Legal & Regulatory

A major regulatory milestone for Dominion Energy’s 2.6GW offshore wind project off coastal Virginia was reached on December 12 (2022) as the power giant eyes construction in 2024.

The US’ Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has started the clock for construction on new renewable projects before the new wage and apprentice requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) take effect.

Pattern Energy has received key approvals that will allow the construction of the SunZia transmission project and the SunZia wind projects next year (2023).

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has designated 2 Wind Energy Areas (WEA) ahead of the leasing process later this year or early next year.

Dominion Energy has filed a proposal with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for nearly 2 dozen new solar and energy storage projects.

Louisiana-based utility NuQuest Energy has submitted 6 new solar projects to the MISO queue for evaluation.

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has set a goal of reaching 5 GW of offshore wind generation by 2030, outlining plans for an offshore leasing process.

Spanish solar developer Cox Energy has received the greenlight to trade within Colombia’s wholesale energy market.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management (BOEM) has opened the environmental impact statement for an offshore wind project being developed by Orsted North America and Eversource up for public comment.

Dominion Energy has threatened to withdraw its planned 2.6 GW wind project 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach after state regulators set a performance guarantee for the project.

The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued requests for interest (RFI) and competitive interest (RFCI) for the development of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has given its approval for Dominion Energy to construct a 2.6 GW wind project 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.

The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has identified two potential wind energy areas (WEAs) off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that it is now taking public comment for.

The governor of Rhode Island has signed a bill into law that will see the state procure up to 1 GW of offshore wind generation.

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced its plan to hold offshore wind leasing auctions in two areas in the outer continental shelf offshore California, the first offshore wind auction held in the west coast.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a conditional commitment of $504.4 million in debt financing to support the construction of a green hydrogen hub in Utah being developed by Mitsubishi Power and Magnum Development.

Colombian utilities conglomerate Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) has secured a 50-year extension to its operating concession for three hydroelectric plants in northern Antioquia.

The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its environmental review of a pair of wind leasing areas off the coast of the Carolinas, triggering an auction process.

Statkraft, the Norwegian state-owned energy producer, has received approval on its 671 MW (DC) solar project in Chile.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has approved a request from Atlantic City Electric (ACE) to alter its power purchase agreements with a pair of coal-fired projects in the state, halting the use of coal at both plants.

Ampra Ingeniera has resubmitted a 363 MW Chilean solar array for environmental evaluation after the project failed to receive regulatory approval.

Shell has filed environmental permits with the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) for its first offshore wind projects in the region.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC) has approved Dominion Energy’s application to expand the company’s renewables fleet by 1 GW.

A consortium of sponsors has secured environmental approvals for the first utility-scale wind farm in Guyana.

The state of Louisiana has outlined plans to develop 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035 under its Climate Action Plan.

The Biden administration has decided to draw out Trump-era solar tariffs for four more years, but is making an exception for bifacial solar panel technology, which has soured the outlook of some solar panel manufacturers but is considered a win for developers of solar projects.

PJM Interconnection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) have outlined plans to interconnect about 7.5 GW of offshore wind generation to the grid by 2035, through proposed transmission projects.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the construction and operations plan (COP) of the South Fork wind project off the coast of Rhode Island.

The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has announced an agreement with the national Center for Energy Research (Cepel) to assess locations for the installation of new nuclear plants in Brazil.

Norton Rose Fulbright announced its 2022 partner promotions on January 11, with projects attorney Rebecca Abou-Chedid making the grade.