BW INSIGHTS

BrownWinick Included in 2024 Edition of Best Laws Firms Ranked by Best®

By BrownWinick | 11.02.2023

BrownWinick is excited to announce the firm has been included in the Best Law Firms Ranked by Best® 2024 publication. Firms included in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms® list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality... Read More

Direct Pay Election and Transferability of Certain Energy Credits

By Maggie S. Schild | 07.03.2023

On June 21, 2023, the IRS issued proposed regulations for Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Sections 6417 and 6418, which relate to an election for direct payments of certain energy-related credits and transferability of certain energy credits, respectively. Furthermore, the IRS released FAQs regarding elective pay and transferability on June 14,... Read More

Wind Farm  Assessments for Repowers Have Changed

By Kelli Orton | 09.01.2022

During the most recent legislative session, the Iowa legislature passed a new law affecting the assessment of wind turbines that could have a big impact on operators planning to repower their turbines. If the county adopts the special wind farm assessment ordinance, the wind turbines are each assessed based upon the value of the turbines,... Read More

U.S. Department of Agriculture to Invest in Renewable Energy Infrastructure

By Haley Van Loon | 09.20.2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on September 9th that the Department will invest $464 million to improve the renewable energy infrastructure in 48 states and Puerto Rico. This program is designed to support rural communities, agricultural producers, and businesses. The USDA intends to prioritize a... Read More

Iowa Utilities Take Steps to Address Customers' COVID-19 Issues

By Haley Van Loon | 03.23.2020

Many of the electric, natural gas, water, and communications utilities serving Iowans have taken steps to address their customers’ utility service issues associated with the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Typically, these steps take the form of suspending disconnection of service for nonpayment, although the details of these suspensions can vary.... Read More

2020 Legislative Session - Week 8

By BrownWinick | 03.06.2020

Lawmakers passed their first major appropriations bill this week, funding K-12 education. Under SF 2142 school spending would increase by about $85.57 million. The 2.3% funding hike was a compromise between Senate and House Republicans. While the Senate proposed a 2.1% increase, the House called for 2.5%, which is what Governor Kim Reynolds... Read More

2020 Legislative Session - Week 7

By BrownWinick | 02.28.2020

Since many bills failed to clear the key “first funnel” deadline, lawmakers have shifted their focus to debating active legislation on the floor and crafting government spending measures. Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill Tuesday allocating more than $13 million to address K-12 funding inequities. SF 2164 authorizes $7.2 million to assist school... Read More

IEDA and IEC Financial Assistance Programs

By BrownWinick | 04.17.2019

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Energy Center (IEC) have opened two new programs to facilitate energy-related projects in Iowa, the IEC Grant Program and the Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program. The IEC Grant Program is a competitive grant program for projects that provide a benefit to Iowans who purchase electric... Read More

HF 193 Has Been Introduced in the Iowa Legislature

By BrownWinick | 02.06.2019

HF 193 has been introduced in the Iowa Legislature. It prohibits any “wind generation facility” or “wind energy conversion property” from being located within 2500 feet of any residence. It is an important and far reaching bill despite its brevity. The bill incorporates the definitions of these terms found in Iowa Code sections 476C.1 and 427B.26.... Read More

Financing Renewable Energy Projects

By BrownWinick | 01.29.2019

BrownWinick's Energy Practice Group is proud to have been asked to contribute to the Iowa Chapter for the new American Bar Association treatise on Financing Renewable Energy Projects: A Global Analysis and Review of Related Power Purchase Agreements. It is a valuable resource for developers seeking to develop projects anywhere in the world. This... Read More