wind Insights

Interview with Jeff Chester, Partner at Morrison & Foerster

Infocast’s lead media partner, Stratton Report, caught up with Jeff Chester, Partner at Morrison & Foerster at the Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit 2018. Chester shared his expert insights on corporate offtake agreements, how the wind industry has evolved and what players will be the primary buyers. Watch his exclusive interview below.

Interview with Gillian Howard Larsen, Global Director, Due Diligence Services at AWS TruePower

Infocast’s lead media partner, Stratton Report, caught up with Gillian Howard Larsen, the Global Director of Due Diligence Services at AWS TruePower at the Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit 2018. Larsen shared her expert insights on the wind industry, corporate offtake agreements, and the M&A landscape. Watch her exclusive interview below.

Interview with Michael O’Brien, Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP

Infocast’s lead media partner, Stratton Report, caught up with Michael O’Brien, Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP at the Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit 2018. O’Brien shared his insights on how to demonstrate financial viability to potential investors and lenders. Watch his exclusive interview below.

How to Enhance Customer Engagement in the Texas Power Market

The Public Utility Commission of Texas has been exploring changes to price formation in ERCOT’s market. What would the impacts to customers be for the proposed changes that include real time co-optimization of energy and ancillary services, marginal losses, and locational reserves? What advantages could ERCOT’s unique “energy only” market, with an Operating Reserves Demand Curve for resource adequacy, bring for customers? Will alignment with other successful market features pave the way for new opportunities?

Impacts of the Tax Law Change on the Wind Industry

The entire wind industry has been focused on the potential (and actual) impacts of tax law change on the tax equity market since President Trump was elected. By January, we should know whether that tree actually bore fruit by year-end. Regardless, sponsors have addressed the potential for changes in various ways.

Community Choice Aggregators and the Changing California Power Market

According to CPUC’s estimates, 85% of electricity load from the IOUs will be served by other sources such as Community Choice Aggregators and rooftop solar by the mid-2020s. CCAs have an ambitious vision of procuring power for their customers from new, locally-sited solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable resources in order to boost job creation, support local economies, reduce GHG emissions and fight climate change.

Corporate Energy Procurement: Best Practices, Trends & Strategies

The world of corporate energy procurement is continuing to mature, both in terms of the products and options that are available but also in terms of the market participants. Although many deals continue to occur with large single-load purchasers located in organized markets, we have also seen a proliferation of financial arrangements, pass-through deals, and other types of transactions that accommodate a purchaser’s size and location(s).

SunZia Southwest Transmission Project

SunZia is a 515-mile, 500kV independent transmission project that will connect high-quality wind and solar resources in New Mexico and southern Arizona with markets in the West. The Project comprises two single-circuit 500kV alternating-current transmission lines and a number of substations, with an east to west rating of 3,000 MW. Development of the Project commenced in 2006 and construction of the first line is expected to commence by the middle of 2018 with commercial operation planned for late 2020.

Learn How to Increase Customer Engagement Under NY REV

The webinar will identify key strategies for engaging and communicating with customers under the NY REV. With customers playing an integral role in the overall system, attendees will gain valuable insight in how to increase customer engagement. Learn the means and technologies you can use to effectively communicate with prosumers and commercial customers.

Why a Renewable Energy PPA is one of the Most Powerful Tools in Your Sustainability Toolbox

By: Amy Haddon, VP of Communications & Engagement, Renewable Choice Energy

If you’ve been paying attention, you know that seismic shifts have been underway in how we’re generating energy worldwide, and how those actions play into international goals around carbon emission reductions.  What you may not know is the important role businesses have played in the renewable energy tipping point or why corporations are pursuing renewables so doggedly. (more…)

Regulated & Deregulated Energy Markets

By: Customer First Renewables

If your company operates in more than one state, or electricity grid, you might also be operating in both regulated and deregulated energy markets. When you are making decisions about purchasing energy, it is important to know the difference between these markets and develop a plan that will make sure your company gets the right renewable energy solution. (more…)

How to Succeed at Renewables Procurement

Brian Carey, George Favaloro | PwC

A renewables purchase can save companies money and help transform our collective energy system. But it introduces new technologies and unfamiliar contracting approaches to an organization that may lack renewables procurement knowledge and expertise.

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Puget Sound Energy Reports to the Washington UTC on the Progress of its Efforts to Join the CAISO Energy Imbalance Market; CAISO Releases Study Chronicling Benefits of a Regional Energy Market

Eric Jay and Kari Vander Stoep | K&L Gates

Puget Sound Energy (“PSE”) recently presented to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (“WUTC”) regarding the steps it is taking to join the California-based Energy Imbalance Market (“EIM”) this coming fall. WUTC Docket No. 151425 (July 20, 2016). (more…)

Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement Survey Insights

Brian Carey, George Favaloro | PwC

One of the biggest developments in the renewable energy marketplace in the last 12–24 months has been the rapid growth in corporate renewables purchases.

