Global Power Law & Policy – Page 4 – Legal and policy developments affecting the global power industry.

The Energizer – Volume 101

May 31 2022

By: Buck B. Endemann, Molly K. Barker, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Natalie J. Reid, Maeve C. Tibbetts

There is a lot of buzz around clean technology, distributed energy resources (DERs), microgrids, and other technological innovations in renewable energy and clean transport industries, and how these developments can contribute to solving longstanding environmental justice issues. As these innovations develop, energy markets will undergo substantial changes to which consumers and industry participants alike will need to adapt and leverage. Every other week, K&L Gates’ The Energizer will highlight emerging issues or stories relating to the use of DERs, energy storage, emerging technologies, hydrogen, and other innovations driving the energy industry forward.

IN THIS ISSUE

Department of Energy Announces US$25 Million in Funding to Study Clean Hydrogen for Electricity Generation
Department of Energy Announces US$3.5 Billion Carbon Capture Program
Hawai‛i Lawmakers Considering a Cap on Renewable Energy

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESENTS REPOWEREU PLAN

May 19 2022

Policy and Regulatory and Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources Alert

By: Tariq A. Fedda, Miguel A. Caramello Alvarez, Giovanni Campi, Inês S. Mendes, Paula Esteban Gomez

The European Commission (the Commission) presented on 18 May 2022 details of its plan to repower Europe and to reduce, and ultimately end, Europe’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels (the REPowerEU Plan or the Plan)¹ that was announced on 8 March 2022.

It aims to do this with three pillars: energy conservation; diversifying supplies; and quickly substituting fossil fuels by accelerating Europe’s clean energy transition, all while smartly combining investments and reforms.

The Plan acknowledges that the shift away from Russian fossil fuels will also require targeted investments for security of supply in gas infrastructure and very limited changes to current oil infrastructure, alongside large-scale investments in the electricity grid and an EU-wide hydrogen backbone. As such, the different elements of the Plan, which comprise a series of proposals, communications and guidance documents, will be of interest to anyone participating in the energy markets in Europe, including developers of renewable and conventional energy projects, buyers and sellers of commodities, and even households.

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The Energizer – Volume 100

May 18 2022

By: Buck B. Endemann, Molly K. Barker, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Natalie J. Reid, Maeve C. Tibbetts

IN THIS ISSUE

Department of Energy Announces $3.1 Billion in Matching Grants Toward Development of Domestic Battery Supply Chain
ACES Project is Greenlit by U.S. Department of Energy
National Laboratory Makes Headway in Long-Term Rechargeable Batteries

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2022 Offshore Wind Handbook Now Available

May 04 2022

U.S. Offshore Wind Handbook Helps Navigate Technical and Regulatory Issues

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2022 edition of the Offshore Wind Handbook, a collaboration between K&L Gates, Mainstream Renewable Power, and Kent plc., written to help guide investors and new market entrants through technical and regulatory issues in a fast-paced developing U.S. offshore wind market.

To view the 2022 Offshore Wind Handbook, click here.

FERC Moves Forward on Transmission Planning/Cost Allocation Reform

Apr 22 2022

U.S. Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources Alert

By: Ruta K. Skucas, Kimberly B. Frank, Jennifer L. Mersing

At its open meeting on 21 April 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) in response to its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation and Generator Interconnection (Docket No. RM21-17). Commissioner Mark Christie and Commissioner Willie Phillips entered separate concurrences, while Commissioner James Danly dissented. According to the open meeting, the NOPR proposes to reform, pursuant to Federal Power Act Section 206, FERC’s electric regional transmission planning and cost allocation requirements. If enacted, the NOPR’s reforms would require public utility transmission providers to…

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For more information, please contact our Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources lawyers or visit our practice page.

Sustainable Outlook: The Push to Modernize the Grid From Smart Buildings With Courtney Blodgett, Director of Strategy at Edo

Apr 01 2022

By: Molly K. Barker

On this week’s episode of Sustainable Outlook, Molly Barker of K&L Gates interviews Courtney Blodgett of Edo, which is a startup energy venture that works to enable building-to-grid integration and reduce building costs for clients by utilizing clean energy and innovative design solutions. At the intersection of environmental, social, and economic sustainability, Edo’s mission is to transform grid operations and optimize energy consumption for its clients while also addressing climate, affordability, and equity challenges.

