Gas – Global Power Law & Policy

Energy and Infrastructure

Dec 14 2018

Leveraging the Opportunity Zones Tax Incentive to Improve Returns on Development and Operations in The Oil and Gas and Power Industries

By Elizabeth C. Crouse, Mary Burke Baker, and Sandra E. Safro

A new federal tax incentive enacted in the 2017 tax reform package may provide a boost to many new facilities, repowering projects, and storage facilities. Qualified equipment could include a variety of energy and materials storage equipment, refining equipment, generating equipment, and extraction equipment.

The Qualified Opportunity Zones (“QOZ”) incentive provides attractive tax benefits for investors with capital gains to invest in property and businesses located in geographic areas that are designated as QOZ. Recently released regulations provide significant clarity and highlight how valuable the QOZ incentive can be for qualified investments. See our October 23 alert for a discussion of how the proposed regulations answer many important questions that provide the certainty investors, developers, and entrepreneurs in the energy and infrastructure industries need to proceed with QOZ investments and projects.

K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 38

Nov 16 2018

By Buck B. Endemann, Benjamin L. Tejblum, and Daniel S. Cohen

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. 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

KEPCO Announces Exploration of Blockchain-Based Solar Trading Platform.
SP Group Using Blockchain to Power REC Trading Platform in Singapore.
Energy Web Foundation Unveils an Electric Vehicle Charging Toolkit for EW Origin.

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 38 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 37

Oct 31 2018

By Buck B. Endemann, Benjamin L. Tejblum, and Daniel S. Cohen

IN THIS ISSUE

Energy Web Foundation, PJM-EIS Launch Pilot Program to Use EW Origin to Facilitate REC Trading.
Nevada Public Utilities Commission is Exploring Blockchain for Portfolio Energy Credit Tracking.
Electron Signs Cooperation Agreement with eEnergy Center to Develop Electron’s Flexibility Trading Platform.
JAMS Establishes a Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Cryptocurrency Practice.
Power Ledger Wins the 2018 Extreme Tech Challenge.

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 37 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

The Blockchain Energizer – Volume 35

Sep 14 2018

By Buck B. Endemann, Benjamin L. Tejblum, Daniel S. Cohen

Come out and say hello to Blockchain Energizer co-author Buck Endemann as he presents on blockchain and renewable fuel standard, RINs, and biodiesel issues at the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) conference in Chicago on October 1–3, 2018!

IN THIS ISSUE

Clean Energy Blockchain Network to Provide an Automated Clean Energy Certification Service and EV Charging Station that Powers Low-Income Households.
Share&Charge Foundation Plans to Create an EV Charging Stations Network Using the Energy Web Foundation’s Blockchain Platform.
ENGIE and Maltem Establish “Blockchain Studio” to Provide Software to Facilitate Commercial Adoption of Blockchain-based Applications.

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 35 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

The Blockchain Energizer – Volume 34

Aug 23 2018

By Buck B. Endemann, Benjamin L. Tejblum, Daniel S. Cohen

IN THIS ISSUE

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources holds Hearing to Discuss Energy Efficiency and Cybersecurity of Blockchain Applications.
Energi Mine and Jem Energy Partner to Incentivize Consumers to Reduce their Energy Use.
Petroteq is Collaborating with MetzOhanian to Develop Blockchain Applications for Oil and Gas Blockchain PetroBLOQ.
China’s Largest Electric Bus Operator to Raise Capital through Asset-backed Digital Products Distributed via Blockchain.

To view more information on theses topics in Volume 34 of the Blockchain Energizer, click here.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s Double Take on Eagle Take Permits

Jun 25 2014

If there wasn’t enough uncertainty about the process and standards for obtaining a programmatic eagle take permit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just made it more difficult. Since 2009, energy developers and operators – from oil & gas to wind & solar – have been able to apply for a permit for the incidental take of eagles. That permit program, which has evolved over the past several years through regulatory revisions and agency guidance, may be poised to change in dramatic fashion.

On June 19, 2014, the American Bird Conservancy and other individual plaintiffs (the “ABC Plaintiffs”) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”).[1] The ABC Plaintiffs are challenging the USFWS’ revision to its eagle take rule. Specifically, the ABC Plaintiffs are challenging the agency’s determination to extend the maximum term for an incidental eagle take permit (“ETP”) to 30 years on two ground: first, USFWS revised the eagle take rule without analyzing environmental impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”); and second, the rule violates the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (“BGEPA”) by subverting basic eagle protections and safeguards without adequate explanation. Read More

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