Welcome to Powerline Connections, the podcast of the energy team at McDermott Will & Emery, a global, full-service law firm. The energy market is constantly evolving due to technology advances, funding access and regulation updates. Join McDermott’s energ
Early to mid-stage development of renewables projects can be expensive. In this episode, learn more about the different type of sources of development capital available to renewables developers, the project or platform criteria for these types of capital, and the challenges to developers and financiers in structuring these products. Guest Speaker: by Angel Fierro, managing partner of PLEXUS Solutions McDermott Speakers: Chris Gladbach and Joel Hugenberger
In this episode, we explore how technology is affecting the energy industry. From the industrial internet of things, to investor focus, and even in traditional oil and gas, learn how technology will continue to impact conventional and renewable energy companies. Guest Speaker: Nadine Herrwerth, managing director at TWTG, and BJ Walker, managing director at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co McDermott Speakers: Parker A. Lee and Shawn Helms
Legislative activity regarding renewable energy tax incentives has taken center stage. During this episode, we explore how this will affect current tax credits, the status of the federal proposals and more. Guest Speaker: Bill Parsons, COO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) McDermott Speakers: Phil Tingle and Heather Cooper
In this episode, we discuss the current outlook of leading lenders in the US renewables and transactions space. More specifically, we explore the state of debt market support for the growing range of renewable power generation and clean energy infrastructure projects, the financing market for renewable projects, as well as the impact of the current supply chain delays and inflationary pressures. Guest Speaker: Paul Pace, SVP and team leader at KeyBank, and Andrew Chen, managing director at CIT McDermott Speakers: Robert da Silva Ashley and John Bridge
How will traditional energy companies compete as the world transitions to renewable energy? In this episode, our energy leaders offer insight and assess the future for conventional energy companies, including key issues surrounding decarbonization and current tax credit frameworks. Guest Speaker: Michael Hanson, managing director of energy transition at Truist Securities McDermott Speakers: Jack Langlois and Philip Tingle
The Biden administration has placed an emphasis on antitrust enforcement that will create meaningful implications for future transactions, as well as those already consummated. In this episode, learn who the new leaders at the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division are and how their approach to antitrust enforcement is already changing merger review process. McDermott Speakers: Kevin Brophy, Lesli Esposito and Matt Evola
The US-China trade war has caused a significant impact on the solar industry, and that impact is expected to grow. In this episode, learn how solar industry leaders are handling the effects of the US–China trade war and how they are preparing for the future. Guest Speaker: Brett White, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Pine Gate Renewables and Jess Chesney, Assistant General Counsel, Pine Gate Renewables McDermott Speaker: Carl Fleming
The energy market continues to undergo significant changes as traditional energy funds shift towards green energy. In this episode, we discuss energy transition investment funds, their management teams and their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policies. Guest Speakers: Shawn Cumberland, Managing Partner, Energy Transition of EnCap Investments and Alex Jackson, Director, Quantum Energy Partners McDermott Speakers: Edward Zaelke and Parker Lee
In this episode, our industry leaders explore how tax legislation may play a role in renewable energy development and what it will mean for monetizing projects. We cover investment tax credits (ITCs), production tax credits (PTCs), section 45Q carbon capture, storage, offshore wind, transmission, direct pay/refundability proposals and tax rates, and more. Guest Speaker: Carol Wuerffel, Senior Director, Tax at Ameren McDermott Speakers: Phil Tingle and Heather Cooper
Cryptocurrency consumes huge amounts of energy. In this episode of Powerline Connections, we discuss how the power sector is dealing with the rapidly expanding computing and cryptocurrency industries with executives from Compute North. Guest Speakers: PJ Lee, Dave Perrill and Jeff Jackson of Compute North McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Chris Gladbach
Section 45Q of the US tax code reduces the cost and risk to private capital of investing in carbon capture technology across a range of industries, including electric power generation, ethanol and fertilizer production, natural gas processing, refining, chemicals production and the manufacture of steel and cement. Listen to our latest podcast episode to learn more about: Current carbon capture projects Tax credit under Section 45Q Tax equity investors and structures Guest Speakers: FTI Consulting's Ken Ditzel, Senior Managing Director, and Fengrong Li, Managing Director, who are both in the Economic and Financial Consulting Practice McDermott Speakers: Philip Tingle and Heather Cooper
Get the latest information on renewal energy special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in this episode of Powerline Connections. Key topics discussed: 1. SPAC opportunities for sponsors, investors and private companies 2. Advantages of being a sponsor, investor or private company 3. Factors SPACs consider when making investments 4. Applicable laws and regulations 5. SEC interest in IPOs conducted through SPACs Guest Speaker: Nicole Neeman Brady, CEO and director of the renewable energy SPAC Sustainable Development Acquisition I Corp McDermott Speakers: Tom Conaghan and Carl Fleming
In this episode, our industry leaders discuss the aftermath of the energy crisis left by Texas Storm Uri, including potential outcomes for the future of the energy market in Texas, as well as some of the challenges developers and investors face—both short-term and medium-term. Guest Speakers: Chris LeWand, Global Power and Renewables Leader, and RJ Arsenault, Managing Director in the Clean Energy Industry Practice, at FTI Consulting. McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Carl Fleming
