On January 13, 2022, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of intent regarding its Building a Better Grid Initiative (Initiative), an effort to encourage the modernization of the nation’s existing electric transmission grid. The Initiative is the beginning of a rulemaking process required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Act), which
US BOEM Announces Provisional Winners of Massive Offshore Wind Auction
From February 23–25, 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held a competitive auction for six lease areas in the New York Bight area off the coast of New York and New Jersey. After the first day of the auction, it was already the biggest offshore wind lease sale in the United States with
US Offshore Wind Development: 2021 Year in Review and Looking Ahead
Offshore wind is an energy generation source that has seen explosive global growth over the past decade. The offshore wind industry in the US has been developing at a more measured pace but had a landmark year in 2021, and we expect the same for 2022. Our Year in Review highlights the major US offshore
Louisiana Proposes 5 GW of Offshore Wind for Gulf of Mexico
On February 1, 2022, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ Climate Initiatives Task Force submitted its 177-page Climate Action Plan, which proposes a goal of 5 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind (OSW) power generation by 2035 and notes that:
[T]his goal requires strategic collaboration across Louisiana state agencies and the federal government, transmission planning agencies, energy
US BOEM Announces Massive Offshore Wind Auction and Much More
On January 12, 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that it will hold a competitive auction for six lease areas (totaling roughly 488,000 acres) in the New York Bight area, which is off the coast of New York and New Jersey. Twenty-five bidders are eligible to participate, which is up from the
Texas Commission Proposes New Generator, Utility Weather Requirements and Opens Fast-Track Rulemaking Proceeding
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has issued draft regulations to implement new electric weather-related requirements set forth in Texas Senate Bill 3, which was enacted in response to what the PUCT described as the February 1-5, 2021, “Southwest Cold Weather Event.” This Legal Update discusses the two-phase approach the PUCT has proposed.
US FERC Announces New Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission
On June 17, 2021, the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order establishing a new Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission, calling for nominations for state commission representation on it, setting forth preliminary details of it and identifying topics for it to consider. The Legal Update at the link below provides
North Carolina, a Little Late to East Coast Offshore Wind Race, Goes 8 GW-by-2040 Large
On June 9, 2021, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 218, which targets 2.8 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 8 GW by 2040 and anticipates the creation of 600,000 related jobs and an annual contribution to North Carolina’s economy of $70 billion. The Legal Update at the link below provides details
New Mexican Power Regulatory Framework – Defense Mechanisms Available to Investors
The current government launched an attack against the electricity legal framework established by its predecessor. The new framework reflects a major change in policy concerning the participation of the private sector in Mexico’s electricity industry, which could endanger billions of dollars in investments, the creation of thousands of jobs and could result in the emission
Recent Legislative Proposals Could Drastically Change US Energy Taxation
Over the past number of weeks, a variety of legislative proposals, from both sides of the aisle, have been released that, if enacted, could drastically impact the US energy industry and, in many cases, the taxation of energy in the United States. These proposals come on the heels of the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan