Electricity Practice
Issue Alerts
Weekly Climate Change Update- May 12, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurMay 12, 2008
The Lieberman-Warner bill continues to take center stage in Climate Change news, as it appears that Democratic Senators from manufacturing states may not vote for it. Provisions allowing the use of Clean Development Mechanism credits and credits from activities to reduce deforestation in developing countries might possibly be added to the Manager's Amendment. In addition, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change released a report reviewing the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and how it might be helpful in designing a U.S. program.
Weekly Climate Change Update - May 5, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMay 5, 2008
Over the last week, the biggest emerging question is what will be in the Manager's Amendment, an overhaul of the Lieberman-Warner bill designed to attract more votes. Meanwhile, the Energy Information Administration released its analysis of the Lieberman-Warner bill, showing allowance prices doubling from $30/ton to $60/ton between 2020 and 2030. Also, some Senate Republicans may endorse an alternative approach proposed by Senator Voinovich that focuses on tax incentives and other subsidies for clean energy technologies.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - April 28, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 28, 2008
Noteworthy in Climate Change news this week was the "Manager's Amendment" drawn up by the staff for Senators Boxer, Lieberman, and Warner. In addition, Senator Voinovich (R-OH) is working on a bill focusing on technology incentives. Also, some Senators are considering ways to expand the Lieberman-Warner bill to target deforestation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - April 21, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 21, 2008
President Bush's Rose Garden speech on climate change policy was the topic of conversation in this week's climate change news, although it brought about less of an impact than anticipated. In addition, the Governors of 18 states signed a declaration requesting a federal-state partnership to address climate change. Also in the news were the two front-page articles in the Wall Street Journal on problems with the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Upate - April 14, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 14, 2008
It is expected that the Lieberman-Warner bill will be brought to the Senate floor on June 2nd, which will likely include a manager's amendment to the bill. Also in the news is the "cost containment" compromise that could be in the works with the help of the National Commission on Energy Policy, the Nicholas Institute, and the US Climate Action Partnership.
Articles
Railroad Transportation of Nuclear Waste and Other Hazardous Materials
Michael McBrideThe Electricity Journal
April 2008
Railroads continue to have duties to shippers and the public, and they may not take the law into their own hands. Except for emergencies – and then only for the duration of the emergency – they must carry all commodities without regard to whether they are dangerous, unless the proper agency of the federal government has relieved them of that obligation.
U.S. Climate Change Policy Will Drive Significant Investment Opportunities in Traditional and Alternative Energy
Ben McMakin and Janet AndersonManaged Funds Association Reporter
April 2008
A new President and the likelihood of more Democrats in the House and Senate may tip the balance of power in energy debates from traditional oil and gas interests to proponents of new energy sources and cleantech goods and services. While we watch the election unfold, and as the rhetorical battles over energy policy continue in Washington, D.C., climate change legislation looms largest of all the energy debates.
Energy's Next Step
Curt RichLos Angeles Daily Journal
December 7, 2007
Once heralded as the lynchpin to America’s energy independence, ethanol is increasingly under attack as a flawed energy resource. The livestock and food industries criticize ethanol for the impact it has on the price of corn. Environmentalists point out that corn ethanol takes almost as much energy to make as it produces. Communities in more arid regions of the country worry about corn ethanol’s high demand for water.
An inconvenient state?
This article first appeared in the October 2006 issue of Environmental Finance magazine.Doug Smith
October 1, 2006
California's Climate Change legislation marks a dramatic step forward in U.S. to tackle greenhouse gas emissions. Doug Smith considers its implications.
Buying and Selling Electric Power in the West
A Review of Key Elements of FERC's Standard Market Design ProposalDoug Smith
January 16, 2003
On July 31, 2002, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on Standard Market Design (SMD). This ambitious rulemaking builds on FERC’s earlier open access transmission requirements adopted in Order No. 888, and its policy of promoting Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) adopted in Order No. 2000. In this NOPR, FERC proposes to (1) expand and significantly change its system of transmission service regulation; (2) provide a nationwide standard for the structure of electricity spot markets and for regulation of prices in those spot markets; and (3) extend its regulatory role into new areas, such as minimum reserve margins.
Seminars & Events
APPA 2008 Legal Seminar
The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, COOctober 26, 2008
David Yaffe, Pam Anderson, and Rick Agnew are attending. Van Ness Feldman is a Diamond sponsor.
FERC Compliance Summit 2008
AED Conference Center, Washington, DCMay 19, 2008
Van Ness Feldman's Paul Korman will be a panelist at this conference during the discussion titled "What to do if you are faced with a compliance audit or investigation" on May 21st from 9:15-10:15 AM.
2nd Annual National Climate Change Regulation Conference
Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VAApril 14, 2008
Van Ness Feldman's Doug Smith will be serving on the panel at 2:45 PM on April 15.
Electric Energy: Markets, Regulation and Investment
Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, DCMarch 3, 2008
Van Ness Feldman's Douglas Smith and Kyle Danish will be two of the Program Co-Chairs. Mr. Smith will speak at 10:45 AM on March 3 during the session "Electricity Utility Regulation: Current Regulatory Challenges". Mr. Danish will speak at 3:15 PM on March 3 during the session entitled "Climate Change and Strategies for Electric Utilites and their Regulators".
The Climate of Hydro Annual Conference 2008
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, Portland, ORFebruary 19, 2008
Van Ness Feldman's Kyle Danish will be speaking on Climate Change during the first panel at 10 AM on February 20.