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Puerto Rico Update: Evolving Renewable Generation Plans

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 6/27/19 5:13 PM

By: Jeffrey Karp and Maxwell Unterhalter

Nearly two years following hurricanes Irma and Maria, challenges remain as Puerto Rico seeks to develop a cleaner and more resilient power grid. In November 2018, we discussed the evolving renewable energy situation in Puerto Rico as proposals for 100% renewable generation appeared stalled in its legislature. Half a year later, Puerto Rico has passed a new law that calls for implementing aggressive renewable energy goals.

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Topics: Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Puerto Rico

The Role of Renewable Energy Remains Uncertain in Transforming Puerto Rico's Electrical Grid

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 11/30/18 12:36 PM

By Jeffrey Karp and Kevin Fink

Over a year has elapsed since Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, which, in addition to claiming thousands of lives, destroyed Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure. As discussed in prior postings, a number of factors have contributed to the delay in restoring and upgrading the electrical grid, including contract mismanagement by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority ("PREPA") and the lack of a consensus approach regarding the energy mix to be deployed on the Island.

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Topics: Renewable Energy, Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria

U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing on Energy Storage Highlights Need for Further Federal and State Initiatives

Posted by Administrator on 8/7/18 3:42 PM

By Kevin Fink

On July 18, 2018, the U.S. Congress House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing to assess the progress being made by federal and state governments to promote the role of energy storage in the U.S. electrical system. A panel of five witnesses – an executive from the California Independent System Operator (“CAISO”); a partner at an energy and environmental economic consulting firm; and executives from E.ON, Fluence Energy, and Duke Energy – were present to testify and answer questions of the legislators.

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Topics: Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, U.S. House of Representatives, Investment Tax Credit

Energy Storage and Hydropower Experts Offer Industry Perspectives at 2018 Grid Scale Energy Storage Summit

Posted by Administrator on 7/23/18 1:26 PM

By Kevin Fink

Sullivan counsel recently participated in the “Grid Scale Energy Storage Summit,” part of the expansive Hydrovision International conference held at the end of June in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the first time on an international scale, the Summit brought together both energy storage and hydropower experts from around the world for the purpose of debating, among other things, the future role of hydropower in the mix of energy storage options.  

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Topics: Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, FERC, hydropower

Northeast States See Surge in Plans for Offshore Wind Projects, But Developers Must Address Remaining Barriers

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 6/18/18 12:37 PM

By Jeffrey Karp and Kevin Fink

As previously discussed, offshore wind is  well-developed outside the United States. In Europe, the first offshore wind facility was installed in 1991, and a record 3,148 MW of capacity was added in 2017. In comparison, the first and only operating offshore wind farm in the U.S. is Block Island, a 30 MW facility off the coast of Rhode Island, which began operation in 2016. While the U.S. lags behind European wind energy leaders, Northeast states have sought to facilitate large scale offshore wind development by setting goals and awarding contracts to offshore lease areas. These recent activities have been met with optimism and promise; however, there still are challenges beyond initially securing leases that must be met before offshore wind projects in the U.S. are successfully implemented from start to finish.

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Topics: Renewable Energy, Massachusetts, Offshore Wind, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Jones Act, Port Infrastructure, Shipping, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

FERC ENERGY STORAGE RULE CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL, LOW-IMPACT HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Posted by Administrator on 2/28/18 3:49 PM

By Edward Woll Jr.

OVERVIEW

The United States has produced clean, renewable electricity from hydropower for more than 100 years. Today there are approximately 2,500 domestic dams and pumped-storage facilities that provide roughly 100 gigawatts (“GW”) of electricity. In addition, there are more than 80,000 non-powered dams, i.e., existing structures that could produce power, with the potential capacity of 12 GW. New England’s non-powered dams potential capacity is 243 mega watts (“MW”).  Many of the 80,000 non-powered dams could be converted to produce hydropower at relatively low cost and within a relatively short timeframe. See U.S. Department of Energy, An Assessment of Energy Potential at Non-Powered Dams in the United States (2012).
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Topics: Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, Massachusetts, Low-head hydropower, FERC, hydropower

Renewables Can Play a Big Role in Puerto Rico's Fresh Start

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 6/27/17 11:23 AM

This article originally appeared on Recharge.

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Topics: Energy Finance, Renewable Energy, Energy Investment, Puerto Rico, Power Purchase Agreements, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

Opportunities Abound in the U.S. Offshore Wind Market

Posted by Jeffrey Karp on 5/30/17 12:52 PM

Offshore wind projects have taken root in America. The country’s first operating offshore wind farm, in Block Island, Rhode Island, began contributing energy to the power grid in December 2016. Now, more than 23 offshore wind projects — collectively expected to produce 16,000 MW of power — reportedly are being planned. Thus, opportunities abound for developers, contractors, and investors in the U.S. offshore wind market.

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Topics: Energy Finance, Renewable Energy, Energy Investment, Energy Project Finance, Offshore Wind, Wind Energy, Energy Project

New York Unveils Details of its Clean Energy Program

Posted by Administrator on 8/9/16 11:46 AM

The New York Department of Public Service (DPS or Commission) on August 1, 2016 issued its long-awaited Clean Energy Standard order (“Order”). The Order sets forth the means by which the Empire State intends to achieve its ambitious goal of supplying 50% of the State’s electricity needs with clean energy by 2030 (50x30). By attaining this target the State will reduce its overall carbon emissions by 40%.

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Topics: NY REV, Renewable Energy, Reforming the Energy Vision, New York Solar, clean energy standard

The New Gold Standard for Building Performance - PEER

Posted by Administrator on 7/19/16 10:20 AM

Co-authors Jeffrey M. Karp and Morgan M. Gerard 

Electricity-grid vulnerabilities were deeply exposed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and its associated storm surge, as a single outage at a substation caused a sweeping black-out across downtown Manhattan, New York. Making matters worse, climate change science anticipates that future storms will be both stronger and more frequent.  To facilitate and improve the security, resiliency, and reliability of the macrogrid system, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed PEER, Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal, the nation’s first comprehensive, consumer-centric, data-driven tool for evaluating power system performance. 

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Topics: Distributed Energy, Renewable Energy, United States Green Building Council, USGBC, LEED, Resiliency, Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal, PEER

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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.

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