Solar Energy Law

Solar Energy Law

Solar energy is one of the main driving forces behind growing the global renewable energy transformation. Technologic improvements, and favorable market conditions have developed to a level now where the economics of solar energy projects are on par with polluting coal solutions.  The only step that remains to implement solar energy solutions en masse.  CLP is proud to have numerous solar developers, owners, operators, manufacturers and contractors as clients, and doing our part to growing the solar energy industry in the US and around the world. Our legal team has some of the most experienced solar energy lawyers out there. Most come from top law firms, and have worked in house for leading solar developers, manufacturers, and installers.  If you are building a residential, distributed generation, community, or commercial/utility-scale solar project, odds are we have a few lawyers on the team that worked on a similar project.  Please click here to download CLP’s Solar Practice Group brochure.

Specialties:

  • Solar lease agreements
  • Rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects
  • Financing solar projects
  • Community solar structuring
  • Solar EPC, manufacturing, and installation agreements
  • Permitting solar projects
  • Solar on tribal land
  • Distributed generation solar project
  • Residential solar project
  • Commercial & utility-scale solar project
  • Solar thermal project development
  • Solar incentive programs
  • ITC for solar projects
  • Tax credits for solar projects
  • Community solar projects
  • Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
  • Solar energy, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreements
  • Solar due diligence projects for investors
  • PUC hearings for solar
  • Customs and tariff advice for solar
  • Solar project structuring
  • Draft legislations for solar feed-in-tariff
  • Solar tax credits and incentive programs
  • FERC regulatory advise for solar projects
  • Purchase and sale of solar assets
  • Counsel landowners considering going solar
  • Environmental permits for solar projects

Representative matters:

  • Review and update an option to lease and an option to purchase agreement for the purpose of acquiring site control for solar projects in Illinois for Saturn Power.
  • Represented SUN8 in 88MW community solar project in upstate New York, including suite of agreements, development of SPE, drafting subscription agreements, and negotiated asset interest purchase agreements.
  • Served as general counsel for TruSolar, a community solar developer currently developing over 100MW of community solar projects;
  • Negotiated PPAs, prepared preliminary title reviews, and served as outside general counsel for Borrego Solar, one of the largest solar energy, procurement, and construction (EPC) providers in the U.S.;
  • Advised BrightSource Energy, the world’s leading solar-thermal developer on project development, agreement drafting and in-house general counsel services in California and Israel;
  • Served as in-house counsel for Distributed Sun, a top Washington, D.C. based community solar developer with a network of over $1 billion in industry specific investment;
  • Conducted due diligence on utility-scale solar projects and drafted loan documents for international banking institutions, such as Bank SinoPac and Far East Bank;
  • Drafted solar lease agreements for pipeline of solar project developers, including A-1 Solar Power, a solar PV developer in Southern California;
  • Served as legal counsel for the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) during negotiation and subsequent hearings at the Colorado Public Utility Commission against Xcel Energy’s revocation of a popular consumer solar incentive program in Colorado;
  • Provided in-house counsel services, including regarding US Customs solar tariff for EcoSolargy, a California-based manufacturer of PV solar panels;
  • Represented SunPerfect, a leading developer and PV manufacturer during equity investment in utility-scale solar PV projects;
  • Provided solar project structuring support for Clean Focus, a company focused on financing and leasing solar power installations in the commercial, government, and utility sectors;
  • Advised India’s Ministry for New and Renewable Energy on revision of PPA template for use with residential, commercial and utility-scale solar projects across India;
  • Negotiated numerous PPA agreements for a variety of solar energy project developers, including for Sustainable Capital Finance, and Atlantec Solar;
  • Filed dozens of applications for government incentive programs, including ITC, PTC and 1603 grants on behalf of solar project developer clients, including First Sun Solar and Twin Solar;
  • Advised on REC, ITC, and environmental benefits matters for Green Flow Energy, a Toronto-based solar power project developer;
  • Advised on feed-in-tariff requirements, and solar project finance options for Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District;
  • Provided FERC regulatory advise regarding seller requirements under Order 679 to receive market-based rate authority or seek status as a qualified facility during due diligence projects for Bank SinoPac;
  • Drafted and negotiated merger, acquisition and joint-venture agreements for solar companies, including Cleantech Power Partners;
  • Counseled numerous landowners on financial aspects and legal implications of solar projects;
  • Represented many investors during negotiations for the sale and lease of solar energy projects;
  • Applied for relevant construction, compliance, and environmental permits for major solar PV project developers.