. 

More than 60 companies have joined forces with several environmental groups to launch a new coalition, called the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), to promote the development of 60 GW of renewable energy in the United States by 2025.

Last week the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and George Washington University (GWU) issued a report estimating that the United States has reached 1 million solar installations and will surpass 2 million installations by 2018.

By a vote of 85-12, the Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan energy bill, S.2012 – the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, last Wednesday. The bill’s passage marks the first time in almost a decade since the Senate has passed a comprehensive energy bill.

On April 6, a consortium of leading financial institutions and investors pledged $8 billion to join Bank of America Corporation’s Catalytic Finance Initiative (CFI), which plans to raise at least $10 billion for investments in clean energy, high impact, and sustainable development projects.

On Monday, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a solar energy bill into law that increases the statewide limits on the amount of solar capacity that will qualify for net metering, but also lowers the value of net metering credits for large-scale projects.

Last week, President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping announced that their two countries would sign the global climate accord on April 22. Senior U.S. officials noted that the commitment to cut carbon emissions by the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluters will compel other countries to formally join the agreement.

Last week Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) released a report entitled “Clean Jobs America,” a comprehensive analysis of clean energy and clean transportation jobs in the United States.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are both on Spring Recess, with the Senate returning on April 4 and the House scheduled to return on April 12.

Interested in upcoming events in the energy technology industry? Look no further! Our blog features an events page dedicated to listing happenings around the globe, and there are many upcoming spring events. Click here to view it – and feel free to add this page to your favorites list!

Paul Dickerson and Tom Burton wrote an article published on Monday in the Houston Chronicle regarding the current fundamental change in the global energy landscape as well as the importance of energy diversity.

Do you find yourself checking social media for news instead of sitting down each morning to read the newspaper? If so, you’re not alone! Last year, 63% of Twitter users agreed that the platform serves as a source for news, according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee remains optimistic that the bipartisan energy bill will advance potentially as soon as this week after completion of legislation related to GMOs, but more likely following the Senate’s return from next week’s recess.

Applications are being accepted for the 2016 Cleantech Open Northeast and the return of its start-up accelerator program.  Open to startups at all stages of development, the accelerator program is excited to begin the search for the next crop of cleantech companies that are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the program.

Following Senate action last week on the pipeline safety bill, there is new hope for the Senate bipartisan energy bill with a potential compromise on legislation to address the Flint water crisis.

Last week the Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released its fourth annual Advanced Energy Now Market Report, which highlighted the spectacular growth in advanced energy over the last five years both globally and in the United States.

Mintz Levin is thrilled to be a returning sponsor of the World Energy Innovation Forum, being held at the Tesla Motors manufacturing facility on May 4–5, 2016 in Fremont, California.

The United States is experiencing a period of rapid growth in the solar industry, and Fraunhofer TechBridge looks to enhance and continue through its SunRISE TechBridge Challenge to Realize Innovation in Solar Energy.

The Senate’s bipartisan energy bill continues to be a focal point of legislative debate on Capitol Hill. After a long standstill due to disagreements on how best to address the water crisis in Flint, MI, progress came after a compromise agreement announced by Senator Inhofe (R-OK) and Senator Stabenow (D-MI) regarding Flint.

Last week, the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the results of a study exploring the potential impact of recently extended federal tax credits on the deployment of renewable generation technologies and related U.S. electric sector carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.