Media Mentions
2009
Gregory Lawrence was quoted in the Boston Business Journal on December 4 concerning the impact that the new Administration and Congress have had on lawyers and law firms. “The Obama administration and Congress have announced a number of important renewable energy incentives, and those have driven a number of transactional and regulatory projects for our firm,” Mr. Lawrence stated. He added that while the Bush Administration “constrained the Environmental Protection Agency from acting on its potential authority on the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases,” the Obama Administration and Congress are actively focused on regulating greenhouse gasses – another potential new source of legal work.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy & Commodities Government Investigations, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Global Renewable Energy, Emissions and New Products
Gregory Lawrence is quoted in Your Industry News on March 17 concerning the renewable energy incentives in the federal stimulus package. "It is to be seen how this money is delivered to the economy." Mr. Lawrence states.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Global Renewable Energy, Emissions and New Products, Government Strategies
Greg Lawrence was quoted in a March 10 Dow Jones Newswires column which predicted that the U.S. economic stimulus plan could spur U.S. investments by European renewable energy companies. The plan allows companies to receive money up front to help build new renewable energy generation, rather than having to sell tax breaks to banks in exchange for project financing. "It's money in the pocket today," Mr. Lawrence observed, "as opposed to a series of transactional relationships."
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Government Strategies
Kari Larson, Gregory Lawrence and Brian McGill's article "EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Proposal" appeared in the February 28 issue of The Lawyer's Brief.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Brian A. McGill, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Global Renewable Energy, Emissions and New Products
2008
Gregory K. Lawrence was mentioned in the December 1 issue ofPlatts Coal Outlook in an article regarding the Obama administration's plan to release its climate change policy or to send legislative language to Congress by Earth Day 2009. Mr. Lawrence noted that he is optimistic about the prospects of a cap-and-trade scheme because Obama favors cap-and-trade allowances. He added that which agency will regulate carbon trading is also on the table as three separate bills currently before Congress each name a different agency, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Gregory K. Lawrence was quoted in the May 26 issue of Electric Utility Week in an article regarding electric utilities’ energy efficiency capital spending programs. Mr. Lawrence noted that these programs rarely rise to the level of altering Wall Street investment patterns. "The level of expenditure when compared to overall rate base of revenues is just not significant enough for investors to take notice yet," he said. Mr. Lawrence added that investors that do take notice are generally skeptical about energy efficiency and the effectiveness of efficiency technologies. "I’ve consistently been asked, ‘Is demand response real? Does the technology work?'" he said.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
Gregory K. Lawrence was quoted in the January 28 issue of Energy Law360 in an article regarding the challenges faced by the U.S. wind energy market. As a partner in the Energy and Derivatives Markets Group, Mr. Lawrence discussed the roadblocks faced by the wind energy market including expiration of the federal production tax credit, significant demand for turbines, and competition from other renewable energy markets. "Wind development in the U.S. faces some important challenges that could result in a boom or bust cycle where wind projects may change hands several times, face construction delays and regulatory risk, look for off-takers, and possibly be part of an investment bubble by financial players that may not have fully vetted the technical and regulatory aspects of wind development," he said.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Government Strategies
2007
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the January 18 issue of UPI Energy Watch on a story about the solar industry's first PAC. He noted "the solar PAC will contend with more novel regulatory, technical and financial issues than other energy industry PACs. For example, the solar PAC will grapple with issues regarding who owns the renewable attributes and carbon offsets represented by consumer-installed solar power but sponsored by utilities, further expansion of renewable portfolios standards on a state-by-state basis, and growing markets for solar power that will attract capital—capital that is being pulled in many directions in the energy industry right now."
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
2006
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the October 3 issue of the Hartford Courant regarding state utility regulators missing an October 1 deadline for announcing big electric rate hikes. Mr. Lawrence commented that the risk of missing the deadline is suppliers' not bidding for electric contacts in Connecticut or adding a premium to their prices. "Both of those factors tend to increase the likelihood of higher prices for wholesale supply," commented Mr. Lawrence.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets
2005
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the November 21 issue of The Deal regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight on hedge funds investing in power plants.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Hedge Funds
Greg Lawrence was quoted in the November 21 issue of The Deal regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight on hedge funds investing in power plants.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Corporate, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Hedge Funds
