On February 8, 2018, the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) adopted a new procurement process in a decision which suggested that 2,000 MW of new battery energy storage resources may be needed in California by 2030. This means an additional
Renewable + Law
The Climate Policy, Renewable Energy, & Sustainability Blog
The Renewable + Law blog, published by Stoel Rives LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory issues in the renewable energy sector. It covers topics such as solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project development, interconnection processes, regional energy market reforms, land use and permitting challenges, and federal and state regulatory decisions impacting renewable energy projects. The blog also addresses legislative updates, court rulings on energy capacity definitions, and local ordinances affecting renewable infrastructure. It serves as a resource for understanding the intersection of energy law, policy, and project implementation within the evolving renewable energy landscape.
Latest from Renewable + Law - Page 13
Solar PPA Provider That Only “Arranges” Installation of System It Owns Is Not a “Contractor” in California
By Brian Nese & Tamara Boeck
In the recently issued but unpublished decision Reed v. SunRun, Inc. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BC498002, Feb. 2, 2018), the Second District Court of Appeal ruled that a solar power purchase agreement (“PPA”) provider that only sells…
FERC Brushes Away Secretary Perry’s “Resiliency” NOPR, Finding It Legally Deficient
By Jason Johns
In a move that was widely anticipated across the energy industry, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today issued an order that terminated a notice of proposed rulemaking that had been initiated in October 2017 in response to a demand…
House Bill Would Extend the ITC to Standalone Energy Storage Systems
By Brian Orion & Xiaowan Mao
The investment tax credit (“ITC”) plays a major role in driving investment in the U.S. solar energy market. Earlier this month, two members of Congress introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide a similar ITC for…
California IOUs Request Approval of 175 MW of New Energy Storage Resources
By Brian Orion & Xiaowan Mao
On December 1, 2017, two of the three major California investor-owned utilities (“IOUs”), Pacific Gas & Electricity (“PG&E”) and Southern California Edison (“SCE”), submitted applications for approval of the results of their 2016-2017 energy storage request for offers.
Background on…
Michigan’s PURPA Overhaul – Updating Avoided Cost Calculations And Expanding Standard Offer Contracts
For the first time in almost 30 years, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is overhauling its implementation of PURPA. The last time the MPSC evaluated Consumers Energy Company’s (Consumers) avoided cost methodology, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) had…
The Western States’ Plan for EV Charging Infrastructure – Lessons Learned and Things to Watch
By Brian Orion & Xiaowan Mao
Introduction
On October 4, 2017, the Governors of a number of western states signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) to lay the foundation for work on a regional electric vehicle (“EV”) infrastructure development plan called the Regional Electric Vehicle Plan…
When the Big One Hits, We’ll All Be Thankful for Grid “Resiliency”
Or so Secretary Rick Perry and the DOE would have us believe. Approximately three weeks ago, the DOE made its pitch to FERC and the energy industry that a lack of “resiliency” threatens the U.S. power grid. The responses are…
U.S. EPA Moves to Repeal Clean Power Plan
In a much-anticipated move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing repeal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The draft proposed rule outlines EPA’s revised interpretation of its authority under Clean Air Act section 111(d) to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG)…
Tax Equity Investors Wave Goodbye to FPA Section 203
By Jason Johns
Tax equity investments, and potentially other passive investments, in renewable energy just became that much easier to make. Today, in response to a petition for declaratory order filed in January 2017 by a coalition of investors and project sponsors, FERC…