Solar Energy Real Estate Attorneys
Nacelle advises on solar energy projects throughout the United States. Our attorneys support solar energy project real estate at every stage of development, from early site control through financing, construction, and operation.
Our services include:
- Drafting and negotiating land agreements, including leases, easements, purchase options, purchase agreements, surface waivers, mineral accommodation agreements, and crossing agreements.
- Structuring site control for utility-scale and distributed generation projects.
- Conducting title and survey review, identifying title curative matters, and completing title curative work.
- Conducting real estate diligence on potential acquisitions.
- Leading the real estate aspects of project sales.
- Drafting and negotiating road use agreements and project development agreements with local governments.
- Drafting and negotiating development services agreements, master services agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
Representative Engagements
Our attorneys regularly represent clients in complex renewable energy transactions nationwide. Nacelle’s solar energy real estate attorneys have advised on various efforts on behalf of the solar energy industry, including:
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national wind and solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 217 MW hybrid wind and solar project in Texas.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 160 MW solar project in Virginia.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 150 MW solar project in Virginia.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 130 MW solar project in Virginia.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 120 MW solar project in Texas.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of an 80 MW solar project in Virginia.
- Serving as lead real estate counsel for a national solar energy company in connection with the development and financing of a 50 MW solar project in West Virginia.
- Representing clients in site control efforts in connection with 50+ distributed generation sites throughout the United States.
- Representing clients in site control efforts in connection with hundreds of solar projects in development throughout the United States.
- Serving as outside general and strategic counsel for multiple solar project development startup companies.
- Advising clients regarding the acquisition and disposition of numerous utility-scale solar projects throughout the United States.
- Advising clients regarding structuring various land agreements in connection with utility-scale solar project site control efforts.
- Representing clients in land agreement negotiations with numerous institutional landowners throughout the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Energy Legal Services
When should a solar energy project stakeholder engage legal counsel?
Engaging experienced legal counsel early (during project structuring and at the initial stages of site control efforts) can help avoid costly delays and improve project viability.
How do solar site control efforts differ from other renewable technologies?
Solar land use differs from wind in that it is more intensive, generally requiring the land to be used exclusively for the solar project. Wind projects, by contrast, are typically compatible with contemporaneous, non-interfering landowner uses within the project footprint, including agricultural and recreational activities. These fundamental differences have important implications for how land rights are structured and negotiated.
What legal issues are unique to utility-scale solar projects?
Utility-scale solar projects involve complex site control arrangements, extensive permitting and environmental review, interconnection queue risk, and financing requirements that make early legal strategy critical to maintaining project timelines and viability.
How do interconnection queues affect solar project development?
Interconnection queues can significantly impact project schedules and costs, requiring developers to manage utility studies, milestone requirements, security postings, and evolving interconnection rules with careful legal and commercial coordination.
Contact Our Solar Energy Real Estate Attorneys
If you are involved in a solar energy project, Nacelle is ready to help. Contact our solar energy real estate attorneys to discuss how we can support your project from concept through operation.