IN THIS ISSUE

Islamic Bonds Go Mainstream

Sukuk or Islamic bond financing still has the reputation of being a niche product. Despite this, it is showing signs of becoming a mainstream option to finance infrastructure projects...

Renewable Energy Opportunities in The Middle East

Jordan has initiated the second round of its unsolicited proposals scheme that permits developers to submit renewable energy project proposals directly to the government...

Additional Power Needed in Southern California

The shutdown of the 2,246-megawatt San Onofre nuclear generating station — called SONGS — and the expected shutdown during the period 2017 through 2020 of 5,068 megawatts of coastal power plants t...

Legislative Victories Promise Further Growth for Rooftop Solar in California

A series of bills that cleared the California legislature in September could dramatically alter an already rapidly-growing market for distributed solar...

UK Green Bank Update

What started out as an idea to make the UK government the “greenest government ever” could in fact be becoming a failing scheme...

Hawaii: Renewables Paradise?

Hawaii has ambitious renewable energy and clean infrastructure goals, including a goal of generating at least 40% of its electricity from renewable energy and at least 70% from clean energy by 203...

Bridge PPAs

The California utilities are putting out requests for proposals, but they do not need the electricity until 2019 or 2020 and are asking for power purchase agreements of only 10 years...

Chinese Solar: On The Upswing?

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote in Ode to the West Wind, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” This is a good description of the current solar photovoltaic industry in China...

Environmental update

September was a tough month for developers of new coal-fired power plants...

IN OTHER NEWS

Several Construction Start Issues

Several Construction-Start Issues remain unsettled. Meanwhile, the market is feeling its way...

Treasury cash grants

Treasury cash grants lead to more litigation.

Economic substance

Economic substance remains a focus in US tax cases.

Some Refundable Tax Credits

Some refundable tax credits are subject to sequestration...

Investment Funds May Be Liable For Underfunded Pensions in Companies in Which They Invest

Investment fund managers remain troubled by a decision by a US appeals court this summer that suggests such funds may sometimes be engaged in the US trades or businesses of portfolio companies the...

Solar Equipment Prices

Solar equipment prices continue to fall...

The Mexican Congress

The Mexican Congress is expected to vote by the end of the month on a tax reform plan that President Enrique Peña Nieto proposed on September 8. The plan is being heavily lobbied...

A California Property Tax Valuation

A California property tax valuation of a power plant has come under scrutiny . . .

Argentina

Argentina changed its tax laws effective September 23.

Washington State

Washington State increased a tax credit for harvesting forest biomass for use as fuel to produce electricity or steam or as a feedstock for making biofuels...

Minor memos

Revenue collected by IRS agents declined 9% in fiscal year 2012....