The presence of coal in the U.S.’s energy mix has obviously changed dramatically over the past 15-20 years. From the continued growth of natural gas to the expansion of renewables to the increased focus on nuclear energy, coal has fallen quite a bit since its peak usage in the mid-2000s.

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer is joined by Fran Taglia, President of Weir International, an independent consultancy that provides mining, geology and energy related services throughout the United States and internationally. Fran has two decades of technical, operational analysis and business management experience in the financial, product development and production industries.

During the episode, Seltzer and Taglia talk about the changing role of coal as an energy source and key drivers impacting its future. How much does the political landscape impact this resource? Is a true coal resurgence really happening? What untapped opportunities are there for this industry?

To learn more about Weir International, visit: http://www.weirintl.com/

To learn more about Fran Taglia, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-taglia-4b355841

To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer ⁠

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4th, 2025, coupled with an Executive Order (EO) issued by President Trump on July 7th, have shined a light on certain key requirements impacting eligibility for various renewable tax credits that have existed for a number of years, but which have likely been under most people’s radar. The requirements are known as the “Beginning of Construction” or “BOC” requirements.

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Ed Hild, a principal in Buchanan's government relations practice, and Carl Staiger, a shareholder the firm’s tax section with a specific focus on energy-related projects.

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) accelerated the phase-out or termination of tax credits available for most commercial renewable energy projects. As many in the industry know, maintaining eligibility for tax credits has been an important issue for as long as renewable energy tax credits have existed, as the economic viability of many projects have been tied to these credits. During their conversation, the group explores what the changes made in the OBBB and the potential impact of the Executive Order mean for wind and solar developers with a focus on BOC.

To learn more about Ed Hild, visit: https://www.bipc.com/edward-hild

To learn more about Carl Staiger, visit: https://www.bipc.com/carl-staiger

To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer

To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Stephen McCloskey, Residential Energy Efficiency Analyst at Cape Light Compact. Cape Light Compact is an energy services organization operated by the 21 towns on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Dukes County in Massachusetts. In his role, McCloskey helps with the administration of its energy efficiency programs for single-family residential customers.

During their conversation, the trio take a deep dive into Cape Light Compact’s energy efficiency programs, specifically the Cape and Vineyard Electrification Offering, or C-V-E-O, and how they’re working to decarbonize the communities they serve. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities with decarbonization at a smaller scale, the process for customers to adopt greener energy options and how Cape Light is making a difference not just in New England but is actually setting an example for communities well beyond the Northeast.

To learn more about Cape Light Compact, visit: https://www.capelightcompact.org

To learn more about Stephen McCloskey, visit: https://www.capelightcompact.org/staff/stephen-mccloskey/

To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer

To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis