From finance and siting issues to regulation and tax incentives, energy law is a diverse and thriving practice at Varnum. Our client-focused, service team approach has made us a beacon in the profession.
Varnum’s long-standing energy practice encompasses significant experience in conventional, alternative and renewable energy sources. We have been involved in energy legal issues for more than 30 years. We helped organize the Energy Michigan trade association and are a founding member of the Michigan Renewable Energy Consortium.
Varnum’s energy clients include:
Varnum’s long-standing energy practice encompasses significant experience in conventional, alternative and renewable energy sources. We have been involved in energy legal issues for more than 30 years. We helped organize the Energy Michigan trade association and are a founding member of the Michigan Renewable Energy Consortium.
Varnum’s energy clients include:
- municipally-owned electric utilities
- co-generators and independent power producers
- biomass facilities, including waste-to-energy and wood-fired plants
- alternative energy projects, including wind farms, landfill gas, hydroelectric, and manure digesters
- oil & gas producers and transporters
- nuclear power plants
- trade associations
- investors, lenders and end-users
To serve such varied interests, we have developed a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving. Our attorneys work as a team to meet the energy needs of clients, whether involved in simple contract activities or complex regulatory and financing situations.
Varnum’s project work includes utility scale cogeneration and exempt wholesale generators in excess of 1000 MW; alternative energy projects from 3 MW to 65 MW; and natural gas pipelines, production and utility scale natural gas storage
facilities.
Our attorneys have significant experience litigating and practicing before the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other key U.S. and state agencies that affect the energy fields. We have litigated antitrust issues, regulatory issues, and contractual issues in state and federal courts. Our experience includes:
Exempt Wholesale Generators, Cogeneration - financing, construction startups, power sale agreements, utility commission approvals, fuel purchase contracts, environmental permits, and tax assistance.
Waste-to-Energy - feasibility studies, solid waste collection and recycling, flow control, project structuring, siting, financing, and landfill discharge.
Municipal and Cooperative Utilities - litigation, rate matters, franchises, anti-trust actions and environmental protection.
Nuclear and Fossil Fuel Plant Operation - construction disputes, municipal bonding, and rate recovery.
Wind Farms - siting, zoning and land use, tax construction, due diligence, environmental regulation, transmission access and power purchase agreements.
Hydroelectric - FERC renewals, utility commission approvals, contract interpretation, dam removal issues, and environmental issues.
Biomass Electric Generation - environmental permitting and compliance, power purchase agreement, interconnection and transmission, fuel purchase agreements and bond covenant compliance.
Retail Wheeling - representation of energy marketers before the Michigan Public Service Commission and Michigan State Legislature to develop the Michigan Open Access Program. litigation of related issues before state administrative and judicial bodies.
Contract Carriage Gas - contract development and negotiation, transportation arrangements and standby service provision.
Purchase of Natural Gas - representation of large gas purchasers, negotiation of contracts, counseling on bidding procedures, resolution and litigation of contract disputes.
Natural Gas Storage - municipal law counseling (including siting, zoning, land use and special use), Michigan Public Service Commission and FERC approvals, environmental permitting, counseling on leases and gas transportation contracts.
Oil and Gas Production, Transportation and Storage - sales contracts proration cases, pooling and unitization agreements, Certificate of Need proceedings, agency cost approvals and purchase sum recovery proceedings.
Varnum’s project work includes utility scale cogeneration and exempt wholesale generators in excess of 1000 MW; alternative energy projects from 3 MW to 65 MW; and natural gas pipelines, production and utility scale natural gas storage
facilities.
Our attorneys have significant experience litigating and practicing before the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other key U.S. and state agencies that affect the energy fields. We have litigated antitrust issues, regulatory issues, and contractual issues in state and federal courts. Our experience includes:
Exempt Wholesale Generators, Cogeneration - financing, construction startups, power sale agreements, utility commission approvals, fuel purchase contracts, environmental permits, and tax assistance.
Waste-to-Energy - feasibility studies, solid waste collection and recycling, flow control, project structuring, siting, financing, and landfill discharge.
Municipal and Cooperative Utilities - litigation, rate matters, franchises, anti-trust actions and environmental protection.
Nuclear and Fossil Fuel Plant Operation - construction disputes, municipal bonding, and rate recovery.
Wind Farms - siting, zoning and land use, tax construction, due diligence, environmental regulation, transmission access and power purchase agreements.
Hydroelectric - FERC renewals, utility commission approvals, contract interpretation, dam removal issues, and environmental issues.
Biomass Electric Generation - environmental permitting and compliance, power purchase agreement, interconnection and transmission, fuel purchase agreements and bond covenant compliance.
Retail Wheeling - representation of energy marketers before the Michigan Public Service Commission and Michigan State Legislature to develop the Michigan Open Access Program. litigation of related issues before state administrative and judicial bodies.
Contract Carriage Gas - contract development and negotiation, transportation arrangements and standby service provision.
Purchase of Natural Gas - representation of large gas purchasers, negotiation of contracts, counseling on bidding procedures, resolution and litigation of contract disputes.
Natural Gas Storage - municipal law counseling (including siting, zoning, land use and special use), Michigan Public Service Commission and FERC approvals, environmental permitting, counseling on leases and gas transportation contracts.
Oil and Gas Production, Transportation and Storage - sales contracts proration cases, pooling and unitization agreements, Certificate of Need proceedings, agency cost approvals and purchase sum recovery proceedings.