The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced that seventeen of its members have agreed to voluntary operating restrictions to reduce wind turbine speeds in the fall to minimize the number of bats killed during their migration season. According... Read More
By William A. Ruskin The New York Law Journal reported on January 2, 2014 that the Town of Prattsburgh, which, during the relevant time, had virtually no laws, codes or requirements on the books governing the installation of wind turbine facilities... Read More
By Dianne Saxe, Ontario Environmental Lawyer Here is a link to Renew Canada's 2011 research report, Wind Controversy in Ontario . The report was intended to be a neutral evaluation of the evidence cited by pro and anti-wind groups. According... Read More
This report from the Renewable Energy Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law looks at recent renewable energy law developments. The report begins by noting that “The past few years... Read More
The cash grant program for renewable energy expires at the end of this year. When cash grants end, renewable energy projects will once again rely on "tax equity investors" to offer lower-cost financing in exchange for the tax credits and accelerated... Read More
On July 22, 2011, the Atlantic Wind Connection ("AWC"), offshore transmission line project off the Mid-Atlantic coast that would bring thousands of megawatts of offshore wind capacity ashore ( see the October 12, 2010 edition of the WER ), announced... Read More
By Dianne Saxe, Ontario Environmental Lawyer So much misinformation has been spread about wind turbines that many reasonable people don't know what to think. As one reader wrote: "Hi Dianne, ... I wondered if you could direct me to reliable... Read More
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has determined that Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) use of environmental redispatch to address excess water supply and low load by curtailing renewable and thermal generators in favor of federal... Read More
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts are the most common form of contract used to undertake construction works by the private sector on large scale and complex infrastructure projects. Under an EPC contract, a contractor is obliged... Read More
A new report completed by Synapse Energy Economics on behalf of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) concludes adding more wind power to the PJM region can lower gas and coal consumption and reduce regional wholesale energy market prices saving nearly... Read More
By Steven M. Siros, Partner, Jenner & Block On March 30, 2012, the White House announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with five states (Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania) that is... Read More
By J. Wylie Donald, Partner, McCarter & English One would think that preliminary estimates of bird fatalities at a proposed 78 MW wind farm in southeastern Minnesota were hardly news. After all, there are over 60,000 MW of wind energy installed... Read More
MD LAWMAKERS ENDORSE O'MALLEY JOBS, WIND BILLS: Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) scored a pair of victories last week as lawmakers in Annapolis endorsed two bills he sponsored: SB 278, the Employment Advancement Right Now act, or EARN, a plan... Read More
By Tanya C. O'Neill and Sarah A. Slack , Attorneys, Foley & Lardner LLP The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued final Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines on March 23, 2012 (Guidelines). The Guidelines, which became effective immediately... Read More