Renewable Energy
From site acquisition and facility permitting to power purchase agreement negotiation and project financing, the emerging area of renewable energy development is complex and requires a diverse base of knowledge. HSE’s Renewable Energy team brings together attorneys from across different practices to advise on the feasibility, financing, structuring, and regulation of a wide range of renewable energy projects. Our extensive experience in construction, corporate, energy, environmental, litigation, municipal, real estate, and tax law helps clients address issues and identify opportunities in this evolving sector.
We advise individuals, companies, and municipalities on first-of-its-kind waste to energy technologies, solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable fuel generating projects across the region. Our services cover the full scope of renewable energy-related projects including:
- Energy facility siting, licensing and permitting for power generation and transmission projects
- Private (conventional, private equity, and tax equity) and public (federal and state incentive programs) financing
- Real estate acquisition, right of way, easement, and lease negotiation
- Entity formation, acquisition, and structuring
- Negotiation of power purchase and revenue sharing agreements, leases, PILOTs, and host community agreements for community solar, on-site, and utility-scale projects
- Federal (FERC), state (Article 10, New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting, PSC, NYSDEC), and local environmental, energy, and land use regulatory matters
- Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon caps
- Dispute resolution, including litigation and arbitration
Building Confidence in Future Solar Opportunities
Where we started: Our client, a regional retailer, was approached by a developer to be the anchor tenant in an Upstate New York commercial solar project. The client was intrigued and saw the opportunity as a way to support the burgeoning clean energy sector while gaining a potential energy cost savings. As with anything that is new, the process and the contracts were complex and convoluted, and the client was unsure if the proposal was feasible or worth their time.
Our approach: These deals can seem opaque and many clients immediately ask, “What is the financial bottom line?” We educated our client on the process, the opportunity, and the economics of these types of projects. We provided the metrics, pros and cons of the contract, and decided with the client that this project/developer was not right for it.
The outcome: Although this specific project did not come to fruition, we helped the client realize that as a large user of energy, it can take the reins on finding the best solution for them and need not settle for less than the ideal situation. The client is now actively seeking solar energy projects and considering rolling out the concept to each of its locations.
Helping a Municipality Make Sense of Solar Proposals
Where we started: Solar projects can offer municipalities a wide range of benefits including saving them and their residents money, reducing dependence on power grids, and demonstrating commitments to clean energy and sustainability. Our long-time client, the Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency (TEIDA), wanted to explore developing a few parcels of Town land for solar projects to benefit its community and create revenue. Two parcels were chosen to be included in the TEIDA’s RFP to developers; one a closed landfill and the other a vacant parcel. TEIDA received multiple responses and we were brought in to help select a developer from the proposals.
Our approach: After reviewing the proposals, it became clear that, as a whole, the submissions were not presented in a way that allowed TEIDA to make an informed decision. For example, one developer proposed a traditional, behind-the-meter project. Another proposed a community distributed generation project. We suggested TEIDA re-run the RFP process from the beginning to ensure the information in the submissions was uniform and comprehensive. After helping to re-draft and re-issue the RFP, we reviewed the submissions with TEIDA, highlighting the pros and cons of each proposal in the specific context of TEIDA’s parcels and goals, and identify the differences. Because of our experience handling these types of projects, we were able to answer many technical and legal questions to help TEIDA arrive at an informed, confident decision as to which proposal best fit its goals and furthered its purpose of helping the members of its community.
The outcome: With our assistance, TEIDA understood the economics of each proposal, and thus was able to select the developer that provided the right approach for TEIDA. The project will result in significant additional revenue over the course of the agreement and a new source of clean energy for the Town and its residents. There is no doubt that solar projects can offer benefits to municipalities. The challenge is making sure the selected project is optimal for the specific entity, and that requires that the municipality understand complex aspects of this area. Our primary objective in these matters is to educate the client so they are comfortable with the terms, the technology, the risks, and the opportunities.
Key Contacts
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Matthew A. Eldred
Senior Associate
Rochester
585.231.1487
meldred@hselaw.com -
Megan K. Dorritie
Partner
Rochester and Corning
585.231.1115
mdorritie@hselaw.com
Team
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John A. Anderson
Partner
Rochester and Corning
585.231.1169
janderson@hselaw.com -
Allison E. Bartlett
Associate
Rochester
585.231.1302
abartlett@hselaw.com -
Leslie M. Connolly
Retired Partner
Corning and Rochester
585-231-1367
lconnolly@hselaw.com -
Sheldon K. Smith
Partner
Buffalo and Corning and New York City
716.844.3761
ssmith@hselaw.com -
Paul D. Sylvestri
Partner
Rochester and Corning
585.231.1194
psylvestri@hselaw.com -
Thomas M. Tuori
Partner
Buffalo and Rochester
585.231.1449
ttuori@hselaw.com
According to our clients:
“The particular strength of the firm is their ability to provide billing advantages while delivering the commercial sophistication and flexibility available in high-end markets.”
“Harter Secrest & Emery lawyers provide deep, substantive expertise, excellent client service and a cost effective, practical approach to problem solving.”