EE Insights Header-1

Managing Grid Security in a Distributed Energy Environment

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 11/24/15 10:49 AM

Historically, utilities have shouldered the burden of mitigating the security risks inherent in energy generation, distribution and transmission. The utilities were, and continue to be, well-placed to do so as they benefit from historical knowledge, existing relationships with regulators and grid operators, large and highly-trained workforces and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to rate base. Although the nature of risks has evolved over the years, with terror threats and privacy concerns added to the list of conventional risks like weather events, traditional utilities have been up to the task with a few noteworthy exceptions.

However, the traditional model of energy generation and distribution is in midst of an evolution that, arguably, could be more impactful to the U.S. grid than deregulation has been. Even in competitive generation markets, retail interaction with customers has been handled almost exclusively by the utility as an energy aggregator with the ability to rate base. Places like New York are now serving as the test labs for alternate models as regulators there have been shifting their gazes toward distributed generation models where smaller, independent entities would drive power supply through resources co-located, or else located in proximity, with end users.

Read More

Topics: Utilities, NY REV, Power Generation, Microgrid, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

Are Seesaw Share Prices Impacting YieldCo Buying Power?

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 11/12/15 11:57 AM

YieldCos have been hammered lately, both in the stock market (though things have recently been picking up) and in the press. The reasons are myriad with theories addressing MLP values, rising interest rates, negative public statements from management teams, a slowing Chinese economy, lower oil prices, capital constraints and YieldCo disassociation from parents entities all being floated as potential reasons for recent losses in shareholder value.

Read More

Topics: Energy Policy, M&A, Structured Transactions & Tax, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, YieldCo, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

Mid-Atlantic: Distributed Energy Opportunities

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 11/3/15 11:58 AM

The Mid-Atlantic region (Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia) is currently at the forefront of discussions regarding the next generation of distributed electricity markets. Notable developments pushing the region into the spotlight recently include M&A activity, creativity on the part of public service commissions, local innovations in PACE finance, and increasing flexibility on the part of local utilities.

Read More

Topics: Water Energy Nexus, Utilities, Water, Carbon Emissions, Energy Security, Thermal Generation, Energy Policy, M&A, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Storage, Energy Efficiency, Power Generation, Microgrid, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind, Oil & Gas

REV Conference Recap: Opportunities for Distributed Generation in New York

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 10/21/15 11:38 AM

The Sullivan Energy Finance team recently hosted an event on New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative. In particular, the panel participants, including former New York Public Service Commission Commissioner Bob Curry, Mike Pantelogianis of Investec, Sarah Carson Zemanick of Cornell University and Jay Worenklein of US Grid Company, focused on how deals will get done under the new framework.

Read More

Topics: Carbon Emissions, NY REV, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Efficiency, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Renewable Energy

Can the Clean Power Plan Achieve Its Carbon Emission Reduction Goal Through Increased Renewable Energy Development?

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 9/22/15 10:41 AM

Read More

Topics: Utilities, Carbon Emissions, Energy Policy, Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Efficiency, Power Generation, Microgrid, Energy Finance, Legislation, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Renewable Energy

Property Owners Increasingly Embracing Energy Efficiency Technologies

Posted by Administrator on 9/2/15 6:36 AM

Co-authors Josh Sturtevant and Morgan Gerard

Read More

Topics: Structured Transactions & Tax, Energy Efficiency, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

Offshore Wind Has Come to the U.S.; EPCs Can Help It Gain Momentum

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 8/27/15 10:08 AM

 

Read More

Topics: Utilities, Energy Policy, Structured Transactions & Tax, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Legislation, Wind

Is the Tide Turning for Offshore Wind in the United States?

Posted by Van Hilderbrand on 8/6/15 11:58 AM

Read More

Topics: Carbon Emissions, Energy Policy, Power Generation, Energy Finance, Legislation, Distributed Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

EDGE Distributed Energy in Focus: How Can Hybrid Resources and Microgrids Overcome Financing Challenges?

Posted by Administrator on 7/8/15 2:48 PM

In Sullivan & Worcester’s most recent quarterly newsletter, the EDGE Advisory, we address one of the major advancements in distributed energy clean-tech, the microgrid. This year has seen major headway in the deployment of hybrid distributed energy resources and microgrids, along with accompanying innovation in financing for these solutions. Several leading players in solar, battery storage and advanced power management automation have announced major investments in new microgrid adaptable technologies.

Read More

Topics: Energy Security, Power Generation, Microgrid, Energy Finance, Distributed Energy, Energy Management, Renewable Energy

Costa Rica: Future Solar Hotspot or Never Was?

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 3/25/15 7:16 AM

Read More

Topics: Power Generation, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy

Sullivan

About the Blog


The Environment & Energy Insights blog analyzes developments in the law, as well as provides updates and perspectives on trends and polices.

The material on this site is for general information only and is not legal advice. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage which may result from reliance on it. Always consult a qualified lawyer about a specific legal problem.

Subscribe to Blog

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all