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Elements of Solar System Financing
“Going green” has never been more popular, and financing the acquisition of renewable energy equipment has never been more affordable, both for commercial users and individual consumers. A wide variety of government and private programs are available, providing acquisition dollars as well as tax credits, deductions, and exclusions, and other incentives intended to stimulate clean energy development and adoption. In “A Solar Grand Plan” in its January 2008 issue, Scientific American magazine contended that “a massive switch to solar power” is the logical answer to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and eliminating the resulting emissions. While there are programs and incentives aimed at a number of clean or renewable energy options, this article focuses on solar systems, which may be either photovoltaic energy systems involving arrays of cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity, or solar thermal energy systems that convert sunlight into heat for swimming pools, water, or other uses.
Consumers of energy, whether commercial or residential, are motivated to install solar systems to reduce their cost of electricity and make long-term utility expenses more predictable. In a lease of a solar system, typically the lease payment plus the new cost of electricity is less than the old bill for electricity alone. Lessors who offer solar systems for lease can take advantage of a variety of tax credits, grant payments, renewable energy credits, and rebates. Many companies engaged in the manufacture or installation of solar systems are now also actively offering lease financing, such as the SolarLease' marketed by one such provider.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys
Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.
Discovery of Claim Construction and Infringement Analysis May be Compelled Prior to a Markman Hearing
A defendant in a patent infringement suit may, during discovery and prior to a <i>Markman</i> hearing, compel the plaintiff to produce claim charts, claim constructions, and element-by-element infringement analyses.