Luce Forward’s Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology group takes an interdisciplinary approach to the needs of clients in this cutting edge sector. Attorneys from virtually every practice area in the firm combine their expertise to provide comprehensive solutions to the industry’s diverse and complex legal problems.
As a result, Luce Forward is able to offer a full spectrum of legal services to clients across the industry, from the sponsors, developers, power purchasers, and financing sources of renewable energy projects, to the manufacturers and providers of new sustainable technologies, to the companies that insure evolving categories of climate change risk. Examples of how Luce Forward’s interdisciplinary approach enables us to offer clients the right solution for their particular situation include:
Advising Utility-Scale Developers With Site Selection, Acquisition, Leasing and Entitlements.
With one of California’s largest real estate practices, Luce Forward offers unparalleled expertise to advise clients with renewable energy projects on site selection, acquisition, leasing and entitlement issues. We understand the importance of grid access, water rights, and other issues specific to energy projects, as well as how to negotiate appropriate flexibility into purchase options, purchase agreements, or leases to maximize a project’s chance of success. In addition, we understand California’s often daunting entitlement process, and our state-wide land use practice has the knowledge and local expertise to successfully guide projects from concept to completion.
Counseling Clean Energy Producers and Distributors in Regulatory Issues and Power Purchase Agreements.
Luce Forward attorneys have deep expertise in the purchase and sale of energy, and are at the forefront of California’s legislative and regulatory energy landscape. Our transactional and regulatory experience representing upstream and downstream energy industry participants coupled with our project finance and power purchase agreement experience enables us to navigate a web of complex issues to achieve the best financial results for our clients.
Representing Sustainable Technology Startups in Corporate, Licensing and Intellectual Property Issues.
Many sustainable technology startups need assistance not only with the general corporate matters common to other new ventures, but also with the development of patent portfolios and licensing relationships fundamental to their business. We understand what it takes to successfully launch a startup company, and can provide the legal expertise to help clients navigate the challenges of building and financing not only a company, but also a cutting edge product and intellectual property platform.
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS.
Luce Forward attorneys have experience advising clients in a wide array of renewable energy, sustainable technology and climate change matters, including the following:
Renewable and Clean Energy Site Acquisition, Leasing and Entitlements.
National real estate representation of a utility scale solar power developer in over 12 PV power plant projects.
Representation of a utility scale solar developer in real estate transactional matters.
Representation of a 540 megawatt clean energy power plant in land use and regulatory matters, including obtaining California Energy Commission permits, ensuring local land use, and CEQA and clean water act compliance.
Representation of a major renewable energy developer regarding a 2,000 megawatt wind and solar project.
Representation of a major Canadian wind project in land use matters for purposes of meeting California RPS requirements.
Renewable Enegy Project Finance and Development.
Representation of a client in the development financing and the closing of power purchase agreements for five CSP projects (900 megawatts in total) located in the Mohave Desert.
Structured permanent equity and debt financing and handled a variety of real estate and other issues for one of the two largest solar PV projects in North America.
Representation in connection with 500 turbine wind project in Northern California, including manufacturing agreements, intellectual property issues, wind power joint venture agreements and financing.
Representation of a major energy developer regarding tax credits and related issues for renewable energy projects.
Representation of a renewable energy company in connection with its acquisition of a large wind farm in Texas.
Representation in connection with the power purchase agreement negotiation and financing for a distributed generation PV project to be located on a government building.
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology Corporate Representation.
Representation of a Hong Kong-based biofuel company in the preliminary stages of setting up U.S. operations, including the assessment of land options.
Representation of project sponsor in the financing of a 5,000 acre industrial park along the Mexican/U.S. border for the fabrication of solar panels, among other technologies.
Representation of a major U.S. construction company regarding construction of an aqueduct and hydropower plant in Baja, California.
Representation of a global renewable energy company that manufactures and sells small wind turbines for residential, suburban and urban use, including taking the company public through an IPO in 2009.
Representation in connection with the acquisition of a clean technology company which processes and converts industrial waste.
Renewable Energy Project Litigation.
Representation of a major renewable energy developer in resolving a dispute involving foreign investors in a wind turbine project, and another dispute over a proposed wind turbine development. The company has commissioned more than 1,400 wind turbines throughout the world.
Representation of a major renewable energy developer in a dispute over a proposed wind turbine development.
Regulatory and Legislative Representation.
Represented load-serving entities (LSE) and wholesale power providers in the development of implementation rules for California’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), and in negotiations for wholesale and retail sales of renewable power.
Assisted LSEs in RPS compliance reporting and have been involved in advocacy concerning implementation of rules addressing RPS compliance, the role of renewables in meeting resource adequacy requirements, and rules applicable to renewable qualifying facilities.
Advised clients concerning implementation of AB 32, including assessment of CPUC and CEC recommendations to the Air Resources Board regarding greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures.
Involved in certificate proceedings addressing proposals for transmission necessary to connect renewable resources, and involved in the process of developing a market price referent for IOU contracts for the purchase of renewable power.