Public Policy – Global Power Law & Policy

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

Jan 15 2022

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.

The Energizer – Volume 94

Jul 27 2021

By: Buck B. Endemann, Daniel S. Cohen, Molly K. Barker, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Maeve C. Tibbetts, Oretha A. Manu

There is a lot of buzz around clean technology, distributed energy resources (DERs), microgrids, and other technological innovations in renewable energy and clean transport industries, and how these developments can contribute to solving longstanding environmental justice issues. As these innovations develop, energy markets will undergo substantial changes to which consumers and industry participants alike will need to adapt and leverage. Every other week, K&L Gates’ The Energizer will highlight emerging issues or stories relating to the use of DERs, energy storage, emerging technologies, hydrogen, and other innovations driving the energy industry forward.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Apex Clean Energy and Plug Power Enter PPA to Power Largest Wind-Supplied Green Hydrogen Plant in the Nation
Cybersecurity Legislation Advances to Senate
First in Nation’s Local Natural Gas Ban is Upheld in Federal Court
Midwestern Coal Plants Continue to Close Under Market Pressures

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The Energizer – Volume 93

Jul 10 2021

By: Buck B. Endemann, Daniel S. Cohen, Molly K. Barker, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Maeve C. Tibbetts, Oretha A. Manu

IN THIS ISSUE:

NJPUC Approves United States’ Largest Offshore Wind Energy Procurement
Smartest Energy, Providence Asset Group Agree to 500 GWh PPA
Oregon Passes Ambitious Clean Energy Targets
BOEM Initiates Environmental Review of Dominion Energy’s Proposed Offshore Wind Project
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Detains Imports from Silica Manufacturer

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Oregon Passes Law to Explore Opportunities for Renewable Hydrogen Development

May 25 2021

By: Gabrielle E. Thompson and William H. Holmes

On 19 May 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 333 into law, which directs the Oregon Department of Energy to study the potential for development of renewable hydrogen production and use in Oregon. The results of the study are due to the Legislature by 15 September 2022.

Under the new law, the study will evaluate the benefits, as well as any barriers, to the production and use of renewable hydrogen in Oregon. The study will utilize existing data, studies, or other publicly available materials to analyze how “renewable hydrogen may support existing renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction policies and goals in Oregon.”¹

Specifically, the study will identify the total hydrogen volume currently used each year in Oregon by various industries and the potential applications of renewable hydrogen in Oregon by 2030 by sectors such as transportation, industry, electricity generation, and energy storage. The study will also include an assessment of the potential for using renewable hydrogen in conjunction with other renewable electricity generation to increase resiliency or to provide flexible loads.

Additionally, the study will look at the forecasted costs of renewable hydrogen and how those costs may affect its adoption in Oregon. Finally, the study will consider and identify any technological, policy, commercial, or economic barriers to the adoption of renewable hydrogen in Oregon.

The study represents an important first step in determining the opportunities for developing renewable hydrogen production and development in Oregon, which has adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires 50 percent of the electricity Oregonians use come from renewable sources by 2040. Renewable hydrogen is another potential source that could be used to meet those renewable energy requirements.

The bill, which was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Lee Beyer (D – Springfield), received a unanimous vote in favor by the House Energy and Environment Committee and received bipartisan support from Representative Helm (D – Washington County) and Representative Brock-Smith (R – Port Orford), who carried the bill to the House floor where it passed unanimously.

The bill was drafted by Renewable Hydrogen Alliance (RHA), a trade association based in Portland, Oregon, with more than 70 members in the United States and worldwide dedicated to the mission of using renewable electricity to create clean fuels.

¹Senate Bill (SB) 333 Enrolled (2021).

The Energizer – Volume 89

May 13 2021

By: Buck B. Endemann, Daniel S. Cohen, Molly K. Barker, Natalie J. Reid, Matthew P. Clark, Nathan C. Howe, Oretha Manu

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hydrostor Receives Funding for Utility-Scale A-CAES Facility
Southern Utilities Reshuffle Renewable Energy Priorities
PJM Suggets Modified MOPR Provisions to Address State Clean Energy Policies
FERC Holds Technical Conference on Electrification and the Grid of the Future
Ford Invests in EV Battery Manufacturer Start-Up

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Hydrogen Rising: Opportunities for Hydrogen in the Biden Administration

Jan 13 2021

Laurie Purpuro and David Wochner discuss with host Sandi Safro potential opportunities for development of a U.S. hydrogen economy under a Biden Administration.

Treasury Issues Carbon Capture Credit Proposed Regulations

May 28 2020

Author: Elizabeth C. Crouse

Treasury is having a busy week! This afternoon, the U.S. Department of Treasury released proposed regulations under Code Section 45Q. Code Section 45Q provides for a U.S. federal income tax credit of 10% or 20% for carbon oxide sequestration and disposal in secure geologic storage, used as a tertiary injectant in a qualified enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project and then disposed of in secure geologic storage, or utilized algal or bacterial disposition, chemical conversion processes, or other methods, as provided in regulations.

Tag:Public Policy