Project Finance NewsWire

February 2018

IN THIS ISSUE

Reading the current market

A panel of company CEOs and investors talked at the annual Infocast “projects & money” conference in New Orleans in January.

Environmental update

The US Environmental Protection Agency sent interim guidance to its regional offices in late January to fill in details of its plan to let states lead on enforcement of federal environmental laws.


IN OTHER NEWS

US solar tariffs

Solar panel prices are expected to remain high in the first half of 2018, but may ease after that.

Orphan extenders

Various energy tax incentives were extended by Congress as part of a two-year budget deal in early February.

DOE and coal

Coal plant retirements may be delayed by the US Department of Energy.

The solar construction-start rules

The solar construction-start rules are “actively being worked on,” according to Hannah Hawkins, the lawyer for energy tax issues in the office of tax policy at the US Treasury.

Corporate PPAs

What should one make of the dip in number of new power purchase agreements signed in 2016 to sell electricity directly to large corporate buyers?

CFIUS and China

CFIUS is becoming a major roadblock for acquisitions by Chinese companies.

Rooftop solar

US residential rooftop solar installations fell for the first three straight quarters in 2017 as some of the major players adjusted their business models to make upfront cash more of a priority than rapid growt

US wind data

New wind farm construction dipped in 2017, but should pick up again in 2018.

Oklahoma

An Oklahoma bill that would cap tax credits for generating wind electricity and, at the same time, impose a tax on such electricity fell short of the number of votes needed to pass.

Maine

Maine imposed a moratorium on new wind farm construction.

Community choice aggregators

Community choice aggregators and rooftop solar took about 25% of the retail load away from investor-owned utilities in California in 2017.

Incurred costs

Incurred costs under the 5% test for starting construction may have to be reduced by any credit or discount the developer is given against a future turbine or other equipment order, depending on the facts.

CO2 allowances and REITs

CO2 allowances that forestry companies receive for preserving trees are not “real property” for REIT purposes, the IRS said.

Minor memos

The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that the solar tariffs sought by US solar panel manufacturer Suniva would cost the...