Governmental Affairs – Page 3 – Global Power Law & Policy

Oregon Considers Energy Storage Legislation

Mar 13 2015

The Oregon legislature is considering a bill that would require the state’s large electric utilities to procure one or more “qualifying energy storage systems” by January 1, 2020. H.B. 2193 would apply to any entity that is engaged in the business of distributing electricity to retail electricity consumers in Oregon (not including a consumer-owned utility) if the entity makes sales of electricity to retail customers in an amount that equals 3 percent or more of all electricity sold to retail electricity customers in Oregon. An energy storage system is deemed to be “qualifying” if it is “cost-effective,” and the legislation contemplates that each electric company would procure one or more such systems having the capacity to store not less than 5 megawatts of electricity but not more than an amount of electricity that is equal to one percent of the company’s peak load for 2014. H.B. 2193 would allow an electric company to recover in its rates all costs prudently incurred in procuring one or more cost-effective energy storage systems, “including any above-market costs associated with procurement.”

Regulatory implications of new products and services in the Australian electricity market

Mar 03 2015

The Energy Market Reform Working Group in Australia released a consultation paper at the end of 2014 regarding the regulatory implications of new products and services in the national electricity market.

New products and services include energy supply from generation facilities installed at the customer’s premises (which may be combined with energy storage), products and services relating to demand management and energy information and advice.

The paper outlines some of the potential regulatory implications of these new products and services. It seeks feedback from stakeholders as to the types of new products and services which may be offered to small customers and whether regulatory reforms may be necessary – from either a consumer protection or a power system operations perspective.

Stakeholders are invited to make submissions on the issues raised by the consultation paper by close of business on 20 March 2015. Written submissions can be sent by email to energycouncil@industry.gov.au. Alternatively, please contact us and we would be happy to assist you in preparing a submission.

To read more about this consultation paper and the key findings and issues identified, please click here.

Australian Government Announces First Emissions Reduction Fund Auction

Feb 19 2015

The Australian Government recently announced that the first Emissions Reduction Fund auction will occur in April 2015. The Emissions Reduction Fund provides proponents of carbon abatement projects with opportunities to enter into contracts with the Government, via the Clean Energy Regulator, under which the proponent receives payment for undertaking carbon abatement. In the reverse auction process project proponents will submit sealed bids for the Clean Energy Regulator to purchase (in the form of Australian carbon credit units) emissions reductions generated by their projects.

Successful auction bids will be those with the lowest price, and successful proponents will then enter into Australian Carbon Contracts with the Clean Energy Regulator. The first auction will be open from 9.00am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on 15 April 2015 and close at 5.00pm on 16 April 2015 (Australian Eastern Standard Time). The auction will occur through the online bidding platform Austender.
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House Tax Extenders Package Would Renew the Wind PTC and Other Energy Provisions

Dec 03 2014

Congress is poised to enact a one-year retroactive tax extenders package that would renew a variety of tax incentives—including the production tax credit (PTC) for wind—through the end of 2014. On Wednesday, December 3, the House passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771) by a vote of 378-46, sending the bill to the Senate for its consideration before the end of the Lame Duck session. Read More

2014 Election Guide: A Guide to Changes in Congress

Nov 05 2014

Riding a wave of voter discontent, Republicans in the mid-term election took control of the U.S. Senate and increased their majority in the House. The results offer an opportunity for collaboration between the Congress and the Obama Administration, and to restart the legislative process.

To help you assess yesterday’s election, K&L Gates has prepared a comprehensive guide that summarizes the results and their impact on the 114th Congress, which will convene in January. The Election Guide lists all new members elected to Congress, updates the congressional delegations for each state, and provides a starting point for assessing the coming changes to the House and Senate committees.

Please click here to download the most up-to-date version of the 130 page Election Guide, which will be updated on an ongoing basis as more of the close races are called and committees are finalized. For additional information regarding the effects of the recent elections, please contact Tim Peckinpaugh or any member of the Public Policy and Law practice.

To view the complete guide online, click here.

Additional Resources

Further insights on the implications of the mid-term elections can be found in two recent webinars featuring members of the K&L Gates policy team. See the links below.

The Mid-Term Elections: What They Mean for Major National Policies

Election 2014: Its Impact on Federal Policy-Making in 2015

BOEM Defines Wind Energy Areas Offshore North Carolina

Aug 14 2014

On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) has defined three Wind Energy Areas off the North Carolina coast for potential commercial wind energy development.

The three Wind Energy Areas cover approximately 307,590 acres, which is a reduction in the area initially considered by BOEM for commercial scale wind power development. The Wind Energy Areas announced Monday include about 122,405 acres off the coast of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and two areas of 51,595 acres and 133,590 acres off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina. A map of the Wind Energy Areas can be found here.

Renewable Energy Reform Pushing Ahead in Mexico

Aug 12 2014

Yesterday in Mexico City President Enrique Peňa Nieto signed into law the much anticipated landmark reform of the energy sector, ending a 76 year state run monopoly and opening the sector to foreign investment. The energy reform act is one of the key goals of his administration. “This represents a historic change that will accelerate the economic growth and development of Mexico in the coming years,” the president told hundreds of guests at a ceremony in the capital.

Implications of EPA Emissions Rules for Renewables

Jun 05 2014

Renewable energy will play a major role in EPA’s latest proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from electric generating facilities. On June 2, 2014, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy proposed a new regulation for cutting carbon pollution from existing electric generating units (EGUs). This rule is perhaps the most significant action to date in the President’s Climate Action Plan announced last year. The rule will require EGUs to reduce their CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2005 levels. EPA assigned a CO2 goal for each state but lets states choose how best to meet the goal. Read More

Senate Action Halted on Tax Legislation

May 19 2014

Senate consideration of legislation to reinstate 55 expired incentives ground to a halt on May 15. The Senate fell 7 votes short of ending a Republican filibuster. While many Republicans support the underlying package, they are opposed to efforts by Senate Majority Leader Reid to limit amendments.

The bill includes a dozen energy-related measures such as the renewable electricity production tax credit and biofuels credits.

Negotiations between key Democrats and Republicans will resume the week of May 19 in hopes of reaching an agreement to end the filibuster and allow the tax package to come up for votes. If the two sides remain at a standoff, the bill may not come up for a vote until after the November election.

President Obama Announces New Commitments to Drive Solar Development

May 13 2014

On Friday, President Obama announced private sector goals and commitments for solar installation, applauded those private financial institutions which are “leading the way” on solar and renewable investments, and announced a series of “executive actions” which the Administration is taking to stimulate the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Read the White House Fact Sheet here.

The President’s announcement came in the middle of Senate debate on the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill which has been stalled for years in the US Senate. And again this week, because of issues unrelated to energy efficiency, it appears that the bill will not advance. The Administration has clearly decided – as they have on other energy and environment issues – to take steps which do not need Congressional action in order to advance the President’s energy agenda. Read More

Catagory:Governmental Affairs