Global Power Law & Policy – Page 5 – Legal and policy developments affecting the global power industry.

Calling All Hydrogen Players!

Mar 16 2022

The Department of Energy (DOE) has begun the process of establishing “Hydrogen Hubs” that are funded in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aka the “infrastructure package.” The infrastructure package provides $8 billion for hydrogen hubs, plus an additional $1 billion for hydrogen electrolysis research, development, deployment and commercial applications. Another $500 million was appropriated in the infrastructure package for a Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, Research, Development and Demonstration Program. All of this funding is to be distributed over the next five years.

The Hydrogen Hub Program. Through the Regional Hydrogen Hub Program DOE will choose a minimum of four locations in the U.S. to locate hydrogen hubs — networks of clean hydrogen producers, potential clean hydrogen consumers, and connective infrastructure located in close proximity. The law calls for diverse energy sources for hydrogen production at the hubs, requiring, to the maximum extent practicable, that one hub produce hydrogen from fossil fuels; one from renewables; and one from nuclear energy.

H2 Matchmaker. To help hydrogen players connect with others and create “hubs”, DOE has stood up the “H2 Matchmaker” tool, an interactive map which includes various hydrogen producers, infrastructure companies, consumers, and other stakeholders, along with their contact information. You can find the H2 Matchmaker map here, where you will also find the H2 Matchmaker Self-Identification Form. You can use the H2 Matchmaker Self-Identification form to submit your own information for the H2 Matchmaker Map.

Requests for Information. DOE has issued Requests for Information (RFI) for these programs, which give stakeholders the opportunity to provide input that DOE will use in developing Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs). The Hydrogen Hub RFI can be found here, and the deadline is March 21. The RFI for the Hydrogen Electrolysis Program as well as the Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, Research, Development and Demonstration Program can be found here, and the deadline is March 29.

To learn more about our Hydrogen practice, please CLICK HERE.

SUSTAINABLE OUTLOOK: DEVELOPING SOLAR AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES WITH HOLLY CHRISTIE OF HECATE ENERGY

Mar 03 2022

By: Elizabeth C. Crouse

On this episode of Sustainable Outlook, host Elizabeth Crouse speaks with Holly Christie, the General Counsel of Hecate Energy. Hecate Energy is a leading renewable energy power plant developer, and Holly oversees the legal aspects of all projects. She speaks on creative partnerships in developing communities, emerging trends in solar technology, and human rights and environmental justice issues within the renewable energy industry.

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Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Propels the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry

Feb 04 2022

U.S. Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources and Environment, Land, and Natural Resources Alert

By: Gail H. Conenello, Nathan C. Howe, Ankur K. Tohan, David L. Wochner

The flurry of offshore wind activity off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard continues, as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced recently it will hold an auction on 23 February 2022, to lease six new areas for offshore wind development in the New York Bight. The six lease areas will be located off the coasts of New York and New Jersey and will comprise 488,201 total acres. Such acreage should be sufficient to develop an estimated 5.6 gigawatts (GWs) of new offshore wind capacity, enough to power nearly two million homes. The six new lease areas will add to the 18 existing lease areas for offshore wind development that currently exist off the U.S. East Coast. This new lease sale combined with other recent BOEM developments exemplifies the Biden Administration’s commitment to the development of offshore wind resources in the United States.

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Season 2 of Hydrogen Rising is Here!

Feb 02 2022

Co-hosts David Wochner, partner at K&L Gates, and Sandra Safro, Associate General Counsel at the Edison Electric Institute, kick off season 2 of Hydrogen Rising with a discussion of developments since the last episodes of Season 1 in November, including exciting new programs at the U.S. Department of Energy like the H2 Twin Cities program and the H2 Matchmaker Tool, as well as moves by cities to bring hydrogen into everyday life.

Energy Storage Handbook 2022

Jan 27 2022

By: Buck B. Endemann, Matthew P. Clark, Elizabeth C. Crouse, Kimberly B. Frank, Elias B. Hinckley, William H. Holmes, Nathan C. Howe, Jennifer L. Mersing, Michael L. O’Neill, Charles H. Purcell, Shab Puri, Natalie J. Reid, John C. Rothermich, Jonathan G. Shallow, Ruta K. Skucas, Elizabeth Thomas, Maeve C. Tibbetts

The K&L Gates Power practice is pleased to present the latest edition of the Energy Storage Handbook.

This handbook is an annually updated primer on what energy storage is, how it is regulated by U.S. federal and state governments, and what sorts of issues are encountered when such projects are financed and developed.

We will continue to update this handbook periodically as additional states and stakeholders continue to address the implementation of energy storage resources in the marketplace.

We hope you find it useful and welcome your feedback.

NEW IN 2022

Reorganized FERC and ISO/RTO sections
Battery Reuse and Recycling
Avoiding disputes in battery supply agreements

To view the latest edition of the Energy Storage Handbook, please click here.

