Recently, the House Appropriations Committee released its fiscal year 2014 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (“Energy Bill”). In doing so, it proposed to cut renewable energy research and development spending by approximately $911 million, which is approximately fifty percent (50%) below the fiscal year 2013 level. Additionally, the Energy Bill also reduced proposed funding for Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (“ARPA-E”) by approximately $215 million – equal to 81% of the current year’s level. In total, the Energy bill is approximately $4.1 billion less than President Barack Obama’s request. Continue Reading Proposed Energy Bill Approximately $4 Billion Less Than President’s Request
Extension of NY-Sun Program May Benefit Hurricane Preparedness
By Susan Marriott
In an earlier post, we discussed the opportunity for supply chain manufacturers as a result of the NY-Sun program. New York’s solar energy industry received an additional boost with the recent passage of the New York Solar Bill by the state Assembly on June 20, 2013. The bill would extend the NY-Sun program for an additional ten years, through 2023, which if signed into law would make good on Governor Cuomo’s commitment to extend the program in his State of the State address earlier this year. The result would be an additional 2,200 MW of solar energy capacity, enough to power 400,000 New York homes. Before the bill can be signed into law, it must be reconciled with the version previously passed by the Senate, which contained an additional manufacturing tax credit that was not in the Assembly version. Continue Reading Extension of NY-Sun Program May Benefit Hurricane Preparedness
Appeals Court Upholds Drilling Bans
In twin decisions handed down today, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department upheld two local zoning laws that prohibit activities related to oil and gas development (commonly referred to as “hydraulic fracturing”) (the “zoning laws”). The two appeals, Matter of Norse Energy Corporation USA v. Town of Dryden and Cooperstown Holstein Corporation v. Town of Middlefield challenged the zoning laws as preempted by the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law (“OGSML”), codified at Environmental Conservation Law (“ECL”) 23-0301 et seq. Continue Reading Appeals Court Upholds Drilling Bans
Surge in New York State Solar Projects Signals Supply Chain Opportunity
By Susan Marriott
While some believe that New York State is a relatively sunny state, this spring has, so far, made others question this tag. However, New York is looking to take advantage of its sunshine through the NY-Sun Competitive PV Program, which recently awarded $46 million for 76 large-scale solar energy projects. These solar energy projects will add 52 megawatts of energy capacity, enough to power almost 9,000 homes. Over the next couple years, the program has the potential to quadruple the amount of customer-sited solar photovoltaic capacity in New York. Continue Reading Surge in New York State Solar Projects Signals Supply Chain Opportunity
Unconventional Compromises on Natural Gas Regulation
While New York’s natural gas resources remain locked down between perpetual regulatory limbo and extreme polarization among interest groups, recent events have proven that compromise is possible.
Last month, a coalition of environmentalists, industry representatives and lawmakers in Illinois reached a tentative agreement that would allow development of that state’s shale resources, ironically named the New Albany formation, to move forward. The negotiations were led by Illinois State Representative John Bradley, a democrat who lives in the area prospective for natural gas development. Continue Reading Unconventional Compromises on Natural Gas Regulation
Bipartisan Group of Senators Wants Clarification of “Commencement of Construction” Under the Wind PTC
Last week, a group of U.S. Senators submitted a letter requesting swift clarification by the Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) of language regarding the wind production tax credit (“PTC”) under Internal Revenue Code Section 45 (“Section 45”). The letter addressed the recent change in the Section 45 language that was added when the PTC was extended for a year by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (“Taxpayer Relief Act”). Continue Reading Bipartisan Group of Senators Wants Clarification of “Commencement of Construction” Under the Wind PTC
NYS Public Service Commission Approves Increased Incentives for On-Site Wind Energy Program
By Donald T. Ross
Faced with the twin challenges of meeting New York State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”)—which sets renewable energy consumption targets and milestones for the State—and the current economic conditions which have “stalled the renewable industry,” the Public Service Commission (“PSC”) has increased, effective February 14, 2013, the cap on available incentives for “customer-sited” or “behind-the-meter” on-site wind turbine installation projects. Continue Reading NYS Public Service Commission Approves Increased Incentives for On-Site Wind Energy Program
With Impending New Regulations, Coal Industry Focuses on Carbon Capture and Storage
By Susan Marriott
President Obama proposed several broad energy-related initiatives in his State of the Union address last week, which are summarized in David Flynn’s post below. Noticeably absent from the President’s address was “clean coal,” which had been part of the President’s “all of the above” approach to domestic energy development. The apparent absence of coal from the President’s energy agenda is another setback to the future of the coal industry, which has been declining in the U.S. due to greenhouse gas regulations and competition from natural gas. Nevertheless, recent developments in carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) technology may help the coal industry adapt to a changing regulatory environment. Continue Reading With Impending New Regulations, Coal Industry Focuses on Carbon Capture and Storage
Obama’s State of the Union Address and America’s Energy Future
President Obama’s State of the Union address touched on many issues of critical importance to Americans, including America’s energy future and its link to economic growth and prosperity.
In discussing the need to maintain investment in science and innovation, the President called for the U.S. to “reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the Space Race,” and further stated, “no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy.”
The President focused on: Continue Reading Obama’s State of the Union Address and America’s Energy Future
DEC Groundhog Sees Shadow – More Delay for New York Natural Gas Development – But Permits for High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing May Be Issued In Weeks, Not Months
Co-authored by Thomas F. Puchner and David P. Flynn
Like the famous Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow, DEC has not timely emerged from its long-running study of environmental and health impacts of High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (“HVHF”), suggesting that there will be at least several more weeks, if not months, of delay before the final decision. On Tuesday, Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, sent a letter to DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens stating that his review is “on-going” and anticipated to be completed “within a few weeks.” According to Shah, the additional time is necessary “based on the complexity of issues” and for his team to attend briefings on several HVHF studies underway at the federal and state level. Continue Reading DEC Groundhog Sees Shadow – More Delay for New York Natural Gas Development – But Permits for High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing May Be Issued In Weeks, Not Months