MLPs Under Consideration to Finance VT Renewable Energy

Vermont has introduced legislation intended to make renewable energy projects easier to finance.

Representative Peter Welch's Master Limited Partnership Parity Act would allow renewable energy companies to take advantage of master limited partnerships (MLP) -- a key financing tool used by the energy sector, which has driven investments in oil, gas, and coal projects for nearly 30 years.

Governor Cuomo launches a $30 million new energy efficient technology initiative

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a $30 million initiative to accelerate the market utilization of emerging, cutting-edge energy-efficiency technologies.

The Energy Efficiency Market Acceleration Program (EE-MAP) is being implemented by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The program will fund research, market development activities and demonstration projects to help leverage investments and promote business development opportunities for emerging energy efficiency technologies. In July 2012, the NYPA Board of Trustees authorized $30 million for the EE-MAP initiative.

House of Representatives passes bill to choke off Energy Department financing

Republicans in the House of Representatives quietly passed 13 provisions last week that would choke off Energy Department financing for existing clean energy and efficiency programs.

The House adopted the amendments on June 6 as part of its 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The proposed cuts reflect a broader trend. As the Tea Party reshapes the GOP, opposition to policies that reduce climate-changing gases and stoke the clean energy economy is soaring.

Renewable energy finance laws passed

Laws to create a government company to hand out $10 billion for renewable energy passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

A crucial part of the Labor-Greens deal for the carbon tax, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide financial backing for renewable energy start-ups that can't get private backing.
But the corporation also will be forced to ensure a return on its investment ends up back in government coffers.