Porter Wright’s extensive background in energy sector regulation, power siting, environmental law, tax law, construction law and business transactions equips us to stay on the leading edge of the growth of the renewable energy industry. Renewable energy portfolio standards, investment and production tax credits, an array of federal, state and local financial incentives, and evolving greenhouse gas regulatory policies are stimulating investment in renewable energy. Our experience includes advising on first-of-its-kind waste-to-energy technologies, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, bioenergy, tire fractionation and innovative cogeneration projects.

Our experience includes:

• Assisting with amendments to Ohio's 2008 energy policy legislation (SB 221) to include "fractionation" within the definition of "renewable energy resource" for Ohio's new renewable energy portfolio standards, resulting in innovative technologies that reduce waste, recover resources and produce a clean renewable fuel being included among available means of compliance with the legislative policy goals
• Coordinating economic development tax credits for construction of a cogeneration unit recognized by U.S. EPA as a leading initiative of its kind in the nation
• Guiding a Fortune 500 company in geographic considerations and available economic development incentives for a proposed industrial development to include construction of a LEED certified building and use of renewable energy sources
• Advising on power siting, environmental permitting and energy regulation issues related to first-of-its-kind technology to efficiently convert waste blast furnace gas into electricity and industrial process steam
• Providing advice on the use of biomass as a fuel to generate electricity, including New Source Performance Standards, PSD permitting, Hazardous Air Pollutant regulatory requirements, renewable energy credit issues, carbon emission accounting and greenhouse gas regulatory considerations
• Providing tax counsel and tax credit guidance regarding taxable motor fuels, nontaxable biofuels and "blended" biofuels for flagship BQ-9000 accredited producer of biodiesel under the National Biodiesel Accreditation Program
• Advising the developer and installer of solar panels regarding federal Treasury grants in lieu of federal tax credits
• Advising the developer of geothermal energy products regarding alternative business and tax structures, joint ventures and syndication issues
• Advising owners of power generation facilities regarding potential conversions to a biomass
• Assisting in financing transactions for ethanol facilities in Ohio
• Providing assistance in siting of compressed air electrical generation facilities in Ohio
• Analyzing legal and regulatory issues for a potential pumped-storage energy project