Tag:California

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California Passes Suite of New Climate Bills Aimed at Reducing Emissions, Stimulating Carbon Capture, and Implementing Buffers
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SB 343: IS RECYCLING LIABILITY ON THE WAY?
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Hydrogen Rising: California’s Role in the Hydrogen Economy
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The Energizer – Volume 84
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The Energizer – Volume 79
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The Energizer – Volume 69
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California SB 1399 Proposes to Expand Renewable Energy Opportunities for Non-Residential Customers
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Halftime in California — Which Climate and Environmental Bills Are on the Board?
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K&L Gates to Host Deal Room at Energy Storage North America Conference
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Infocast’s Corporate Energy Sourcing Summit 2015

California Passes Suite of New Climate Bills Aimed at Reducing Emissions, Stimulating Carbon Capture, and Implementing Buffers

By: David Wang, Elizabeth C. Crouse, Buck B. Endemann

On August 31, 2022—the last day of the 2022 legislative session—California legislators passed a package of climate bills aimed at reducing statewide emissions, stimulating the carbon capture industry, and implementing buffers between communities and oil and gas developments. The bills include $54 billion in climate-related spending and come on the heels of other state and federal efforts to reduce carbon emissions across many sectors of the economy.

The package contains the following bills:

  • AB 1279, which codifies California’s existing goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
  • AB 1757, which requires the state Natural Resources Agency to establish targets for natural carbon sequestration and nature-based climate solutions.
  • SB 846, which authorizes the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to continue operations until December 31, 2030, and provides Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E,” the plant’s operator) with a $1.4 billion loan to help facilitate those operations.  While Diablo Canyon was originally going to be retired by 2025, many saw Diablo Canyon’s 2,256 MW as critical for providing carbon-free power during the afternoon and evening ramp.
  • SB 905, which directs the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) to establish a program to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and viability of carbon capture, utilization, or storage (“CCUS”) and carbon removal technologies. The bill also requires CARB to adopt various regulations governing CCUS and carbon removal projects, including a unified permit application for such projects and measures to minimize leakage from carbon storage reservoirs.
  • SB 1020, which sets interim targets regarding retail sales of electricity. Current law requires 100 percent of all energy sales to California end-use customers to be supplied by eligible renewable energy sources or zero-carbon resources by 2045.  SB 1020 sets interim targets of 90 percent by 2035 and 95 percent by 2040. SB 1020 also requires state agencies to source 100 percent of their energy from eligible renewable or zero-carbon resources by 2035—ten years earlier than the current target.
  • SB 1137, which establishes 3,200-foot buffer zones between oil and gas facilities or wells with a wellhead and facilities that qualify as “sensitive receptors,” including private homes, schools, community centers, nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons.

Legislators failed to pass AB 2133, which would have made stricter California’s emissions reduction goals (raising from 40 percent to 55 percent the reduction below the state’s 1990 emissions levels that California would have to meet by 2030).

Each bill now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom to sign by September 30, 2022, which he is expected to do after publicly advocating for them earlier in August. The California legislature’s actions come several days after CARB announced a new rule that would require by 2035 all new cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the state to be greenhouse gas emission-free. These state-level efforts complement recent federal efforts to catalyze and develop a low-emissions energy economy, notably the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (“IIJA,” or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included $47.2 billion for improving climate resilience) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA,” which included $369 billion in climate-related spending, tax credits, and incentives). These initiatives represent a concerted effort on both the federal and state level to rapidly shift the economy towards low-emissions energy sources, and consequently provide ample opportunities for new investment opportunities, financing structures, and stakeholders.

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SB 343: IS RECYCLING LIABILITY ON THE WAY?

U.S. Energy Infrastructure and Resources, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Policy and Regulatory Alert

By: Buck B. EndemannCaitlin C. BlancheDavid WangDamon M. Pitt

California’s new recyclability law could create liability associated with labeling and packaging issues. On 9 September 2021, the California Legislature overwhelmingly passed “The Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials” bill (SB 343), which prohibits the use of the “chasing arrows” symbol (or any other indication of recyclability) on products or packaging that are not deemed “recyclable” under criteria to be established by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).1 Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on 6 October 2021.

Hydrogen Rising: California’s Role in the Hydrogen Economy

San Francisco partner Buck Endemann discusses with Hydrogen Rising host David Wochner the state-of-play for hydrogen in the Golden State, including a discussion about Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent budget proposal and the opportunities for hydrogen under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

The Energizer – Volume 84

By: Buck B. Endemann, Daniel S. Cohen, Molly K. Barker, Olivia B. Mora, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Oretha Manu

A biweekly update on clean technology applications, distributed energy resources, and other innovative technologies in the renewable energy and clean transport sectors.

