The power and energy industry kicked off 2010 in New Orleans at the Projects & Money conference sponsored by Infocast Jan. 11–13. The meeting was billed as a “deal-working event,” and after a year as bad as 2009, most attendees were certain deal flow can only get better in the year ahead.

Most attendees were cautiously optimistic about 2010 — credit markets are loosening and deals can get funded, but they have to be “quality projects” that have been well vetted and backed by firms with good track records. It’s an election year, and politicians will want to provide constituents with jobs and services, and according to a speaker on the Government Policy Outlook panel, “The political drive to cut checks is reaching a crescendo.”

Renewables such as wind and solar have enjoyed federal government subsidies and tax credits; how long these will last was up for debate. 2010 should be another good year for these projects, but watch out: if the government su