$2.3 Billion in Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits Awarded
President Obama has announced the recipients of $2.3 billion in clean energy manufacturing tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The intent of the Section 48C Program is to grow the domestic manufacturing industry for clean energy by providing a 30% tax credit for facilities manufacturing clean energy products.  The $2.3 billion will be matched by $5.4 billion of private investment.  Over 500 applications for the tax credits were received, and 183 facilities were selected from 43 states.
 
Projects eligible to receive the tax credits include technologies that create and store energy from renewable resources, advanced transmission technologies that support renewable energy generation, fuel refining or blending and conservation, plug-in electric vehicles and electric components, property to capture and sequester carbon dioxide and other property designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Examples of projects that received tax credits include reequipping a manufacturing plant to build steel towers for wind turbines, building low-cost solar electricity systems, redeveloping a manufacturing plant to produce energy efficient electric water heaters, and the opening of a new fuel cell power plant with twice the efficiency of a traditional plant.  Read more...

Pilot Program Fast Tracks Clean Tech Patent Applications

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a pilot program for faster processing of patents relating to green technologies.  The purpose of the pilot program is to provide for accelerated examination of certain patent applications.  If you have a pending patent application that has not yet been examined and if it relates to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources or greenhouse gas emission reduction, you may want to consider applying for this pilot program.  If a patent can be obtained more quickly, a company may improve its chances for obtaining financing, engaging in licensing or sale of a technology, or being seen as an attractive acquisition candidate.

To qualify for the program, an invention must either (1) materially enhance the quality of the environment or (2) materially contribute to (a) the discovery or development of renewable energy resources, (b) the more efficient utilization and conservation of energy resources or (c) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  Additionally, the invention must fall within certain classifications set forth in the USPTO invention classification system.   The patent application describing the invention must have a filing date prior to December 8, 2009 and must not have received an Office Action.  If your patent application qualifies, you will need to act fast.  Only the first 3,000 applicants to qualify for the program will be allowed to participate. About 1,000 petitions have already been filed, according to USPTO sources.  More details about the pilot program are available at the USPTO web site.

North Carolina Utilities Start Implementing Renewable Energy Standard

North Carolina in 2007 enacted a mandatory renewable energy and energy efficiency portfolio standard (REPS) known as Senate Bill 3.  The law requires North Carolina electric utilities to incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency into their electric generation beginning in 2012 (3% of 2011 retail sales).    By 2021, investor owned utilities must meet at least 12.5% of their annual electricity output through renewable energy.  Electric membership cooperatives and municipal utilities must generate 10% of their annual electricity output through renewable energy by 2018.
 
Permissible renewable energy options include solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and biomass (eligible biomass includes agricultural waste, animal waste, wood waste, energy crops and landfill methane).  To meet their renewable energy requirement, Duke Energy will begin installing solar panels on homes, schools, office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses and industrial plants throughout the state.   Duke will also buy power from a solar farm that is now under construction.  Read more...