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: 

  • New GREEN Act Could Extend and Create New Credits for Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, Carbon Capture, and Electric Vehicles
  • Eight California Community Choice Aggregators Form Joint Powers Authority
  • Southeastern U.S. Utilities Request Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approval for Energy Exchange
  • Green Hydrogen Joint Venture in Iberia Will Help Meet the European Union’s Carbon Goals  

The Energizer – Volume 79

By: Buck B. Endemann, Daniel S. Cohen, Molly K. Barker, Olivia B. Mora, Abraham F. Johns, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark

A biweekly update on clean technology applications, distributed energy resources, and other innovative technologies in the renewable energy and clean transport sector.

There is a lot of buzz around cleantech, distributed energy resources (“DERs”), microgrids, and other technological innovations in the renewable energy and clean transport industries. As these innovations develop, energy markets will undergo substantial changes to which consumer 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 and clean transportation industries forward.

IN THIS ISSUE: 

  • California Utilities to Launch Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Project
  • Tacoma Public Utility Board Passes Resolution to Employ “Electrofuel Service” Initiative
  • Form Energy Receives Additional $76 Million in Funding for Long-Term Aqueous Air Battery
  • City of Boston Announces a Zero Emission Vehicle Roadmap

The Energizer – Volume 69

By: Buck B. EndemannDaniel S. CohenMolly K. BarkerOlivia B. MoraAbraham F. JohnsNatalie J. ReidMatthew P. Clark

A biweekly update on clean technology applications, distributed energy resources, and other innovative technologies in the renewable energy and clean transport sector.

There is a lot of buzz around cleantech, distributed energy resources (“DERs”), microgrids, and other technological innovations in the renewable energy and clean transport industries. As these innovations develop, energy markets will undergo substantial changes to which consumer 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 and clean transportation industries forward.

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Two Major Florida Utilities Begin to Transition Away from Coal
  • Pilot Program for Central American REC Market Completes First Stage
  • New California Regulations Transition Short-Haul Trucks to Zero-Emission Standards
  • Two More Major Western Utilities Commit to Close Coal-Fired Power Plants

California SB 1399 Proposes to Expand Renewable Energy Opportunities for Non-Residential Customers

By Buck Endemann and Nicholas Nahum

Introduced in February by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), California Senate Bill (“SB”) 1399 would create a new program in which non-residential customers could facilitate the development of off-site renewable energy projects of up to 20 megawatts (“MW”) to satisfy their energy needs.

Traditionally, California’s “over the fence” rule limits distributed solar producers to selling power directly to two or fewer properties and only if such properties are located immediately adjacent to the property where the power is produced. [1] These restrictions, along with California’s net metering tariffs, have historically deterred property owners from installing distributed energy generation beyond what is necessary to service their on-site electricity needs. Properties with little electricity demand but large generating potential (like warehouses or parking lots) are therefore provided little incentive to invest in on-site solar projects without a willing (and often large) buyer.

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Halftime in California — Which Climate and Environmental Bills Are on the Board?

By Buck B. Endemann and Molly Suda

The California legislature conducts its business in two-year sessions starting on the first Monday in December following an election. Last Friday, September 15, 2017, marked the last day for the California legislature to pass bills before a long interim recess lasting until January 3, 2018. Over the past nine months, the first half of the 2017–2018 legislative session saw a flurry of bills fueled by climate goals and the speculation of eroding federal support for environmental regulation.

Below is a summary of the primary successful and not-so-successful climate and environmental bills that were debated right down to the halftime whistle. On the whole, California made incremental progress in funding clean transportation efforts and incentivizing the deployment of energy storage systems, distributed energy resources, and energy efficiency strategies. While some of California’s grander schemes like the 100% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) regionalization fell short, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León has vowed to carry those efforts into the second half of the 2017–2018 session. K&L Gates’ energy and environmental attorneys will continue to monitor California’s progress toward its bold climate and environmental goals.

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K&L Gates to Host Deal Room at Energy Storage North America Conference

K&L Gates will once again be the Exclusive Deal Room and Gold Sponsor of the Energy Storage North America Conference, October 13 – 15 in San Diego, CA.

The K&L Gates Deal Room is an ideal place to hold your energy storage business meetings in a convenient and private atmosphere during the conference. Reservations are required — to make yours, click here.  In addition, discounts for the conference are available.  Please contact Bill Holmes for more information.

Infocast’s Corporate Energy Sourcing Summit 2015

12-14 January 2015
The Westgate Hotel
San Diego, CA

Presenters: William H. Holmes, Paul C. Lacourciere

K&L Gates is a Platinum Sponsor at Infocast’s Corporate Energy Sourcing Summit 2015, with partner Bill Holmes leading the Summit as Chair. This event focuses on the latest intelligence on financing, business cases, risk, sourcing & sustainability from the leading market players, while evaluating business cases for new strategies and solutions including on & off-site renewables, demand response, efficiency, fuel cells and energy storage. The Summit will be a source of actionable strategies and insights from peers in other sectors including bigbox/retail, manufacturing, data centers, real estate, airports, and universities. The Summit will offer up numerous opportunities to meet key dealmakers, learn about their plans for the upcoming year, and capitalize on new prospects that will lead to successful deals.

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