Today’s energy landscape is more complex and interconnected than ever before. Evolving regulations, increased connectivity and a global infusion of capital into new technologies present new challenges and opportunities for companies across the industry.
Nearly every sector of the energy industry is undergoing enormous change. At 18% of the power mix, renewable energy resources comprise as large a contribution to total U.S. electricity generation as the country’s nuclear fleet. Wind and solar capacity alone has increased over 471% since 2008, from 25 GW to 143 GW.[1] Regulators are contending with the rise of distributed energy resources (DER) such as behind-the-meter generation and storage technologies, and states are continuing to address resiliency, reliability and the DER grid integration.
Against this backdrop, the new administration is rescinding past climate change initiatives, which is impacting electric generation, as well as oil and gas production and transmission moving forward. As the largest contributor to the U.S. electricity portfolio, shale gas positions natural gas as the fuel of the future for baseload and peaking generation (in 2017, natural gas made up nearly 32% of overall U.S. generation).[2] However, transporting shale gas and oil from the shale regions to underserved parts of the country proves challenging.
Our firm is right in the middle of this transformation. Among our many other efforts, we helped draft the initial residential solar agreements back in 2008. In recent years, we were on the forefront of community and virtual net metering agreements. Today, we are helping to implement energy storage across the nation. We can help you keep pace with industry developments and provide strategic advice to help your business continue to thrive into the future. Our diverse experience in state and federal regulation and compliance, project development and finance, transmission and interconnection issues, permitting, finance, risk management and energy supply can help you navigate this new ecosystem.
Better Buildings ( U.S. Department of Energy) | August 06, 2019
The blog post from the U.S. Department of Energy chronicles a recent solar-focused learning session, hosted by New Partners Community Solar at Nixon Peabody’s Washington DC office.
NBC 4 Washington | July 25, 2019
This broadcast news clip highlights New Partners Community Solar, the Nixon Peabody-adjacent nonprofit creating innovative sustainability projects throughout Washington, DC. New Partners helped to develop a ‘resilience center’ in a DC-area affordable housing complex, which will keep residents connected to key services and emergency resources in the event of a power grid disruption.
National Housing and Rehabilitation Association | July 20, 2019
This story mentions New Partners Community Solar, the nonprofit founded in 2017 by senior counsel Herb Stevens and Community Development Finance partner Jeff Lesk, both of Washington, DC. New Partners played a crucial role in the development of the city’s first affordable housing resiliency center—a suite of rooms available to all residents that provides an emergency power supply for residents to use during disasters or outages.
Law360 | July 17, 2019
This article features analysis from Albany Affordable Housing and Real Estate counsel Peter Trimarchi on ambitious new climate-change legislation in New York State that will force the natural gas industry to revisit its business plans.
Greater Greater Washington | June 27, 2019
This article highlights the work of New Partners Community Solar to establish a resiliency center in a low-income housing development in Washington’s Columbia Heights neighborhood. The center is designed to power essential services, such as lighting and communications, for up to three days after a disruption to the public power grid.
Law360 | June 05, 2019
Affordable Housing and Real Estate partner Bruce Baker and Senior Environmental Health Engineer Libby Ford, both of the Rochester office, co-wrote this contributed article on how state legislatures are addressing the future of decommissioned, coal-fired power plants.
BizNow | May 02, 2019
Nixon Peabody and New Partners Community Solar are mentioned in this story about the recent proliferation of solar panels on rooftops in downtown Washington, DC. The NP Solar program has installed these sustainable energy producers on buildings throughout the district, with low-income residents of the area seeing the economic benefits.
Bisnow | April 09, 2019
This article highlights Nixon Peabody’s nonprofit, New Partners Community Solar. The piece covers phase one of the program and its continued efforts to partner with Washington, DC, building owners to install solar panels on multiple new sites, which will produce renewable energy to benefit local low-income residents. The piece also notes that Washington, DC, Community Development Finance partner Jeff Lesk will discuss this clean energy initiative at Bisnow’s upcoming Greater DC Solar and Sustainability Summit.
Power Finance & Risk | December 02, 2018
Albany Project Finance and Public Finance partner Rich Cogen is quoted in this article on his view of the cost of premiums in the young but competitive market for tax equity insurance related to renewable energy investments.
Power Finance & Risk | October 29, 2018
Albany Project Finance and Public Finance partner Rich Cogen is quoted in this article on the trend of increasing RFP activity for renewable energy projects, even in some unexpected states.
The Republican | October 28, 2018
Boston Office Managing Partner Ruth Silman is mentioned in this story for her representation of Tennessee Gas, which is seeking approval to improve its compressor station in Agawam and construct a new pipeline loop.
Bisnow | September 30, 2018
Washington DC Office Managing Partner Colette Dafoe and Community Development Finance partner Jeff Lesk are mentioned in this story about the DCSolar project, which began on Nixon Peabody’s rooftop and has expanded throughout the District.
Solar Power World | July 10, 2018
Washington DC partner Jeff Lesk and senior counsel Herb Stevens, both of the Community Development Finance Group, are mentioned in this story after NPSolar was named Community/Shared Renewables Project of the Year by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
Washington Post | May 10, 2018
Nixon Peabody’s pro bono solar panel project is featured in this article. Washington DC tax credit finance and syndication partner Jeff Lesk and senior counsel Herb Stevens are quoted throughout this feature which highlights how this first-of-its-kind project benefits low-income residents in the DC community.
