Energy & Renewable Energy

Cox Castle attorneys are recognized experts in the field of renewable energy development. We represent sophisticated and cutting-edge developers, lenders, and tax equity investors in this fast-paced and growing industry. Our portfolio ranges from some of the largest wind and solar greenfield projects in the United States to Distributed Generation (DG) and community choice portfolios, stand-alone and integrated battery storage, EV charging, harbor infrastructure for off-shore wind development, and the first off-shore wind project in California’s state waters. We helped pioneer the “opt-in” process for renewable energy projects before the California Energy Commission and represented the first wind and solar/battery storage projects to file applications under that program. Our permitting, real estate, and environmental teams guide clients through the development process, offering timely support and expert knowledge on how to get a project through the finish line. Our team has helped deliver thousands of megawatts of solar, wind, geothermal, and energy storage projects to the grid in California and across the country.

We counsel clients with real-world, practical solutions regarding:

• Local, state, and federal permitting, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, federal and state Tribal Consultation rules, and other natural resources and land use laws, including Planning and Zoning Laws, the Warren Alquist Act, and the Williamson Act
• Site acquisition, including negotiation of purchase agreements, ground leases, Rights of Way on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and easements
• Title and survey review, including negotiation of title insurance, title endorsements, and title curative measures
• Environmental analysis and due diligence
• Local, state, and federal tax issues, including real property taxes, sales taxes, and transaction structuring
• Local land use, real estate, state energy regulatory law, and tax support during project finance, including permitting opinions

Our work encompasses the world’s largest utility-scale renewable energy projects, medium-sized projects for municipal and corporate users, and smaller rooftop and ground-mount solar, hydrogen fuel cells, and micro-grid projects for corporate sustainability and cost-efficiency measures. We are well-versed in project development on federal, state, and private lands, with significant experience working with both landowners and governmental authorities.

We are counsel to solar and wind trade associations, including the American Clean Power Association, the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Large-scale Solar Association, and the California Wind Energy Association, on a host of regulatory and legislative proposals, including spearheading industry initiatives to change federal and state permitting rules.

We are currently representing well over 20,000 MWs of generation consisting of some 50+ projects. Below are some of the highlights of current and prior representations:

California

• Development and financing of a 1100 MW wind energy project in Kern County, California.
• Permitting of the first renewable energy project through the California Energy Commission’s Opt-In Process.
• Permitting of the first floating wind energy shore in California state waters.
• Development of a 500 MW stand-alone BESS in Tulare County.
• Site acquisition, development, and construction financing of 60 MW, 140 MW, 175 MW solar energy projects in Kern County, California.
• Development of 200 MW solar facility in Kern County, California.
• Development of 1,300 MW solar facility in Kern County, California.
• Development, construction financing, and tax equity investment of 200 MW, 175 MW, and 650 MW solar projects in San Bernardino, California.
• Due diligence and investment in a 130 MW solar project and a 150 solar MW project in Monterey County, California.
• Due diligence and investment in a 250 MW solar project in Imperial County, California.
• Due diligence and investment in a 46 MW wind energy project in Alameda County, California.
• Development and financing of two 400 MW solar projects in Riverside County, California.
• Development of three solar projects totaling 1700 MW in Riverside and Imperial Counties, California
• Construction financing and term conversion for a 250 MW solar project in Riverside County, California.
• Construction financing of 135 MW solar project in Merced County, California.
• Construction financing of 485 MW solar project in Riverside County, California.

United States

• Development and financing of multiple PV solar and energy storage projects generating more than 10,000 MWs on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming.
• Development, construction financing, and tax equity investment in a 200 MW solar project in Pecos County, Texas and a 100 MW wind energy project in Erath County, Texas.
• Development of a 200 MW solar project in McKinley County, NM.

Our renewable energy team’s depth, breadth and a wealth of experience is unsurpassed by any other law firm in California.

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