Wind

Areas of Focus

We advise across all aspects of the sector, including on:

• Onshore wind
• Fixed-foundation offshore wind
• Floating-foundation offshore wind
• Offshore transmission and array cables grid connections
• Hybrid projects combining wind power with battery storage
• Clean hydrogen (and derivative fuels projects) producing from offshore wind
• Government support and incentives, including tax credits and grants.

We are best known for our capabilities in the following core areas:

• Project finance, development, construction, permitting, operations and maintenance
• Mergers & acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures and securities & corporate governance
• Liability management, financial restructuring, distressed and special situations
• International trade, lobbying & public policy and export controls & economic sanctions
• Energy regulatory
• Tax structuring & equity financing
• Environmental, social & governance (ESG).

Full Life Cycle of Renewables Projects

Our experience spans the full life cycle of renewables projects:

• Development, construction, operation and maintenance
• Financing and refinancings, whether using bank debt, institutional capital or private credit
• Acquisition and disposals and joint ventures
• Financial restructurings and special situations
• Government support and incentives, including federal tax credits and grants
• Energy regulatory advice
• Offtake arrangements
• Green corporate and virtual power purchase agreements
• Electricity, emissions and renewable certificates of origin trading
• Battery storage, flexibility and route-to-market services
• Land and permitting issues
• Grid network and transmission infrastructure and assets.

Multidisciplinary Team

Our renewable energy lawyers draw upon the resources of a full-service, international firm with coverage and extensive experience in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, Latin America, Asia, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. We collaborate seamlessly across borders and disciplines.

Regulatory Experience

Our industry-leading energy regulatory team guides clients through market participation in the capacity market and other regulations relevant to renewable energy, including those in the United States for Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland Power Tool (PJM) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

Tax Credit & Tax Equity

Our top-tier tax team helps market participants seamlessly navigate the intricacies of tax credits, as well as new investment opportunities related to the Inflation Reduction Act. Within our ranks are also seasoned projects lawyers with deep experience in emerging financing models, including public-private partnerships.

Lobbying & Public Policy

Our renowned lobbying & public policy practice includes many former members of Congress and regulators. These lawyers and advisors help clients navigate the key regulatory and policy issues facing wind and other energy transition projects in markets around the world.

ESG

We also advise our clients on ESG issues relevant to the sector, including reputation and risk management (e.g., greenwashing, authenticity and substantiation of claims), ESG data reporting and disclosure compliance and embedding ESG factors in investment, lending and governance processes.

Representative Matters

Offshore Wind

• Represented The Crown Estate on all energy aspects of its world-leading, multibillion-dollar offshore wind portfolio, including in relation to the design and delivery to seven million homes of major public tender rounds for fixed- and floating-foundation offshore wind capacity.*
• Advised Fluor on the sale of its 50% interest in the 2 gigawatts (GW) Seagreen Scottish offshore wind farm.*
• Represented Equinor in the $1.1 billion sale of a 50% interest in two U.S. offshore wind development projects to BP, including formation of a partnership to develop and operate the Empire Wind project offshore New York and Beacon Wind project offshore Massachusetts.*
• Represented Deepwater Wind and Société Générale in the development and financing of the first offshore wind farm in the United States at Block Island, Rhode Island.

Onshore Wind

• Represented Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in its construction and tax equity financing of a 200 megawatt (MW) wind project located in Oklahoma.
• Advised Sammons Renewable Energy in the acquisition and financing of Midway wind, a 163 MW wind farm project in Texas.
• Counseled Caithness Energy and GE Energy Financial Services as sponsors in the development and financing of an 850 MW wind project in Oregon.*
• Represented Northleaf Capital Partners in its acquisition of a majority ownership stake in the 50.4 MW Cotton Plains Wind and 151.2 MW Old Settler Wind facilities in Floyd County, Texas.
• Represented Engie in negotiating a financial hedge instrument, tax equity financing and construction financing for the 160 MW Live Oak Wind Farm in Texas.

*Matters handled by Akin partners prior to joining the firm.