Energy Insights to Keep Companies Current
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 extended and modified a federal investment tax credit for a broad variety of advanced energy manufacturing projects. The program relies on an application and award process to allocate the tax credits.
Read on for newly released details about the application process and technical guidance for the 48C program.
On March 17, 2023, the Texas Court of Appeals for the Third District issued an opinion reversing two winter storm Uri orders by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) that had raised power prices in ERCOT to $9,000/MWh. ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, manages the electric grid for most, but not all, of Texas and serves approximately 26 million customers.
The decision by the Court of Appeals in Luminant Energy Company LLC v. Public Utility Commission of Texas, No. 03-21-00098-CV, has the potential to affect certain transactions made under the PUCT’s orders. The Court of Appeals not only reversed the PUCT’s orders but remanded them for further proceedings. Should the Court of Appeals’ opinion be upheld, it is unclear how the PUCT will resolve the pricing issues, but it would likely need to hold proceedings to address them. The opinion also raised questions about the authority of the PUCT to issue price caps for Texas’ energy market. …
Continue Reading PUCT Winter Storm Uri Orders Reversed and Remanded by Texas Court of Appeals
On Aug. 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which includes new and revised tax incentives for clean energy projects. This alert provides a summary of the IRA’s impact on tax credits for energy storage technologies, which were extended and significantly expanded. Additional alerts will provide summaries of the IRA focused on credits for other clean energy technologies.…
As of October 6, 2022, operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines must comply with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (“PHMSA”) Final Rule on “Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards.”[1] The Rule codifies several related design and performance standards across 49 C.F.R. Parts 192 and 195. Those standards largely apply to new or replacement onshore gas transmission pipelines.[2] Now, however, the Rule impacts gas distribution pipeline operators in two significant ways. First, the Rule requires operators to implement and maintain certain emergency notification requirements.[3] Second, the Rule obligates operators to develop, implement, and incorporate “lessons learned” from a post-failure or incident review into their written procedures.[4] Unfortunately for operators, the second requirement illustrates the growing challenge operators face in ensuring that internal investigations remain protected by the work-product privilege.…
Continue Reading New Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations Present Work-Product Concerns
On Sept. 16, 2022, the Department of Commerce (DOC) issued its final rule effectuating a two-year moratorium on tariffs on certain solar cells and modules exported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
As discussed in McGuireWoods’ June 7, 2022, alert, “President Biden Orders Tariff Exemption for Solar Panels,” President Biden’s Proclamation 10414 issued on June 6, 2022, declared an emergency and authorized the Secretary of Commerce to allow the importation of solar cells and modules exported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam for up to two years. …
Continue Reading Department of Commerce Issues Final Rule Imposing Tariff Moratorium for Solar Panels
On Aug. 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which includes new and revised tax incentives for clean energy projects. The IRA extends and significantly modifies the federal tax credits available for wind energy projects. This alert provides a summary for the wind industry. Additional alerts will provide summaries of the IRA focused on other clean energy technologies.
Continue Reading Inflation Reduction Act Extends and Modifies Tax Credits for Wind Projects
On July 27, 2022, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) introduced the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which proposes new and revised tax incentives for clean energy. The bill incorporates many, but not all, of the original proposals from last year’s Build Back Better Act. …
Continue Reading U.S. Senate Introduces the Inflation Reduction Act
The White House announced a partnership on June 23, 2022, with 11 East Coast states to accelerate the growth of the United States’ offshore wind industry. The Biden administration offered the partnership to strengthen national energy security in a time of energy instability and simultaneously pursue a clean energy future.
Continue Reading White House Launches Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership to Supercharge Production by 2030
Yesterday, June 6, 2022, President Biden ordered various emergency measures to combat a shortage of solar modules and related components in the United States, including declaring a tariff exemption of up to two years on certain solar cells and modules exported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Continue Reading President Biden Orders Tariff Exemption for Solar Panels
On March 28, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced it is investigating whether imports of solar panels assembled in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are circumventing duties intended to limit imports of solar cells and panels from China, in violation of anti-dumping rules. The announcement of an investigation is already impacting current and future solar developments using crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (CSPV).
Continue Reading U.S. Department of Commerce Investigation of Solar Panel Imports Puts Solar Projects at Risk