Learn more about our participation in the sustainable economy.

BOEM Issues Final Sale Notice for Offshore Wind Lease Areas in Carolina Long Bay

Mar 30 2022

U.S. Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources Alert

By: Stanford D. Baird, Kenneth J. Gish, Jr, Nathan C. Howe, David L. Wochner, Kimberly B. Frank, Ankur K. Tohan

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold its next offshore wind lease auction on 11 May 2022, for two lease areas in the Carolina Long Bay. The lease areas comprise 110,091 acres off the coast of North and South Carolina. The auction date will occur weeks ahead of a 10-year moratorium on offshore energy leases imposed in 2020 by the Trump administration prohibiting auctions of leases for wind, in addition to oil and gas, off the coasts of North and South Carolina beginning on 1 July 2022.

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For more information, please contact our Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources lawyers or visit our practice page.

Please Join Us: ESG Insights | SEC Proposed Climate-Related Disclosures

Mar 22 2022

28 March 2022
2:00 – 3:00pm ET
via Webex

ESG perspectives are constantly evolving, and the SEC is releasing several significant ESG-related rules this year. Companies will have questions about the implications of these rules and what will happen next. K&L Gates wants to be a resource to its clients and contacts as these rules are released, and public companies consider how to prepare.

On March 21, 2022, the SEC released its proposed rules on climate-related disclosures. We will be hosting a webinar to address initial questions on the rule proposal. Some of the topics that we will address include:

What disclosures are required by the proposed rules, including board and management oversight and governance of climate-related risks?
Is an attestation report required for climate-related disclosures, including Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions information? If so, for what information and who can provide an attestation report?
Is there a phase-in period in the proposed rules? If so, when would companies be required to begin providing these climate-related disclosures?
What will happen next and what can companies do to prepare?

Panelists:

Sean Jones, Partner, Charlotte
Julie Rizzo, Partner, Raleigh

Please RSVP by March 27.

RSVP ONLINE

View our ESG Handbook here

MCE Clean Energy: Green Hydrogen Expert Roundup

Mar 22 2022

MCE Clean Energy asks green hydrogen experts, including K&L Gates Partner Elizabeth Crouse, the following question: “Do you foresee green hydrogen playing a key role in grid stability in the transition to 24/7 100% renewable electricity?“

Read Elizabeth’s insight and more at MCE’s website.

To learn more about our Hydrogen practice, please CLICK HERE.

Calling All Hydrogen Players!

Mar 16 2022

By: Laurie Purpuro

The Department of Energy (DOE) has begun the process of establishing “Hydrogen Hubs” that are funded in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aka the “infrastructure package.” The infrastructure package provides $8 billion for hydrogen hubs, plus an additional $1 billion for hydrogen electrolysis research, development, deployment and commercial applications. Another $500 million was appropriated in the infrastructure package for a Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, Research, Development and Demonstration Program. All of this funding is to be distributed over the next five years.

The Hydrogen Hub Program. Through the Regional Hydrogen Hub Program DOE will choose a minimum of four locations in the U.S. to locate hydrogen hubs — networks of clean hydrogen producers, potential clean hydrogen consumers, and connective infrastructure located in close proximity. The law calls for diverse energy sources for hydrogen production at the hubs, requiring, to the maximum extent practicable, that one hub produce hydrogen from fossil fuels; one from renewables; and one from nuclear energy.

H2 Matchmaker. To help hydrogen players connect with others and create “hubs”, DOE has stood up the “H2 Matchmaker” tool, an interactive map which includes various hydrogen producers, infrastructure companies, consumers, and other stakeholders, along with their contact information. You can find the H2 Matchmaker map here, where you will also find the H2 Matchmaker Self-Identification Form. You can use the H2 Matchmaker Self-Identification form to submit your own information for the H2 Matchmaker Map.

Requests for Information. DOE has issued Requests for Information (RFI) for these programs, which give stakeholders the opportunity to provide input that DOE will use in developing Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs). The Hydrogen Hub RFI can be found here, and the deadline is March 21. The RFI for the Hydrogen Electrolysis Program as well as the Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, Research, Development and Demonstration Program can be found here, and the deadline is March 29.

To learn more about our Hydrogen practice, please CLICK HERE.