Energy and Clean Tech Connections

September 2010

In the September edition of Energy and Clean Tech Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of what’s new in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.

This month, the Energy & Clean Technology Practice Group would like to congratulate ML Strategies’ clients Solar Millennium AG, Fluor Federal Services Inc. and The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Mintz Levin client EnerNOC. Recently, the California Energy Commission approved Solar Millennium’s 1,000 MW, $4 billion solar field development project. When complete, the project will be the largest single solar field in the world. Last month, the Department of Energy awarded a $2 billion contract to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, a joint venture of Fluor Federal Services Inc. and The Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, for the next phase of decontamination and decommissioning at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. EnerNOC will host its EnergySmart Conference 2010 from September 22-24 at the Boston Seaport Hotel. The conference will bring together renewable energy and clean technology industry leaders to discuss the day’s energy and environmental challenges.

A new report from Pike Research predicts that the grid-scale energy storage market will expand from revenues of $1.5 billion in 2010 to $35.3 billion in 2020. The report explains that key trends including the proliferation of renewable energy from variable sources like wind and solar, the expansion of utility smart-grid initiatives, and the introduction of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles will drive an increase in demand for grid energy storage.

In Capitol Hill news, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring his scaled-back energy package to the floor of the Senate in mid-to-late November. Reid recently suggested that he may include a renewable electricity standard (RES), which appears to be gaining bipartisan popularity. This and other measures that are currently being debated in Congress have become increasingly important to the U.S. clean tech economy as a recent report from Ernst & Young ranked China ahead of the U.S., for the first time, as the most attractive destination for global clean energy investment.

We hope that you enjoy this month’s edition of the newsletter. For the most up-to-date information on federal legislation and programs, please click here to find the most recent ML Strategies Energy and Environment Update.

Mintz Levin’s Monthly Incubator Profile: NYC ACRE

Having recently passed its one-year anniversary in July, the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE) has reason to celebrate. As New York City’s first clean technology and renewable energy business incubator, NYC ACRE has helped nine early-stage clean technology and renewable energy companies in the New York area to grow from their often humble beginnings. In just one year, NYC ACRE tenant companies have created more than 50 jobs and raised over $8 million in capital. In 2010, NYC ACRE tenant company ThinkEco debuted a working prototype of their first product, the modlet ( for “modern outlet”), which won Best in Show at the Consumer Electronics Association’s Line Show. Their energy efficiency hardware and software is currently being used by several prominent educational institutions, large corporations, and public agencies. To facilitate such success, NYC ACRE serves as a physical destination for clean tech cluster development and provides start-up companies with low-cost office space, access to investors and professional service providers, and assistance with financial modeling and operational support. Promoting New York City as a thought leader for an urban clean energy economy, it also produces high-level events and seminars which showcase innovative solutions to 21st century energy and climate challenges.

The organization is seeded by a four-year, $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to NYU-Poly. Aimed at assisting entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups, as well as university students and faculty looking to commercialize their technology, NYC ACRE is focused on growing the clean tech/renewable energy sector and creating technology jobs in the New York City area. Its tenants focus on creating a low-carbon future for New York and boast products and services in areas such as renewable energy and smart grid technology, green building and materials, transportation and logistics, and air and water technologies. Partnering with NYC Economic Development Corporation, the NYC Investment Fund, Columbia University, NYU, and Pratt Institute, NYC ACRE is leading the charge to develop a clean tech cluster in the Big Green Apple.

http://www.nycacre.com/

In This Edition

In the News: United States

In the News: Europe and Asia

Government Financial Assistance

Privately Sourced Financial Grants

Federal and State Happenings

Legal News

Events

In the News: United States

A123 Systems Opens New 600 MWh Factory with $249 Million DOE Grant

Renewable Energy World – September 13, 2010

Energy and Clean Tech Connections

Mintz Levin’s Monthly Incubator Profile: NYC ACRE

In This Edition

In the News: United States

A123 Systems Opens New 600 MWh Factory with $249 Million DOE Grant

PGE Completes 450 MW Oregon Wind Farm

Clean Energy Systems Gets $30 Million from DOE for Zero-Emission Turbine Technology

