Energy + Infrastructure

Renewable Energy

Experience

  • Energy Construction
  • Energy M&A
  • EPC Contracts
  • Intellectual Property
  • Solar
  • Tax Credits
  • Wind

Mission Clean Energy

Advised utility scale renewable energy developer Mission Clean Energy, LLC in connection with private equity firm Wafra Inc.’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Mission Clean Energy.

Catalyze Acquisition of Sol Alliance

Represented Colorado-based independent power producer Catalyze in its acquisition of Sol Alliance, a leading Northeastern commercial-scale solar developer, as part of the company's plan to expand its national presence by acquiring leading regional distributed solar development companies.

Swinerton Incorporated

Represented Swinerton Incorporated in the sale of its renewable energy division Swinerton Renewable Energy (SRE) and wholly-owned subsidiary SOLV, Inc. to private equity firm American Securities LLC. The transaction combines Swinerton's existing EPC and O&M service groups together under one company name, SOLV Energy, LLC.

Catalyze

Represented leading national independent power producer Catalyze as due diligence counsel in its acquisition of solar developer and installer PermaCity.

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC

Represented NextEra Energy Resources, LLC in the real estate, permitting and development of utility-scale solar and solar-plus-storage projects including the 750 MW McCoy Solar Energy Project (BLM, Riverside County, CA), 500 MW Blythe Solar Power Project (BLM, CEC); current permitting and development of 500 MW Yellow Pine Solar Project (BLM); on-going O&M of the existing Blythe, McCoy/Arlington and Desert Sunlight Solar Farm; and environmental and permitting diligence for the 1.3 GW Eagle Crest Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project.

Commercial Rooftop Solar Projects

Represented True Green Capital, LLC with permitting and financing support for multiple commercial rooftop and carport solar projects in LADWP service territory/feed-in-tariff program; and diligence and development of commercial rooftop solar projects at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base (California) and Buckley Air Force Base (Colorado).

NaturEner USA

Represented NaturEner USA LLC, a renewable energy company, in securing a $320 million construction loan to build the 189-megawatt Rim Rock wind power project in Montana. 

Soitec

Served as corporate, real estate and financing counsel with respect to the development, acquisition and financing of solar energy projects in California.

World Energy, LLC

Represented World Energy, LLC, one of the largest advanced biofuel suppliers in North America, in its acquisition of Delek US Holdings, Inc.’s interests in renewable jet fuel and diesel producer AltAir Paramount, LLC.

Invenergy Wind Projects

Represented Invenergy in connection with developing, acquiring and financing wind projects in Colorado and California, including as lead project development counsel with respect to a joint venture between Invenergy and SDG&E developing a wind project on tribal land in Southern California.

Perpetual Energy Systems

Represented Perpetual Energy Systems in connection with renewable energy/construction financing of a $35 million construction term loan and tax equity investment. U.S. Bank served as the construction lender and tax equity sponsor.

First Solar - Campo Verde

Served as corporate, environmental, real estate and permitting counsel on the acquisition, development and sale of the Campo Verde Solar Project, a 139-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility located on a 1,443-acre site in Imperial County, Calif.

First Solar - Rosamond Solar Project

Represented First Solar, Inc. in connection with EPC contract for 150 MW Rosamond Solar Project in Kern County, California.

First Solar - Transactional Work

Served as lead transactional and diligence counsel to First Solar in connection with several utility-scale photovoltaic solar development projects, including the acquisition of the Moapa Solar Project in Nevada. 

First Solar - Topaz Solar Farm

Served as environmental, real estate and permitting counsel on the development and financing of the Topaz Solar Farm project, a 550-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility located on approximately 4,000 acres of private project land with more than 12,000 acres of land to be protected and preserved in San Luis Obispo County.

SOLON Corporation

Represented manufacturer/developer in connection with EPC, O&M and stock purchase agreements related to 10 megawatt tracking solar energy facility in Mohave County, AZ.

First Solar - Desert Sunlight Solar Farm

Served as environmental, real estate and permitting counsel on the development and financing of the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm project, a 550-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility located on approximately 4,000 acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Riverside County.