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A Corporate Renewables Q&A with John Powers of Renewable Choice Energy

In this blog, we’re talking to John Powers, VP of Strategic Renewables at Renewable Choice Energy, and a speaker at our upcoming Corporate Renewables 2016 event.

John, what’s happening today in the corporate renewables landscape?

Globally, thousands of companies are pursuing renewable energy as a means to meet their economic and environmental goals.  (more…)

Energy Strategy for the C-Suite: from Cost Center to Competitive Advantage

Brian Carey, George Favoloro | PwC

An Introduction to the Unified Approach to Energy Transformation

Leading companies are looking at energy as a strategic issue, a potential path toward growth and competitive advantage. In fact, some companies have found that treating energy as a low-level issue can be a costly mistake.

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Corporate PPAs: Market Trends and Opportunities

Giji John, Rohit Sachdev, Les Sherman, David Spielberg | Orrick

Corporate and industrial buyers have dramatically increased their purchases of renewable energy in recent years, with contracted capacity under corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) doubling year-over-year from 2012 to 2015.  (more…)

Here’s What’s Driving Corporate Renewable Purchases

George Favaloro | Managing Director at PwC Sustainable Business Solutions

The growth of the renewable energy marketplace in the last 24 months has been breathtaking.  Billions of dollars have been invested in building renewable generating capacity, which is in turn, lowering costs and creating more demand.

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New York State Business Council Conference on Renewable Energy

Bernays T. (Buz) Barclay

Leaders from a State that is itself leading thought and action in growing the contributions of renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and re-forming the entire utility-customer interface, met last week at beautiful Marist college in Poughkeepsie for spirited and constructive discussion about how to enable, unfetter and facilitate free market, competitive solutions that will help to achieve the goals we share. (more…)

Google Secures Nordic Wind Power for Data Centers

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Google just signed an agreement that will enable them to acquire 235 megawatts of renewable energy from wind farms in Sweden and Norway respectively. The announcement builds on the significant number of power purchase agreements (PPAs) Google signed last year, accounting for a whopping 842 megawatts of renewable energy used for powering the company’s global data centers. (more…)

Are Nuclear Closures a Bad Sign for Renewables?

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Closures like the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon power plants in California may throw a wrench in state plans to lower emissions. A recent Forbes article points out many modern environmentalists are reluctant to pull the plug on the Diablo Canyon plant. (more…)

Study Finds Building Internal Support is Biggest Hurdle to Corporate Renewable Adoption

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

A recent report by PwC confirms the marked change we’ve seen over the past few years in the renewable energy sector, particularly with commercial and industrial companies. After years of stagnation, attacks from climate change deniers, and naysayers citing high prices as an immovable barrier, it appears renewables have finally made it.
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Deloitte Study Confirms Widespread Support of Renewable Energy

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Going green is going mainstream. Deloitte’s sixth annual “Resources 2016 Study” shows a dramatic shift in how consumers, both corporate and residential view environmental responsibility. The report points out the change taking place is likely due to this idea that a collective goal to reduce emissions is now “ingrained” in our culture, despite this year’s plummeting gas prices. The change can be attributed to the rising influence of the millennial generation, who have been warned against the adverse effects of climate change for most of their lives. (more…)

CDP and the Scope 2 Guidance: What Companies Need to Know for 2016

Amy Haddon | Renewable Choice Energy

With the CDP Climate Change reporting deadline less than two weeks away (June 30), reporting organizations are deep into the 2016 questionnaire.  This year, CDP has made some material changes to its questions in order to line up with the GHG Protocol’s Scope 2 guidance —released in 2015—and to place greater emphasis on climate action.

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The Call for Climate Action: Environmental Impact of PPAs

Hans Royal | Renewable Choice Energy

Responding to CDP in 2016? If so, you’ve probably seen that CDP has increased its emphasis on the value of climate action and how that translates into disclosure leadership.  CDP respondents are now being asked to set science-based goals and utilize renewable energy to take an active role in reducing—rather than just reporting—emissions, and related environmental impact. (more…)

Diablo Canyon Closure—What Does it Mean for the Future of Renewables

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

The impending closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plan marks the end of a chapter for energy in California. PG&E has renounced plans to renew contract’s on the facility’s two reactors. Which will expire in 2024 and 2025 respectively. In the meantime, California will need to get its renewable contracts in place, so we don’t run into a power shortage when the time comes. (more…)

The Corporate Renewables Revolution is Coming—Are You Ready?

