Renewable Energy Law News from week of 11/17

Photo via FlickrExtending the Renewable Energy PTC Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced legislation aimed at extending the Production Tax Credit, or PTC. First conceived in 1992 as part of the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 776), the PTC has been renewed year after year and also incorporated into the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as part of that Act’s Renewable Energy Production Incentives. The PTC currently provides a 2.2-cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on wind, closed-loop biomass, and geothermal resources for the first decade of a renewable energy facility’s life. Other renewable forms of energy receive a tax credit of 1 cent per kWh.New German Solar PV Tariffs the Price to Beat Worldwide Germany has announced lower solar photovoltaic (solar PV) tariffs for 2012 and the industry has taken the expected step in stride. The German network agency, the Bundesnetzagentur, announced the new feed-in tariffs for solar PV as part of automatic adjustment of the tariffs based on the amount of solar capacity being installed. Because of continued strong growth in solar PV installations, the new tariffs are 15 percent less than those in 2011. The German solar industry association, the Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft (BSW), applauded the much anticipated action. "The solar industry has delivered on its promise of delivering more and cheaper solar electricity," said Carsten Körnig, the association's executive director. Wind Rush: Wind, Not Solar, Wins In 1603 ProgramHow the renewable energy industry copes with the loss of incentives this year will test its maturity and the success of the stimulus funding. In many ways, the renewable energy industry is facing a pivotal moment as the 1603 grant program is set to expire this year, the $2.3 billion for the 48C advanced manufacturing tax credit has already been allocated and the Department of Energy has completed its work of handing out more than $36 billion in its loan guarantee program. Solar projects taking stimulus funding may have grabbed the headlines, but wind has been the real winner from the Obama administration's flagship grant program meant to fill the void in tax equity that usually funds the renewables industry.