UPDATES: Stanford engineers develop state-by-state plan to convert U.S. to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050; Energy Department Offers Conditional Commitment to Cape Wind Offshore Wind Generation Project (Jul. 1, 2014); Energy Department Announces $10 million for Wave Energy Demonstration at Navy’s Hawaii Test Site (Apr. 28, 2014) On December…
Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
SPI Solar Starts 2014 With A $28.5 Million Cash Infusion
UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee, SPI Solar and KDC Solar Announce Joint Ownership of Mountain Creek Project (Feb. 21, 2014) On January 8, 2014, SPI Solar announced that it has “executed agreements with KDC Solar and China Development Bank (CDB) to provide immediate financing for the previously announced Imclone [solar power]…
New York Times Article Spotlights “Solar Power Craze on Wall St.” … Others Are Weighing In As Well
In their article Solar Power Craze on Wall St. Propels Start-Up, authors Diane Cardwell and Julie Creswelljan remark on the “solar power craze that is sweeping Wall Street,” acknowledging the companies “riding a wave of exuberance over the industry.” “The broad stock market is coming off its best year since…
Owner-Operated Businesses With No Employees May Be Surprised By Recent Cal AG Opinion
UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee, E-cigarettes face restrictions as cities update smoking ordinances (Mar. 10, 2014) Recently, the California Office of the Attorney General (“AG”) issued its Opinion No. 12-901 (Dec. 20, 2013), answering the question: “Under what circumstances does an owner-operated business with no employees nevertheless constitute a ‘place of…
Forum-Selection Clauses Are Here to Stay … and to Be Enforced
The U.S. Supreme Court recently showed strong support for enforcing forum-selection clauses in Atlantic Marine Construction Co., Inc. v. United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 571 U.S. ___ (2013). The Court’s decision discusses forum-selection clauses in contracts generally, but lays the foundation and support for enforcing…
License Qualifiers Under Greater Scrutiny For Direct Supervision Of Construction Operations
UPDATE: CSLB, CSLB to Get Tough on RMO Abuses (Summer 2014) Starting on January 1, 2014, amended Section 7068.1 of California’s Contractors State License Law, Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7200 et seq., requires licensees’ qualifiers to exercise direct supervision and control over the licensees’ operations to ensure compliance with…
2014 Resolution for the New Year – Be More Profitable
For most in the construction industry (and, for that matter, virtually all industries), the number one resolution is to be more profitable in the new year. We polled our Construction Counseling & Dispute Resolution and Real Estate teams for tips to help you keep this resolution. This is what they…
Court Issues Statement of Decision on Public Nuisance Claim, Ordering $1.1 Billion Lead Paint Contamination Abatement Program
Thirteen years after the complaint was filed, on Monday, December 16, 2013, California Superior Court Judge James P. Kleinberg, in People of the State of California v. Atlantic Richfield Co. et al., Santa Clara Superior Court Case No. 1-00-cv-788657, issued a proposed statement of decision (SOD) after a 23-day bench…
2014 Solar Decathlon Europe – Solar Home Stretch For Participants
Six months from now, on June 27, 2014, the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe will kick-off. The Decathlon will be held in Versailles, France and run from June 27 through July 14. The participating teams are: * Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts – School of Engineering and Architecture *…
CSLB Announces 2014 Pilot Program Focused On HVAC Contractors
UPDATE: CSLB Message From the Board Chair: “… I am troubled by the increasing number of complaints CSLB is receiving about predatory C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) contractors who are targeting vulnerable consumers after being called out for simple repairs or routine maintenance….” (Summer 2014) In its 2013…