On Nov. 17, the IRS and Treasury Department released long-awaited proposed regulations for the Section 48 investment tax credit. Representing the first update to these regulations since 1987, they provide instructions reflecting new statutes under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, incorporate previous legislative changes and formally adopt administrative guidance the energy market has used
30-Day Initial Application Window for Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Fast Approaching
On Oct. 19, 2023, the Department of Energy began accepting applications for all categories of the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program for small-scale wind and solar projects. Read on for further details about the submission portal and the tax credit program.
FERC Proposes Overhauling Electronic Quarterly Report Filing Process and Data Submission
On Oct. 19, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to modify filing processes for electronic quarterly reports and revise and eliminate a number of data fields and definitions. Read on for an overview of the proposed changes and implications for EQR filers.
Winter Storm Uri Power Dispute Reaches the Supreme Court of Texas
On Sept. 29, the Supreme Court of Texas announced it will review a lower court’s reversal of two winter storm Uri orders in 2021 by the Public Utility Commission of Texas that raised power prices in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, impacting countless companies and consumers. Read on to learn more about the latest…
FERC Implements Generator Interconnection Process Reforms: Compliance Filings Due December 2023
On September 6, 2023, the Federal Register published the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order No. 2023, ‘Improvements to Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements,’ a 1,000+ page Final Rule adopting reforms to generator interconnection procedures and amending the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP), the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA), the…
IRS Proposes Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Regulations
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS proposed regulations and new guidance regarding the prevailing wage and apprenticeship (PWA) prerequisites associated with eligibility for full-value clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. Read on for an overview of the rules and guidance, which provide more certainty and greater…
PHMSA Announces Proposed Rulemaking Affecting Natural Gas Distribution Systems
On Aug. 24, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced the forthcoming publication of proposed rules intended to increase the safety of gas distribution pipelines nationwide. Read on for a brief overview of the proposal, which aims to improve emergency response plans, integrity management plans and operation manuals.
U.S. Transportation Department Grants States $64.4 Million to Bolster Pipeline Safety
On Aug. 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced the grant of $64.4 million to states to improve the safety of pipelines and underground natural gas operations.
The goal of the grant is to provide states with the funding necessary to inspect pipelines and underground natural gas…
Biden Administration Finalizes Three Wind Energy Areas off Mid-Atlantic Coast
On July 31, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced three final wind energy areas off the shores of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Read on for details about the new wind energy areas, which have the potential to support 4-8 gigawatts of energy, contributing to the Biden administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore…
Applications Open — White House Announces $20 Billion in Grant Competitions to Boost Clean Energy Projects
The Biden administration recently announced a $20 billion clean energy investment plan creating two complementary competitions providing funding for community-based climate projects across the country.
Read on for details about the National Clean Investment Fund and the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. Applications are due Oct. 12, 2023.