ABA Journal | May 10, 2018
Washington DC partner Jeff Lesk and senior counsel Herb Stevens are mentioned in this article about the NP Solar program, which uses solar panels placed atop DC-area buildings to produce electricity and cost savings for low-income residents.
Energy & Environmental News | May 10, 2018
Nixon Peabody’s pro bono solar panel project is featured in this trade publication for energy and environment professionals. Washington, DC tax credit finance and syndication senior counsel Herb Stevens is quoted and partner Jeff Lesk is mentioned.
Law360 | May 06, 2018
In this roundup of promotions to partner and firm management positions, 14 attorneys from Nixon Peabody are highlighted. The 11 attorneys promoted to partner are Ellie Altshuler, Mark Beaudoin, Erik Birkeneder, Hannah Bornstein, Chris Browning, Barry Carrigan, Keri McWilliams, Matt Mullen, Steven Richard, Charles Tamuleviz and Alison Torbitt. In addition, Kenneth C. Lind was promoted to leader of the firms’ public finance practice group, Justin Thompson was promoted to office managing partner in LA, and Aaron Yowell was promoted to chief innovation officer.
The Boston Globe | February 10, 2018
Supply Chain Management Review | November 13, 2017
Albany energy and environmental associate Dana Stanton authored this overview of sustainability surveys that many companies send to suppliers to gauge their environmental efforts and performance.
Project Finance International | October 31, 2017
In an article on the expansion of off-grid solar power companies in Africa, Nixon Peabody is mentioned for advising PEG Africa in its $13.5M multi-currency syndicated loan.
Disrupt Africa | October 26, 2017
This article mentions Nixon Peabody for advising West African solar company PEG Africa on a multi-currency syndicated loan to develop solar energy and reliable electricity in the region.
Law360 | September 26, 2017
Boston office managing partner and energy and environmental partner Ruth Silman authored this article about Massachusetts’ plans and strategies for addressing climate change.
Inside EPA | September 14, 2017
This article about the pending New York legislation that would expand residents’ environmental rights quotes a recent Nixon Peabody blog post titled “What’s Trending: New York possible constitutional right to clean air and water,” authored by Albany Energy & Environmental partner Ruth Leistensnider and Rochester Energy & Environmental group professional specialist Libby Ford.
Solar Industry Mag | August 30, 2017
Nixon Peabody is mentioned as one of the firms that contributed to the creation of the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) newly released model contract to encourage solar power development in the commercial and industrial sectors.
The National Law Journal | August 26, 2017
This article features the Washington, DC office’s solar program and mentions partners Jeff Lesk and Herb Stevens, who manage grants for the firm’s nonprofit New Partners Community Solar Corp.
Law360 | June 22, 2017
In this article about Millennium Pipeline Co.'s suit against New York environmental regulators, Washington, D.C. energy and environment partner Elizabeth Whittle is mentioned for representing CPV Valley Inc., a company that is building an energy facility that would receive natural gas from Millennium’s pipeline.
BBA Week | June 13, 2017
This profile features Boston office managing partner Ruth Silman. The article highlights her career, practice focus and vision for the Boston office.
Novogradac & Company | May 08, 2017
Boston tax credit finance and syndication partner Forrest Milder authored this column about the increasing use of back leverage in renewable energy tax credit projects and its implications.
Law360 | April 27, 2017
Albany energy & environmental counsel Peter Trimarchi contributed this article about the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) order related to compensation for renewable energy projects involving the state’s electric distribution system.
Earthtalk | March 19, 2017
Chief Innovation Officer Herb Stevens is quoted in this story discussing how the firm helped implement the community solar project as part of the Clean Energy DC plan, which aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and energy use in half by 2032.
NBC4 Washington | March 14, 2017
Washington DC office managing partner Jeff Lesk and chief innovation officer Herb Stevens were interviewed in this broadcast news segment about a green bank that could be created to help finance environmentally friendly projects similar to the solar panels installed on our DC office building.
Tax Credit Advisor | February 28, 2017
Washington, DC office managing partner Jeff Lesk and chief innovation officer Herb Stevens are featured in this article about the Washington, DC office’s Community Solar project.
Bisnow | December 21, 2016
Washington DC office managing partner Jeff Lesk is quoted in this feature story about DC’s first large-scale downtown commercial Community Solar project on the roof of Nixon Peabody’s Washington DC office. This article focuses on the innovation and uniqueness of the NP Solar project.
ClearWaters | December 20, 2016
A discussion of five cases that might impact wastewater permitting regulations for holders of SPDES permits, written by Rochester senior environmental health engineer Libby Ford, San Francisco Energy and Environmental associate Alison Torbitt, and Albany counsel Peter Trimarchi.
Law360 | December 14, 2016
This article highlights the latest development in a case involving New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s delayed approval of a permit to start building a natural gas pipeline, which impacts upstate New York power plant developer CPV Valley LLC’s facility operations. Washington DC Energy and Environmental partner Elizabeth Whittle is noted as representing CPV Valley LLC.
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