Renewable Energy and Clean Tech
The Renewable Energy industry is under assault in many parts of the country from a wide range of interests. In particular, local groups with a narrow focus on their viewsheds are challenging wind and solar projects. The mantra is always the same – they support renewable energy but just “not here.” They are taking the body of environmental law that was built up over decades to restrain pollution and unsustainable development and are using it against renewable energy developments whose environmental benefits in countering global warming and air pollution far outweigh their impacts. The Pawa Firm offers a unique combination of experience, expertise and skills to clean energy projects including major wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal developments:
- We were responsible for helping the Cape Wind offshore wind project obtain all of its state and local permits in a pitched battle with local opponents. To read about our role in securing permits for Cape Wind, click here.
- We have a proven record of success against some of America’s biggest and most well-known law firms. The court rulings in the Connecticut v. American Electric Power Co., Pavley Cases, and the MTBE litigation speak for themselves. All of these cases address clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels.
- We know global warming cold. We have been practicing law in the global warming field intensively since 2001. Our founding attorney, Matt Pawa, is a frequent author and speaker at bar association symposia on global warming and has taught global warming law at Boston College Law School.
- We only work one side of the street. We do not represent the dirty fossil fuel industries. If your renewable energy company is entering a legal battle, you should consider whether the law firm you are retaining is also representing fossil fuel interests and whether it has issue conflicts.
- When it comes time to build a record in an administrative hearing or in court on your renewable energy project, we will not just follow the usual path of establishing minimal environmental impacts from a development – we will robustly demonstrate that your project is affirmatively beneficial to the environment and indeed vital in the fight against global warming. We will demonstrate that global warming presents severe threats to the locality at issue. Many law firms will never go there out of concern that it might alienate its fossil fuel client base.
- Our experience representing environmental conservation groups means we understand local opposition to a project and can reach out to resolve the opponents’ concerns and help create a climate of mutual trust and understanding.
- We have long-term relationships with the nation’s top global warming scientists, many of whom serve as testifying and consulting experts in our cases. These experts range from climate modelers to those assessing the impacts of global warming on natural resources and human health. Their expertise covers many disciplines. And we do not need to waste time having the experts explain the basics of global warming science to us – we learned that years ago.
- We handle all kinds of litigation, from on-the-record administrative reviews to bench trials to jury trials. Many environmental lawyers practice in agency proceedings. We handle agency proceedings but we also go to court on a regular basis and know what it takes to prevail in the courtroom.
- We are happy to work with co-counsel and local counsel. Our practice is a national practice. We are frequently admitted pro hac vice in state and federal courts all over the country. This provides us a welcome opportunity to collaborate with other lawyers and local counsel to provide synergy to the legal team. We do not seek to reinvent the wheel but rather can serve as a national plug-in with your existing lawyers who know the local law.
- We have experience representing large and small companies. We recently handled a case for a large, publicly traded company whose development was challenged by neighborhood opposition and were able to resolve the case on favorable terms for our client.
If your renewable energy company is facing a legal challenge, we hope you will contact us.