@HodgonRossLLP provides detailed summary of new financial incentives and stakeholder benefits in New York State for the redevelopment of underutilized properties with alternative energy and beneficial use outcomes. @jdsupra

Brownfields, landfills, and other underutilized sites are attracting renewable energy developers now more than ever.  In recent months, New York State has sent strong market signals that will drive development to these sites, so they can be put back into beneficial reuse.  The State’s leveraging of incentive dollars is meant to assist in offsetting the historical risk aversion to such redevelopment and ensure smart siting that benefits host communities in a myriad of ways. The State has coupled the increased incentives that will be available to project developers with community-based incentives, such as offsets of ratepayer bills, aimed at further encouraging local governments to seek out these types of redevelopments on certain controlled sites, as well as finding other ways to make these types of sites advantageous to developers.

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Posted August 10, 2020

Brownfields get recognition in the general real estate industry.

by Erik Martin

When a commercial or industrial property becomes contaminated with toxins, chemicals, and other pollutants and abandoned, the result is a brownfield. A brownfield can stand as an ugly blight on the area and deter prospective buyers and developers from taking a closer look. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a program to encourage the expansion, reuse, or redevelopment of brownfields that provides incentives to invest in these properties. But before committing to a brownfield site, it’s important to know what you’re getting into and prudently ponder:

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Posted August 3, 2020

@JDSUPRA update on what Tennessee is doing to incentivize brownfield redevelopment through F&E tax credits. 

Tennessee Expands Brownfield Franchise and Excise Tax Credit

On March 20, Gov. Lee signed into law SB 2158/HB 2227, which amends the Tennessee statute governing franchise and excise (F&E) tax credits available for brownfield redevelopment. Effective July 1, 2020, the law creates significant new opportunities to incentivize brownfield redevelopment in Tennessee through F&E tax credits. 

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Posted July 13, 2020

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will receive an $800,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Brownfields grant. The NJEDA can use this funding to capitalize a revolving loan fund or to provide subaward grants to communities, developers, and nonprofits carrying out cleanup and redevelopment activities at brownfield sites. EPA also awarded grants to the cities of Camden and Jersey City and the nonprofit Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. In total, the Agency provided nearly $2.1 million to support brownfield remediation in New Jersey.

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Posted July 13, 2020

In her article in the National Law Review, Jennifer Baker describes insurance coverage for historic releases of contaminants more recently identified and regulated. Further, insurance options are currently available to protect you from future emerging contaminants issues.

Never heard of that chemical? It could be an emerging contaminant, which calls for careful consideration as to whether there is insurance coverage for environmental investigations and remediation that may be required due to its presence in the environment. 

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Posted July 6, 2020

Summary of the EPA's guide to community involvement in brownfield redevelopment. What steps can the community take towards revitalization?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recently developed a Guide to help communities with brownfields to more successfully address community revitalization and brownfields-related challenges.  The guide outlines concrete actions communities can take to address these challenges.

Through the three case studies described in the Guide, it is shown that attracting public or private investment for the reuse of brownfield properties can bring economic and social benefits to communities, in addition to improving environmental conditions.

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Posted July 6, 2020

Vermont Business Magazine

Brownfield clean-up will soon be underway at the former Montpelier Granite Works (MGW) site. This clean-up is made possible by the revolving loan funds (RLF) of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC). Each is contributing $200,000 in clean-up funding towards the $500,000 total remediation cost. These loans were underwritten by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Both RLFs were capitalized by the US Environmental Protection Agency. 

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Posted June 29, 2020

by Geoff Rushton

In what was once a forge shop, there's a transformation happening, the centerpiece of efforts to date to revitalize the former Cerro Metal Plant in Spring Township.

It's there that in the coming months the new Axemann Brewery, joined by a relocated Blonde Bistro, will open in Plant 1 of what is now known as Titan Park on Axemann Road.

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Posted June 29, 2020

Five-year investment plan for climate-firendly infrastructure investments from top national leadership includes brownfield redevelopment. @stephaniegidigbi @nrdc 

By Stephanie Gidigbi

Congressional leaders unveiled a transformative vision of moving America and the environment forward by investing in 21st century infrastructure.

The Moving Forward Framework outlines a five-year plan for bold investment in transportation and water infrastructure. The plan shows how the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill and Water Resources Development Act can help us address our climate crisis and prepare for the more extreme weather events we are already experiencing.

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Posted June 21, 2020

Recently proposed regulatory standards in PA generally more stringent and add PFAS, but the proposed increase in lead standard for non-residential use is getting some attention.

Pennsylvania is proposing to relax its non-residential standard for the concentration of lead allowed in the surface soils of obsolete contaminated properties adhering to its voluntary cleanup program. Such sites, like the South Philadelphia refinery complex, have potential for redevelopment as commercial or industrial ventures.

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Posted June 15, 2020