September 21, 2017 – Global Power Law & Policy

K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 13

Sep 21 2017

By Molly Suda, Buck B. Endemann, and Ben Tejblum

There is a lot of buzz around blockchain technology and its potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries from finance and healthcare to real estate and supply chain management. Reports estimate that over $1.4 billion was invested in blockchain startups in 2016 alone, and many institutions and companies are forming partnerships to explore how blockchain ledgers and smart contracts can be deployed to manage and share data, create transactional efficiencies, and reduce costs.

While virtual currencies and blockchain technology in the financial services industry have been the subject of significant debate and discussion, blockchain applications that could transform the energy industry have received comparatively less attention. Every other week, the K&L Gates’ Blockchain Energizer will highlight emerging issues or stories relating to the use of blockchain technology in the energy space. To subscribe to the Blockchain Energizer newsletter, please click here.

IN THIS ISSUE

Trusted IoT Alliance Launches to Foster Interoperability Across Blockchain Platforms
New York Energy Service Company Using Blockchain Technology to Lower Customer Bills
HyperLedger Composer Demo Explores Creation of Decentralized Energy Networks

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 13 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

Please Join Us: Energy Storage, Distributed Generation, and the Evolving Grid: Policy Developments and Market Opportunities

Sep 21 2017

Please join us at our Washington, D.C. office on Wednesday, October 11 for a day of insightful discussions with other leading energy professionals on the evolving opportunities and challenges in the energy storage and distributed energy resource industries. Our experienced panelists will discuss the rapidly changing regulatory landscape of energy storage and DER industries, and share real life stories on how these changes are shifting markets and creating new opportunities for utilities, developers, consultants, and financiers.

Agenda topics will include:

Federal and state regulatory developments and predictions – and the corresponding market creation and disruption
Will the President’s Agenda on Energy and Infrastructure Impact the Development of Markets for Storage and Distributed Energy Resources
Monetization and Financing for Energy Storage Projects
How Technology and Innovation are Affecting the Utility Business Model and Creating Opportunities for Storage and DER Development

After the program, please join us for a networking reception.

To learn more about this event and to register, click here.

This event is hosted in partnership with the Energy Storage Association and the Edison Electric Institute.

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

Sep 21 2017

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.

Archive:September 21, 2017