Zep Solar

Defended Zep Solar (which was later acquired by SolarCity) in patent infringement lawsuits filed in the International Trade Commission and the Northern District of California relating to efficient techniques for mounting solar panels. After obtaining early dismissal of Plaintiffs' claim for declaratory judgment of noninfringement because there was no subject matter jurisdiction, we sought a stay of the litigation pending an inter partes reexamination of the patent-in-suit in the Patent and Trademark Office. The asserted patents were invalidated virtually in their entirety, and the cases then settled.

FRV, Inc.

Represented FRV, Inc. in the acquisition of an early-stage, 350 megawatt photovoltaic solar development project, including acquisition of the project entity, land transfers and mitigation land option agreements.

Exploratorium Museum San Francisco

Assisted in monetizing the renewable energy tax credits associated with an approx. $7 million 1.5 MW PV rooftop solar installation at its newly renovated science museum facility located on the San Francisco waterfront and represented the client in connection with agreements for the purchase and operation and maintenance of the system.

Wisconsin Energy/Elm Road

Represented Wisconsin Energy and Power in connection with the development of a $2.3 billion twin unit super critical coal-fired power plant on the banks of Lake Michigan. Our representation included defending against a $515 million claim by the project's general contractor.

First Solar - Switch Station Solar Projects

Served as permitting, real estate and project development counsel for 179 megawatt AC Switch Station 1 and Switch Station 2 solar projects located on federal public land in Clark County, Nevada, including with respect to the sale of the completed projects to EDF Renewable Energy.

First Solar Acquisition of NextLight Renewable Power

Assisted First Solar in acquiring, by merger, NextLight Renewable Power’s extensive solar project pipeline in California, Arizona and Nevada valued at $285M. Farella attorneys coordinated the environmental, permitting and land use aspects of the transaction for First Solar.

Guenoc Winery

Represented winery in negotiations of a pending contract for the third party installation and ownership of a large solar power facility.

International Integrated Alternative Energy Company

Represented an international integrated alternative energy company in negotiating all aspects of several EPC contracts for utility scale solar projects; preparation of joint development agreements, joint operating agreements, and due diligence reports for sites throughout the Western United States; and drafting contracts touching on virtually all aspects of operating a major international solar energy company.

OptiSolar

Represented trading arm of major U.S. independent power producer in development of template resource adequacy purchase and sale confirmations under various master purchase and sale agreements other energy providers and load serving entities and ongoing representation in negotiating specific transactions under such templates as well as under confirmation forms generated by counterparties.

PV Solar Agreements - Arizona

We have represented a variety of owners and developers in connection with the negotiation and documentation of agreements related to the engineering, procurement, construction, and purchase and sale of photovoltaic electricity generation facilities, including a 20 MW tracking ground-mounted system in Arizona.

Utility Scale Solar EPC Contracting

Represented International Integrated Alternative Energy Company in negotiating all aspects of several EPC contracts for utility scale solar projects; preparation of joint development agreements, joint operating agreements, and due diligence reports for sites throughout the Western United States; and drafting contracts touching on virtually all aspects of operating a major international solar energy company.

California Independent System Operator

Represented the California ISO in a wide variety of matters, including arbitrations and disputes with market participants, and representation of independent power producers in connection with transmission access issues.

Firm Highlights

News

Lawdragon Names 7 Farella Lawyers Among “Leaders in Environmental Law”

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce that seven lawyers were selected to The Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law . Farella lawyers selected for inclusion: Sarah...

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Publication

Wind Energy Project Approvals and Tax Credits Look To Outpace Macroeconomic and Supply Chain Headwinds in 2024

A snapshot of the renewable wind industry on October 31, 2023, captures many of the current challenges and opportunities for the industry and regulatory agencies heading into 2024.  That day, the world’s largest offshore...

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News

Farella Wins Complete Defense Ruling at Trial for Smart Meter Technology Company

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel secured a complete defense victory for a smart meter technology company following a two-week bench trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California...

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Publication

Achieving Compatibility Between Solar Project Developers and Mineral Estate Holders

By Dirk R. Mueller , Alyssa Netto , and Will Russ Texas and California lead the country in terms of solar energy generating capacity while also maintaining major oil and gas production operations, which...

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News

Farella Announces 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinders: Taylor Rottjakob and John Ugai

Farella Braun + Martel is proud to announce that senior associates  Taylor E. Rottjakob and John M. Ugai have been named 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Pathfinders. Pathfinders have been identified as...

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