Energy & Telecommunications

Cleantech & Renewable Energy

Preti Flaherty's Energy and Environmental Law Groups provide Cleantech and Renewable Energy Law practice support to clients as they navigate the legal, technical and business aspects of cleantech ventures. Our Energy, Environmental and Government Affairs attorneys combine their deep understanding of the clean technology industry with experience working with cleantech and renewable energy companies around the world. We represent clients ranging from startups seeking to capitalize on their technology to Fortune 500 companies seeking to lower their costs and minimize their environmental footprint. We advise project developers, landowners, and other businesses on all aspects of project development, operation and transactions related to the development of a variety of clean technologies, including:

  • Traditional and advanced biomass energy conversion
  • Biogas, anaerobic digestion and advanced biofuels production
  • Traditional and advanced natural gas-fired electricity generation
  • Combined heat, power and cogeneration
  • Traditional and innovative hydropower production, including ocean and tidal energy
  • Solar photovoltaic and thermal energy production
  • Wind power
  • Geothermal and ground-source heat pumps
  • Demand response and energy storage
  • Energy efficiency
  • Water treatment and processing
  • Landfill gas-to-energy

We go beyond the traditional legal realm. Our Energy and Environmental Law attorneys assist clients with both legal and business consulting services to support cleantech and renewable energy ventures:

  • Permitting and Regulatory Issues – Representation throughout the local, state and federal permitting processes, including the process of securing expedited wind permits, Site Location of Development Act Permits, Natural Resource Protection Act Permits and Clean Water Act Permits (wastewater, stormwater and wetlands). Preti Flaherty also has the largest and most active LURC (Land Use Regulation Commission) practice of any Maine firm.
  • Interconnection Agreements – Negotiating and securing favorable terms for interconnecting electric generation projects to the grid.
  • Power Purchase Agreements – Negotiating and securing commitments to purchase electric generation projects' output.
  • Renewable Energy Certificates and Credits (RECs) – Securing state and non-governmental organization certification of renewable energy producing facilities, marketing RECs and maximizing the value of renewable energy generation.
  • Cleantech and renewable energy project finance – Working with traditional lenders and VC funds plus assistance with securing federal grant funding for energy efficiency projects.
  • Real estate and lease agreements – Negotiating and drafting documentation to allow project developers and landowners to find mutual benefit through cleantech project development.
  • Energy Policy Analysis – Shaping regional and federal energy policy related to renewable resources, energy efficiency, and demand response.
  • Project acquisition, operation and sale – Advising, developing strategies for and implementing due diligence, acquisition, operation and sale of renewable energy or cleantech facilities.
  • Business consulting – develop solid business plans to help cleantech clients achieve their growth objectives.

Firm Highlights

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Trust and Estate Attorney Elise Salek to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that Elise Salek has joined the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Practicing out of the firm’s Concord, New Hampshire office, Elise brings nearly three decades of experience...

Event

Accessing Police Misconduct Records

Preti’s Sigmund Schutz will be one of the Maine panelists in New England First Amendment Coalition’s Accessing Police Misconduct Records series. This series continues NEFAC’s freedom of information lessons and builds on the information...

News

Attorney Jeffrey Thaler Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Energy Law

Preti Flaherty’s attorney Jeffrey Thaler has been recognized by  Lawdragon  as one of the top 500 Leaders in Energy Law. This is Jeff’s third time named to this prestigious list since the first publication...

News

David Van Slyke Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law

Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner David Van Slyke has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of the top 500 environmental lawyers in the U.S. It’s the third time he has been named to this prestigious...

Publication

November 7, 2023 Election Results

Maine’s November 2023 statewide elections were exclusively referendum questions, four were citizen initiatives, and four were proposed amendments to the Maine Constitution. Of these, Questions 5, 7 and 8 were placed on the ballot...

Publication

Failure to Follow Your Contract's Notice Requirements Can be Costly

In Kinetic Systems, Inc. v. IPS-Integrated Projects Services, LLC et. al., No.: 20-cv-1125 (D.N.H. February 6, 2024), the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire granted summary judgment for a general contractor...

News

Benchmark Litigation Names Preti Flaherty 2024 “Maine Firm of the Year"

Benchmark Litigation has named Preti Flaherty as 2024 Litigation Firm of the Year in the State of Maine. Through extensive peer- and- client reviewed research, as well as analysis of casework; the Benchmark Awards...

Publication

Helping Employers Navigate the New Independent Contractor Rule and Compliance Challenges

On March 11 th , the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) new Independent Contractor Rule goes into effect.  As your organization readies itself for compliance, it’s imperative to scrutinize your independent contractor classifications...

Event

Sigmund Schutz to moderate panel at 36th Annual Media and the Law Seminar: Under Attack! Existential Threats to Journalism and Free Speech

From unlawful searches and seizures of newsrooms and highly contentious litigation to physical harassment and calls for violence online, journalists and news organizations are under attack like never before. At the 36 th Annual...

Publication

USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Period for FY2025: New “Beneficiary Centric” Registration Process and Increased Fees

USCIS has recently announced a series of changes that will impact the FY2025 H-1B registration system and cap filing season. H-1B Registration Period and Organizational Accounts As in prior years, under this process, prospective petitioners...