The challenges facing small and medium-sized renewable power companies seeking financing was the main topic of discussion during a panel titled "The Future of Financing Ventures in the Renewable Energy Arena," held on the second day of Platts Annual Financing US Power conference in New York. Further adding to those challenges is the possible end of federal grants to the industry.
Ballard Spahr partner R. Thomas Hoffmann, who moderated the panel, compared the renewable power industry to the low-income housing sector, which also is government subsidized but is in no danger of losing government support. The question, Mr. Hoffmann said, is: "How do we get renewable energy there?"