The energy market has undergone significant change in the past 12 months, with even more on the horizon. In this episode, we explore the policy outlook and priorities for the new Biden administration and the near-term impact on renewable sponsors and the investment community. We also consider the outlook on broader environmental and climate policies. Guest Speaker: Greg Wetstone, president and CEO of ACORE McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Christopher Gladbach
Increasingly, utilities are replacing older generation fleets with more cost-effective generation technologies. Renewables are cost-competitive alternatives in this effort for a number of reasons, including the current tax incentives. In this episode, we will discuss the legal and tax issues associated with renewable energy transactions, including structuring issues, regulatory considerations, unique issues associated with tax equity financing, and related tax issues. McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke, Phil Tingle, Debra Harrison, Joel Hugenberger, Christopher Gladbach, and Carl Fleming
In this episode, we discuss offshore wind development challenges and how to manage multiple constituencies. Listen in to find out how different players, including private equity and infrastructure funds, can play a role in the offshore market. We also discuss the outlook of tax equity, the M&A landscape and the East Coast offshore development. Guest Speakers: Jim McGinnis, managing director at PJ Solomon, and Salvo Vitale, country manager at US Wind McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Chris Gladbach
How has COVID-19 affected the turbine supple chain and how do OEMs plan to mitigate? This episode explores the risks to construction and how a renewed or prolonged shutdown will impact order books. We also discuss how the Production Tax Credit safe harbor extension has impacted the turbine business, and what we can expect in 2021. Guest Speaker: Ben Stafford, Rob Bienick and Matt Lynch from GE Renewable Energy McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Lloyd MacNeil
What will the next 10 years look like for US power markets? Listen in as we explore the current developments in power markets, electricity infrastructure and grid operations. Guest Speaker: Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies LLC, former interim CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, and former FERC and PJM senior economist McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Jacob Hollinger
In this episode, we explore the trends and developments in today's shifting investment landscape. We address how to find opportunities in power assets, advice for sponsors looking for capital solutions, near-term challenges in the market and how to mitigate risk, the challenges of investing in platforms versus projects, and more. Guest Speaker: Andrew Ellenbogen of EIG Partners and Jeff Hunter of Apollo Global Management McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Chris Gladbach
Learn more about the IRS's proposed rule to implement section 45Q of the IRC, the statutory provision that creates a tax credit for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide. We discuss the tax equity market's likely response to this guidance, the carbon capture outlook, the socioeconomic impacts of CCUS project buildout and more. Guest Speaker: Ken Ditzel, Managing Director at FTI Consulting McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke, Phil Tingle, Heather Cooper, Christopher Gladbach and Jacob Hollinger
Listen in as industry leaders discuss recent developments affecting environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, renewable energy and carbon offsets. Learn more about ESG in the time of COVID-19, the competing marketing and regulatory forces affecting renewables, and carbon-related commodities. Guest Speaker: Jonathan Burnston, Managing Partner of Karbone McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke and Jacob Hollinger
What does the state of the dynamic energy storage market look like? In this episode, we provide successful strategies businesses can use to approach the opportunities and challenges stemming from this fast-growing market. Guest Speaker: Chris McKissack, CEO at GlidePath Power Solutions McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke, Phil Tingle and Carl Fleming
In this episode, we discuss how insurance factors into PTC and ITC mitigation strategies given potential supply chain delays. We also cover the continuous efforts in insurance and how to qualify. Listen now to learn how to size the policy and general costs, and how lenders and tax equity view insurance. Guest Speaker: Antony Joyce and Mark McTigue, senior vice president and tax insurance specialists at Marsh McDermott Speakers: Carl Fleming and Ed Zaelke
How are developers and investors are faring in this market as COVID-19 crisis continues? What are they are experiencing and what are their key concerns? In this episode, we address these questions and more. Guest Speaker: Susan Nickey, managing director at Hannon Armstrong; Michael Rucker, CEO and Founder of Scout Clean Energy; Tracy Stoddard, vice president of business development of Acciona North America McDermott Speakers: Carl Fleming and Ed Zaelke
In this episode, we discuss the availability of tax equity for wind and solar projects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also talk about the delays impacting the ability of sponsors to meet ITS and PTC safe harbor guidelines. Listen in to find out how the rates and terms are changing for new tax equity deals and more. Guest Speaker: Ben Jacoby, managing director at Paragon Energy Capital McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke, Phil Tingle, Carl Fleming and John Bridge
Renewable energy project delays are virtually inevitable. In this episode, we answer your most pressing questions on how to handle these delays. We also look at the impact of Force Majeure notices, the safe harbor cliff, and more. McDermott Speakers: Ed Zaelke, Phil Tingle, Carl Fleming and John Bridge