Late last night, President Obama officially signed into law legislation to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” The adoption of this measure, which was approved overwhelmingly by the Senate and by a vote of 257 to 167 in the House of Representatives, is excellent news for advocates of renewable energy, as it includes an extension of the
Kansas Wind Energy’s Economic Benefits: Part 2
Energy policy issues are notoriously complex. Seemingly small changes in a state’s energy policy can lead to wide-ranging and often unintended political, economic, and environmental consequences. In an effort to facilitate thoughtful policy discussions about these issues in the state of Kansas, several attorneys from the Polsinelli Shughart energy practice group, Alan Claus Anderson, Britton
Election 2012: What it Means for Renewables
Photo Credit: Larry Downing, Reuters
The votes have been cast and the dust has settled, and it is now clear that Democrats were able to score some significant points in the 2012 election. For the advocates of wind, solar, and biomass projects across the U.S., however, the key question is what this means for the
New Renewable Energy Legislation in Colorado
The legislature of the State of Colorado has been very active on renewable energy issues over the last few weeks. Three bills have been making steady progress through the House and Senate in Denver, each of which could have a noticeable effect on the renewable industries in the state.
I. Coal-Mine Methane as a Renewable
States Renew Interest in Renewable Energy Standards
Despite the doom and gloom that seems to be dominating the renewable energy headlines of late, I’ve noticed an interesting trend that should bode very well for the continued development of renewable energy in the United States. While the Federal Government’s lack of action on the 1603 grant has cast serious uncertainty about the future
Kansas Wind Energy’s Economic Benefits: Part 3
Energy policy issues are notoriously complex. Seemingly small changes in a state’s energy policy can lead to wide-ranging and often unintended political, economic, and environmental consequences. In an effort to facilitate thoughtful policy discussions about these issues in the state of Kansas, several attorneys from the Polsinelli Shughart energy practice group, Alan Claus Anderson, Britton
Will Renewable Energy Be Hindered by the Debt Ceiling Deal?
Like the rest of America, I have been closely following the numerous (and often unflattering) accounts of the debt-ceiling drama that has unfolded in the U.S. Congress and Senate. The questions being debated have countless implications for industries all across the country, but very few have quite as much at stake as the renewable energy
Colorado Solar Permit Fees Likely to Decrease
As this blog has noted numerous times, it isn’t always easy to get a solar or wind project constructed. In fact, as we’ve discussed before, often one of the most expensive impediments to a project’s development is the local and state permitting process. The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) puts a number
Montana Legislature Passes Important Wind Rights Legislation
Yesterday, the Montana legislature passed important new legislation that will have a significant impact on the development of wind projects within the state. The bill, titled the “Wind Energy Rights Act” addresses many of the big issues that state legislatures around the country are grappling with, including:
1) How to create uniform wind energy agreements
California Legislature Approves Renewable Energy Standard of 33%* by 2020
A few weeks back I discussed the importance of robust Renewable Energy Standards for the future of renewable energy development in the United States. It seems that the the state of California agrees, as yesterday the state legislature passed legislation which will give California the most ambitious renewable energy standard in the nation. This legislation