On July 9, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear Clean Energy Act (the “Act”). The Act had significant bipartisan support. It reflects lawmakers’ goals to (1) streamline nuclear licensing procedures and regulation, (2) spur development of nuclear technologies, and (3) preserve existing nuclear generation. We summarize […]
Dirt Alert
IRS Updates Its Reporting Requirements for Carbon Capture and Storage Tax Credits
Section 45Q of the Federal Tax Code provides a tax credit for carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) projects. Eligible CCS owners can claim a base credit of $17 per metric ton of sequestered carbon dioxide (or $36 for direct‑air‑capture technology). That credit can increase to $85 per metric ton (or […]
Nebraska Legislature Begins Special Session on Property Taxes, Bills Impacting Renewable-Energy and Municipal Law
The Nebraska Legislature convened a Special Session on July 25, 2024. Governor Jim Pillen called the Special Session “to fix the state’s property tax crisis.” Under legislative rules, senators had three legislative days to introduce legislation. Senators introduced 81 bills and 24 constitutional amendments. All of those received a public […]
Nebraska Supreme Court Upholds Injunction Requiring Feedlot Owner to Obtain Conditional Use Permit
Dirt Rd. Dev. LLC v. Hirschman, 316 Neb. 757 (2024) Howard County required a landowner to obtain a conditional use permit (“CUP”) for a feedlot expansion. The landowner challenged that decision. The lower court upheld Howard County’s interpretation of its zoning regulations. The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed. The court’s holding […]
FERC’s New Orders Address Electric Transmission Development and Planning to Maintain a Reliable Grid
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) recently issued a long-awaited rule governing development and cost-allocation for electrical transmission lines. On May 13, 2024, FERC adopted Order Numbers 1920 and 1977. These orders express FERC’s goal to meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable electricity and may impact energy generation facilities […]