Please Join Us: Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands

Jan 25 2022

8 February 2022
1:00pm – 4:00pm Pacific Time
via Webinar

We will be hosting a discussion on the state of and potential for renewable energy development on tribal lands in the United States; Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands – Hybrid Edition to be held on Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

Our three hour program will be followed by a Q&A and networking session. The program was developed specifically for the development community and service providers that support renewable energy development. Led by members of the American Indian Law, Power, Environment, Land, and Natural Resources, and Public Policy and Law groups.

The Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country program will consist of four panels (note: 45 min each). Please visit the event page for panel discussion details.

Speakers include: Endre Szalay, Laurie Purpuro, Bart Freedman, Ben Mayer, Ankur Tohan, Elizabeth Crouse, Bill Holmes, and Elia s Hinckley

RSVP to attend via WebEx

RSVP to attend live in Seattle

Five Agencies Issue Ambitious Renewable Energy Goals for Federal Lands: 25GW by 2025

Jan 15 2022

By: Elizabeth C . Crouse and David Wang

Five federal agencies (the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Defense (DoD), Energy (DOE), and Interior (DOI), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) have announced in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that they will “prioritize and expedite” the development of at least 25GW of renewable energy on federal lands administered by DOI and USDA by 2025. The MOU contemplates continued cooperation in respect of renewable energy development on additional federal lands between 2025 and 2030. This initiative, which is pursuant to directives set forth by the Energy Act of 2020, aims to improve interagency cooperation for the expedited processing of wind, solar, and geothermal energy applications. This includes the development of supporting activities, such as electric transmission, access routes, energy storage, and land use planning. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS), in coordination with the National and BLM Renewable Energy Coordination Offices (RECOs), will be the lead agencies overseeing the interagency coordination and expedited reviews for the respective lands they administer.

In addition to increasing coordination of environmental and other agency reviews, the five agencies aim to improve interagency collaboration in the National and BLM RECOs, identify opportunities for coordination with state and Tribal governments, and streamline the project approval process by eliminating redundancies and accelerating decision-making. The MOU notes that, in the course of conducting the reviews, consideration will be given to “the protection for cultural resources and sacred sites as well as the Nation’s land, water, and biodiversity, and fostering creation of jobs to support local communities.” The federal government’s ambitious prioritization of the development of renewable energy generation facilities and key ancillary activities such as transmission presents tremendous opportunities for developers and investors. Moreover, the focus on DOI lands indicates strong support for Tribes and echoes the Biden administration’s support for economic development and energy justice. However, working with the federal government can be complicated, even during an administration that clearly means business when it comes to climate change and the energy transition. Our Public Policy, Government Contracting, Indian Law, and Power teams stand by to help you navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities.

To learn more about K&L Gates’ Public Policy, Government Contracting, American Indian Law, and Power practice areas, please visit our website.

CARBON QUARTERLY – VOLUME 5

Jan 11 2022

By: Ankur K. Tohan, Laurie B. Purpuro, Tad J. Macfarlan, Alyssa A. Moir, Cliff L. Rothenstein, David L. Wochner, Elizabeth C. Crouse, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark, Christina A. Elles, Samuel R. Boden

Carbon Quarterly is a newsletter covering developments in carbon policy, law, and innovation. No matter your views on climate change policy, there is no avoiding an increasing focus on carbon regulation, resiliency planning, and energy efficiency at nearly every level of government and business. Changes in carbon—and more broadly greenhouse gas—policies have the potential to broadly impact our lives and livelihoods. Carbon Quarterly offers a rundown of attention-worthy developments.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Carbon Policy

Hydrogen Gets a Lift in Federal Infrastructure Act

Carbon Litigation and Regulation

Illinois Equitable Climate Bill
California Offshore Wind Ramping Up

Carbon Business

CO₂ Shortage in United Kingdom
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Releases Sixth Assessment Report, Unequivocally Finding That Human Activity Has Warmed the Atmosphere, Ocean, and Land
Chevron Expanding Green Hydrogen Portfolio

Carbon Spotlight

Clean Fuels for Flying—Honeywell’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Initiative
U.S. Steel’s Best for All^SM Strategy Toward a Sustainable Future

READ VOLUME 5

Subscribe to Carbon Quarterly

FERC Enforcement In 2021: A Year Of Change

Jan 04 2022

By: Ruta Skučas, Kimberly Frank, and Maeve Tibbetts

Originally posted on Law360 on January 3, 2022

2021 was a pivotal year for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission‘s Office of Enforcement. Under the direction of Chairman Richard Glick, the office gained a new director, Janel Burdick, added threats to infrastructure as a new priority, and increased its pace of opening and closing investigations and reaching settlements.

Most significantly, Glick asserted at the presentation of the 2021 enforcement report that “the cop is back on the street,” and that he intends to ensure “vigorous oversight and enforcement” of jurisdictional markets.

Increased Investigations Under Chairman Glick

During the commission’s November 2020 open meeting, when the Office of Enforcement presented its 2020 annual report, then-Commissioner Glick criticized the commission’s enforcement efforts, which he perceived as lacking. In 2020, the commission opened only six new investigations, and reached three settlements totaling $553,376.

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