Global Power Law & Policy – Page 41 – Legal and policy developments affecting the global power industry.

Greenhouse Gas Regulation in Washington: What the Clean Power Plan and Washington Clean Air Rule Mean for the State

Nov 23 2015

K&L Gates attorneys Ankur K. Tohan, Daniel C. Kelly-Stallings, and Alyssa A. Moir recently penned an article for the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) analyzing greenhouse gas regulation in Washington. Their article, “Greenhouse Gas Regulation in Washington: What the Clean Power Plan and Washington Clean Air Rule Mean for the State,” is available from the WSBA website.

Clean Power Plan Legal Battles Commence while EPA Fine-Tunes Incentives and Enforcement Mechanisms

Nov 13 2015

EPA published the Clean Power Plan (“CPP”) regulations in the Federal Register late last month. The CPP is the landmark climate change rule championed by the Obama Administration that requires reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants nationwide. Almost immediately, opponents lodged petitions seeking review of the rule, with some petitioners also seeking a stay of the rule.

K&L Gates Environmental Policy Quarterly Covers Clean Power Plan

Nov 02 2015

The latest edition of the K&L Gates Environmental Policy Quarterly focuses on (1) EPA’s Carbon Pollution Standards and Clean Power Plan, (2) congressional efforts to streamline environmental reviews of infrastructure projects, and (3) EPA’s draft Assessment on the Potential Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources. We are delighted to include contributions by a number of K&L Gates lawyers who focus on these matters on a daily basis.

Read the Environmental Policy Quarterly

“Corporate Energy Sourcing: A New Engine for Renewables” on Law360

Oct 29 2015

Law360 recently published an expert analysis piece from Teresa Hill and Bill Holmes on corporate energy sourcing, the renewable energy trend in which in which companies across all industries are taking a greater role in controlling the characteristics and cost of their energy supply. Read “Corporate Energy Sourcing: A New Engine for Renewables” here.

K&L Gates To Present at Renewable Energy Markets 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Oct 05 2015

Bill Holmes will speak on a panel at the upcoming Renewable Energy Markets (REM) 2015 conference in Washington, D.C. on October 19, 2015. Mr. Holmes’ panel presentation, “Direct Purchasing and PPAs 101” will address the benefits and challenges of direct energy purchases as well as provide suggestions on composing internal teams, condensing transaction time, and ensuring buy-in for long-term agreements.

Please visit the REM 2015 website for more information on the conference.

Alabama Power Authorized to Procure 500 MW of Renewables

Oct 05 2015

The Alabama Public Services Commission (the “PSC”) has granted a petition filed by Alabama Power Company (“Alabama Power”) for a certificate of convenience and necessity to develop or procure 500 megawatts of capacity and energy from “renewable energy and environmentally specialized generating sources.” Docket No. 32382 (July 16, 2015) (order). The authorization will expire six years from the date of the order and includes several limitations, including a 30-day review process for each project submitted under the order to ensure that the project meets the specified eligibility criteria.

The “Washington Clean Air Rule” is coming

Sep 30 2015

Washington State is about to become the latest state to take local action to address global climate change. Governor Jay Inslee recently directed the Washington Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) to make new rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions in the state. The new rules are scheduled to be adopted in summer 2016 and to take effect shortly thereafter.[1] The result will be called the “Washington Clean Air Rule.”[2]

K&L Gates to Host Deal Room at Energy Storage North America Conference

Sep 29 2015

K&L Gates will once again be the Exclusive Deal Room and Gold Sponsor of the Energy Storage North America Conference, October 13 – 15 in San Diego, CA.

The K&L Gates Deal Room is an ideal place to hold your energy storage business meetings in a convenient and private atmosphere during the conference. Reservations are required — to make yours, click here. In addition, discounts for the conference are available. Please contact Bill Holmes for more information.

Greater Sage-Grouse Avoids ESA Listing

Sep 24 2015

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) announced on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, that it would not list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”).

Where You Operate Matters: the Fifth Circuit Widens the Split on MBTA Liability

Sep 15 2015

Last week the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling that reduces uncertainty regarding criminal liability for taking migratory birds. In particular, the ruling alleviates potential liability for facilities where interactions with migratory birds are effectively unavoidable—such as wind production facilities, power transmission lines, and other energy production or manufacturing facilities. These types of facilities face a fundamental tension under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”): on the one hand, the MBTA imposes strict criminal liability for the take of migratory birds; and on the other hand, there is no permit available to authorize the unintentional take of migratory birds. The Fifth Circuit’s ruling joins other circuits around the country in holding that the MBTA applies only to the intentional take of migratory birds; however, the court’s ruling widens the split between circuits that differ in how MBTA liability applies.

Read the full alert on K&L Gates HUB