IN THIS ISSUE
Uncertainty in Mexico as new president takes office
Many people have been asking since Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office as Mexican president in early December what this means for the power and infrastructure sectors in the country.
Effects of the US mid-term elections on the US power sector
A group of veteran Washington insiders talked three days after the election about what the results mean for the US power sector, particularly renewable energy.
State of the wind industry
Panelists had a wide-ranging conversation in San Francisco in October about the state of the US wind industry.
Cap on interest deductions explained
The Internal Revenue Service filled in detail in late November about how a new cap works on the interest expense that a company can deduct each year.
Buying assets from financially distressed sellers
When a developer that has sold assets later files for bankruptcy, many of its transactions that it engaged in during the time leading up to its bankruptcy filing will be scrutinized in the bankruptcy case.
Current issues in community solar projects
Three community solar developers and one aggregator of community solar customers talked at the Infocast Community Solar 2.0 conference about the how the basic business model is evolving and current issues.
California CCA outlook
Representatives of three California CCAs talked at an American Wind Energy Association finance conference in San Francisco in October about their needs for additional power and some of the challenges they face.
Mitigating weather risk in existing offtake contracts
Project sponsors and corporate electricity purchasers are entering into two new types of arrangements to mitigate risk in existing offtake contracts.
Environmental update
The meaning of “critical habitat” and the scope of protection offered by the Endangered Species Act are being hotly litigated in the appellate courts, with potentially significant implications for developers.
IN OTHER NEWS
US tariffs
US tariffs are causing some types of Chinese imports to surge.
California
California will decide next year whether to conform to the tax changes the federal government made in late 2017.
Interest and property taxes
Interest and property taxes must sometimes be capitalized rather than deducted.
US solar installations
US solar installations dipped 15% in the third quarter 2018.
New gas-fired power plants
New gas-fired power plants are expected to eclipse wind and solar installations this year.
US installed wind capacity
US installed wind capacity stood at 90,550 megawatts at the end of the third quarter 2018, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Prepaid power contracts
Prepaid power contracts are harder to make work after the US tax reforms last December.