October 2017 – Global Power Law & Policy

K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 15

Oct 19 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

Grid+ and Tokyo Electric Power Company to Explore Blockchain for Peer-to-Peer Energy Transactions
Several Blockchain Pilots on Display at European Utility Week Conference
New Spanish Blockchain Consortium Includes Electric and Gas Utilities

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 15 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

K&L Gates is Pleased to Introduce the Energy Storage Handbook

Oct 18 2017

As a courtesy to our clients and friends, the K&L Gates Power practice has prepared a new resource for you – the Energy Storage Handbook.

Designed as a basic primer on what energy storage is, how it is regulated and what sorts of issues are encountered when such projects are financed and developed, the Handbook is intended to highlight the most common regulatory and developmental issues faced by our clients and the industries we serve.

We hope you find this inaugural edition of the Energy Storage Handbook of interest, and we welcome any feedback and suggestions for future editions.

To view the Energy Storage Handbook, please click here.

FERC FINDS CERTAIN PASSIVE INVESTMENTS DO NOT REQUIRE PRIOR APPROVAL FOR TRANSFER

Oct 13 2017

By William M. Keyser, Molly Suda, Elizabeth P. Trinkle and Toks A. Arowojolu

On October 4, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”) issued an order allowing entities with certain passive investments to transfer those interests without receiving prior authorization from the Commission under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act (“FPA”). Specifically, the Commission found that passive tax equity interests in public utilities or public utility holding companies do not constitute voting securities for the purposes of Section 203. Thus, the transfer of these interests does not require Section 203 approval because such transfer does not constitute a transfer of control with respect to the public utility. In addition, the Commission found that the transfer of these passive investments by a holding company qualifies for blanket authorization under FPA Section 203 (a)(2).

Senate Energy Committee Talks Energy Storage, Hurricane Response, and Grid Resiliency

Oct 10 2017

By Jim Wrathall and Kristin Hoeberlein

On Tuesday, October 4, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a full committee hearing to discuss the status and future of energy storage technologies.

Committee Chairman Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) opened the hearing discussing the recent massive power outages caused by hurricanes in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, and Florida. In the wake of these disasters, she emphasized consideration of energy storage technologies as part of grid reliability and resilience in rebuilding programs. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) urged that a supplemental aid package assisting Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should be a bipartisan effort aimed at rebuilding grid infrastructure in a renewable and sustainable way, with energy storage technologies an important part of the solution.

K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 14

Oct 06 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 health care 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, 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:

Department of Energy Selects Firms to Develop Blockchain Cybersecurity Technology for the Energy Grid
PowerLedger Announces New Projects in Australia and India
Electron Awarded Funding to Implement Electricity Trading Platform

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 14 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

Archive:October 2017