EnerNOC CEO Healy Holds Reins in Energy Management

Abengoa Gets Go-ahead for 250 MW Mojave Solar Thermal Project in California

Coulomb Gets $15 Million in Series C Funding for EV Charging Infrastructure

FloDesign Prepared to Break Out in Wind Turbine Tech Industry

Mascoma Buys SunOpta BioProcess for $51 Million

Grid Energy Storage Market to Reach $35 Billion by 2020, Says Report

Exelon to Buy Wind Power Firm John Deere Renewables for $860 Million

EnerNOC Eyes Growth by Acquisition

250 MW CSP Project Approved in California

Ameresco Acquires Quantum Engineering in Northwest Expansion

Lumenergi Raises $12.7 Million for Energy Efficient Lighting

Piketon Plant to Get $2.1 Billion for Cleanup Work

A123 Spin-Off 24M Lands $16 Million to Explore the Next Frontier of Batteries

World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Project at Blythe Reaches Permitting Milestone

In the News: Europe and Asia

Chinese Wind Turbine Maker Ming Yang Looks to Raise $400 Million with IPO

VantagePoint Launches $100 Million Fund Aimed at Clean Tech in China

SG Biofuels Announces $9.4 Million Series A Financing Round

Iberdrola to Invest €4.8bn in UK Renewable Energy Sector by 2012

SunEdison to Develop 400MW Solar Projects in Korea

Indosolar Looks to Raise $77.7 Million in IPO

China Development Bank Finances JA Solar’s Development Plans

China is the Most Attractive Country for Renewables Investment

U.S.-India Business Council Convenes Solar Power Task Force

Alstom and Iberdrola Deepen Partnership with Whitelee Wind Farm Extension

World’s Largest Wave Energy Testing Device Completes Critical Milestone

Asia Development Bank to Issue Clean Energy Bond

Japan to Launch Cap-and-Trade Carbon Scheme in 2013

German Solar Developer Juwi Targets 1GW of Global Solar Installations by 2012

MiaSole Signs 600MW Long-Term Supply Agreement

Abu Dhabi to Build 100MW CSP Plant

Blackstone Acquires $300m Stake in Renewable Energy Developer Moser Baer Projects Private

Government Financial Assistance

Grants

Massachusetts Green Energy Fund

Energy Production with Innovative Methods of Geothermal Heat Recovery

Renewable Energy Incentives for Homes & Businesses

Tax Incentives and Rebates

Federal Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C)

Federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System

Federal Business Investment Tax Credit

Federal Renewable Power Production Tax Credit

Federal Tax Credits for Home Builders

Federal Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings

Self-Generation Incentive Program

California Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems

Massachusetts Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation Patent Deduction (Personal and Corporate)

Massachusetts Hydropower-Property Tax Exemption

Massachusetts Local Property Tax Exemption

Massachusetts Corporate Income Tax Deduction

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program: Micro Wind

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program: Community-Scale Wind

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Commonwealth Solar

Privately Sourced Financial Grants

GE Ecomagination Challenge: Powering the Grid

The Energy Foundation Grants

The Renewable Fuels Foundation Grants for Ethanol Production

The Carbon Trust: The Entrepreneurs Fast Track

Federal and State Happenings

DOE Announces $57 Million for Small Businesses to Support Technology Commercialization

DOE Announces $20 Million to Boost Development of Innovative Geothermal Technologies

DOE Announces More than $5 Million to Support Wind Energy Development

Secretary Chu Awards $9.6 Million for Transformational Energy Research Projects

DOE Awards $37 Million for Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Technology Development

DOE Announces Nearly $30 Million in Competitive Awards for State Energy Efficiency Projects

Wilson Solar Power Wins $1 Million DOE Grant to Improve Solar Efficiency

DOE Announces $8.5 Million to Advance Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems

DOE Announces Awards for Up to $16.5 Million for Biomass R&D

New Jersey Calls for 1100 MW of Offshore Wind

Legal News

Amendment to Massachusetts Personnel Records Law Imposes Significant New Burdens on Employers

The UK Intellectual Property Office Announced a New Fast Track Examination Service for PCT Applications

Dodd-Frank Act Affects Private Placements by Raising the Bar for Individual Accredited Investors