As renewable energy becomes a more prominent part of the energy mix in the West, Welborn combines our substantial legal experience in energy, environmental, corporate, real estate, public land, water and natural resources law to assist clients in all aspects of acquiring, permitting and selling renewable energy projects. Our expertise includes assisting clients with real estate, land use, access and rights-of-way, on both private and federal lands, planning, and environmental permitting for renewable and alternative energy development of solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and transmission projects.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:
- Performed due diligence for the acquisition of wind power properties and easements in eastern Colorado and Wyoming
- Provided federal permitting and wildlife advice for the largest wind project in North America on private and federal surface
- Advised on permitting for the first utility solar project on public lands and developed first-of-kind solutions to regulatory hurdles in California which led to representation of other CSP and PV solar projects in Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona
- Represented the geothermal industry with comments on the rules implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005 amendments to the Geothermal Steam Act and assisted companies to lease federal geothermal
- Represented a wind company seeking to permit projects on public land and U.S. Forest Service lands in California with permitting challenges including visual resources, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, cultural resources, and sensitive lands
- Provided advice to wind and solar companies on split estate mineral interests and how to address potential conflicts in Surface Use Agreements, and then drafted a series of mineral-specific surface use agreements
- Represented solar panel owner in connection with Solar Power Services Agreement with Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- Assisted investor with due diligence review of wind leases and permits on a project in Converse County Wyoming
- Assisted landowners negotiating wind and solar leases with developers
- Assisted developer in drafting wind leases with landowners