The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) recently approved the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (“NERC”) request to expand registration and compliance requirements to inverter-based resources (“IBRs”) that meet or exceed 20 MVA and are interconnected at or above 60 kV. This will impact certain wind, solar, battery, and fuel cell facilities that were previously too small to be required to register with NERC.
Since Congress first introduced the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) and the beneficial ownership information reporting framework in January 2021, much of the focus has been on the specific reporting requirements that now apply to both domestic and foreign reporting companies (including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships). However, the CTA also has far reaching implications for the renewable energy industry and the players involved in tax equity partnerships.
Pressure from consumers, investors, and regulators to provide climate, environmental, and sustainability disclosures is increasing, but it is important for companies to ensure such disclosures are accurate, verifiable, and not misleading to avoid claims of “greenwashing” – making false or unsupportable claims regarding how a company and its products are environmentally friendly or have a
On August 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an updated guidance document regarding the substantiation of all animal-raising and environment-related claims on meat and poultry packaging. This new guidance marks the first update regarding these types of claims since 2019. The guidance provides establishments with information on how to use and substantiate
The Texas Attorney General recently issued Opinion KP-0467 (the “Opinion”) addressing “whether a person who negotiates a lease for property for the development of a wind power project on behalf of another, for compensation, must have a license from the Texas Real Estate Commission (“Commission”).”
Put simply, do Texas landmen need a Texas real estate license to negotiate wind leases?
On August 2, 2024, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”) announced that its Memorandum of Understanding 225-07-7001 (the “MOU”) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) outlining the AAFCO ingredient review process would not be renewed on October 1, 2024 when the MOU is set to expire. The MOU, which has been in effect for the last 17 years, established guidelines by which AAFCO reviews the safety and efficacy of new animal feed ingredients under the guidance of FDA.
Solar developers in the PJM region, particularly in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, often encounter land with a complex history of mineral development. This history can significantly impact solar projects, from site planning to obtaining title insurance coverage. Understanding the interplay between surface and subsurface rights is crucial for developers to protect their interests and ensure project viability. Diligent site planning and careful review of mineral title research can go a long way in preventing worst case scenarios and mitigating risk.
On June 14, 2024, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (“NDOT”) informed potential applicants that, pursuant to its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (“NEVI”) plan, applications for federal funding to build electric vehicle (“EV”) charging stations across Nebraska’s Interstate 80 will be available as early as August 2024. Nebraska is currently one of only 15 states yet to make this funding available to applicants.
As detailed previously, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers incentives to renewable energy development that takes place on certain properties that are affected by potential or confirmed contamination. Under the IRA, a 10% adder is available to any investment tax credit (ITC) or production tax credit (PTC) generated by a renewable energy project constructed on a “brownfield site,” and there have been many questions since the IRA’s passage about what constitutes a brownfield site.
Section 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code allows an administrative expense “for the value of any goods received by the debtor within 20 days before the date of the commencement of a case under this title in which the goods have been sold to the debtor in the ordinary course of such debtor’s business.” 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(9) (emphasis added).