Practice Areas: Renewable Energy - Fredrikson & Byron P.A.

Daniel A. Yarano, Chair
(Wind)

dyarano@fredlaw.com

612.492.7149

Todd A. Taylor
(Biofuels)

ttaylor@fredlaw.com

612.492.7355

Minnesota Wind Overview

Fredrikson & Byron is a sponsor of Biomass ‘09: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop on July 14-15, 2009 in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Midwest Algae Commercialization Workshop - August 18, 2009

Dan Yarano is co-chairing and is speaking, along with Christina Brusven and Todd Guerrero, at the Renewable Energy in the Midwest Conference on August 27 & 28, 2009

Overview

Renewable energy industries, such as wind, biofuels, and solar, provide the nation, investors, and industry with great economic opportunities. These opportunities are not without risk. In 2007, new investment in clean energy reached $148.4 billion, up 60% compared to 2006, according to New Energy Finance. As with any rapidly-evolving industry, there are risks to overcome, and those who know how to spot risks and transform them into opportunities will be tomorrow’s industry leaders. Industry veterans and entrepreneurs alike look to Fredrikson & Byron’s Renewable Energy Team for this key industry perspective and experience to help them create successful energy ventures.

Industry veterans and entrepreneurs alike look to Fredrikson & Byron’s team for their key industry perspective and experience to help them create successful energy ventures.”

Fredrikson & Byron’s Renewable Energy Group combines in-depth industry knowledge and experience, strong industry relationships, and legal skills to represent independent power producers, biofuel companies, utilities, cooperatives, municipalities, renewable energy developers, suppliers, investors, lenders, and landowners to successfully complete the development and financing of projects, as well as acquire energy assets. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including project administration, real estate, regulatory, financing, mergers and acquisitions, securities, government relations, intellectual property, real estate, and litigation.

Services

Our Renewable Energy Group provides services to clients throughout the energy industry, with a core focus on the wind and biomass and biofuels sectors.

Wind Energy

Fredrikson & Byron has played a leading role in the development, financing, and acquisition of more than 1,000 MW of wind projects in the Upper Midwest and Southwest, with another 6,000 MW currently under development. We represent international, national, and regional developers in every aspect of project development including site control, regulatory approvals, power purchase agreements, and tax equity financing.

Our work also extends to the supply chain, where we help companies make strategic acquisitions of manufacturing and service companies (turbines, blades, towers, gearboxes, operation and maintenance, and construction) to advance their interests within the wind market.

Biomass and Biofuels

The evolution of next generation technologies, processes, and feedstocks – such as algae or cellulosic materials as feedstocks and thermo chemical and bacteriological processing – are critical for this industry to continue to experience strong growth. We work to stay ahead of the curve on these new areas in order to provide proactive, strategic advice to our clients. Clients see us as strategic partners to aid major business decisions, such as analysis of site locations, selection of designers and builders, review of offtake companies, and assistance with feedstock mechanics.

Our involvement in the biomass industry covers both biomass to fuel and biomass to electricity. We advise clients through each stage of development from patenting or licensing of technologies and construction of the plant through production, and we often continue to represent plants as outside general counsel. These plants range in size from 10 million gallons to 100 million gallons. In addition, we help companies experiencing financial troubles through strategic advice on refinancing, workout, and bankruptcy.

Industry Involvement

Because of our deep involvement in the renewable energy arena, we are active participants in key trade organizations, including the Renewable Fuels Association, American Wind Energy Association, Wind on the Wires, Windustry, Algal Biomass Organization, National Biodiesel Board, North Dakota Ethanol Association, Minnesota Coalition for Ethanol, American Council on Renewable Energy, Northwest Biofuels, and Minnesota’s Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) Advisory Task Force.