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

So, maybe your organization isn’t making the kind of sweeping pledges we’ve seen in the news as of late to reduce emissions, save the planet and cut energy costs all at the same time. More corporations from Google and Facebook to Macy’s, Walmart and Costco are getting into the clean energy game, integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) into existing business strategies, as reliance on fossil fuel becomes increasingly unattractive for large swathes of the population. (more…)

Embattled Emissions Plan Gets Corporate Support – Will Lawmakers Get it Together?

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Back in February, the US Supreme Court halted the implementation of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), setting a June 2nd court date for the DC Circuit Court to hear oral arguments. Despite the minor setback, the agency stated they would still help states reach compliance targets for lowering carbon emissions whether or not the stay remained in effect. (more…)

Public and Private Sectors Team Up to Fight Climate Change

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

On the heels of the Paris Agreement, energy ministers and the world’s largest companies adopted major commitments to scale global deployment of clean energy. The June 2nd 7th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM7) meeting in San Francisco, gathered top energy leaders together to unveil a new campaign, aimed at increasing the number of companies (more…)

Amazon and Dominion Virginia Power Reach Breakthrough Renewable Energy Agreement

Laurie Guevara-​Stone | Rocky Mountain Institute

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon.com’s cloud computing division, has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with its retail electric utility, Dominion Virginia Power (DVP). Recently, RMI met with members of AWS to better (more…)

Tech Leads the Charge in Renewables—Green Data Centers the New Norm

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Solar is in the midst of a big moment, enough so to say that it’s much more than a passing trend. Corporations across all industries and nations are entering the space at unprecedented rates, and we’re even starting to see unlikely players—Shell or Walmart, for example getting into the mix, so as to not get left behind. (more…)

Today’s Corporate Renewable Landscape—Where Do We Stand?

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

Corporate renewable initiatives are dominating in the wake of the Paris Agreement, growing concerns over worsening environmental conditions and a change in societal expectations that go hand in hand with today’s level of expected transparency. No longer can big corporations easily get away with exploiting low wage workers, cutting (more…)

How Nonprofits Are Helping Corporations Lower Carbon Emissions

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

As we inch closer to the brink of disaster, companies are under increased pressure to cut emissions exponentially. With the Paris Climate Talks behind us, dire predictions of impending disaster are no longer interpreted as fear mongering, but a reality we may come face to face with sooner than expected.

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The Uncertain Cost of Energy: PPA Risk & Opportunity

Hans Royal | Renewable Choice Energy 

This blog is the first in a four-part series on mitigating risk through your power purchase agreement (PPA) procurement process. Each blog in the series will focus on a different risk: market risk (cost of energy), operational risk, execution risk, and reputational risk.  

Energy price risk affects all businesses.  Across every sector, organizations  (more…)

What’s the Difference Between a Traditional and Renewable PPA?

Hans Royal | Renewable Choice Energy 

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a broad term which covers many types of contracts involving the purchase of energy between two parties.

When we talk about renewable PPA deals, we’re specifically talking about long-term, on- or off-site purchases of energy and RECs from a renewable energy project which is not yet built. (more…)

Growing Sophistication of the Renewable Buyer

Amy Haddon | Renewable Choice Energy

When I began my career at Renewable Choice Energy almost a decade ago, the idea of companies buying renewable energy was in its infancy. Renewable Choice had only just completed the brokerage of the Whole Foods 100% wind power deal, which at the time was the first of its kind (we went on to receive an EPA Beacon Award for our role in that deal). Renewables were not on the radar of most companies;  (more…)

Business Renewables Center and RE100 Cement Partnership

David Labrador | Rocky Mountain Institute

The Business Renewables Center (BRC) is working together with RE100, led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, to accelerate the procurement of renewable energy by some of the world’s most influential companies. The partnership aims to increase renewable demand (buyers), find renewable opportunities (more…)

A Game Changer in Renewables: How Corporations are Shaking Up “Business as Usual”

Infocast Corporate Renewables Team

The history between fossil fueled utilities and renewable energy developers is a contentious one.  Consistently at opposite ends of the spectrum, both politically and at the very core of their respective missions, you would be hard pressed to find two industries more at odds with each other (more…)

Big Box = Big Potential? Solar-Powered Retail Rooftops Could Change Everything

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events
The United States has an overabundance of energy from the sun that could easily exceed the entire nation’s electricity needs. With all that untapped energy comes the potential to produce more than 100 times as much electricity from solar photovoltaic (PV) installations than the entire nation consumes in a year. We’ve started to see a shift from solar power being this niche market to (more…)

RE100 Grows- Corporate Responsibility No Longer Just For Show

Grace Sweeney | Infocast Events

BMW. Starbucks. Microsoft. You can’t make it far without hearing these names. But aside from ubiquity, what do they all have in common? These companies, and 50+ others have come together as part of the RE100 initiative, an initiative that emerged as a result of 2014 Climate Week. RE100 aims at transitioning corporations away from traditional power sources like coal or oil and gas, and toward 100 percent  (more…)