CLIENT ALERTS
Client Alert: An “Act Driving Climate Policy Forward” Benefits MA Wind and Renewable Tech Sectors
August 29, 2022
On August 11, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed HB 5060, an Act driving climate policy…
Richard Kanoff
Partner
Practice Areas
Industries
Richard Kanoff is chair of Prince Lobel’s Renewable Energy Industry group. He has devoted his career to helping private and public clients understand and navigate the often complex world of energy, climate change, innovation and technology. Richard helps clients manage regulatory risk, develop projects, secure financing and make decisions. Richard often appears in regulatory forums and federal courts involving energy infrastructure projects throughout New England.
Richard works with a diverse group of emerging and established private and public companies, start-ups, non-profits, individuals, and municipalities and focuses on renewable energy and clean technology law, regulatory policy and litigation including permitting, siting, finance, regulatory compliance, project development and transactional matters.
Richard’s clients include clean coal and other fossil fuel‐related generation, and providers of bio-fuels, biomass, energy and demand management, smart grid, solar, wind, storage, fuel cells and other distributed generation technologies. He also represents independent power producers (IPPs), including an association of IPPs in New England. Richard has particular experience managing multifaceted legal issues associated with developing, siting, permitting, financing and operating energy facilities, and navigating electrical transmission, interconnection and ISO policies, interstate gas pipelines, state and federal incentives, and with renewable energy/climate change regulations.
As part of his practice, he presents clients in complex litigation in regulatory agencies and federal courts, including United States Court of Appeals (1st Circuit), at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and before state energy regulatory commissions in New England.
- 2021 – present: Recognized by “Best Lawyers in America®” in the fields of Energy Law and Environmental Law
- National Law Journal – Energy & Environmental Trailblazer (2017)
- “DEP findings aren’t ‘final’; 1st Circuit jurisdiction fails,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, March 2017
- “1st Circ. Bolsters State Powers in Gas Pipeline Reviews,” Law360, March 2017
- “Appeals court says pipelines must pass state reviews,” The Recorder, March 2017
- Andover Gets Aggressive in Gas Pipeline Fight, February 2, 2016 https://www.eagletribune.com/news/andover-gets-aggressive-in-gas-pipeline-fight/article_f549a0fb-7076-598a-a37d-8958c8bcc875.html
- Coalition of NH Towns Says NED Pipeline Will Cost Ratepayers December 5, 2015 https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/coalition-of-nh-towns-says-ned-pipeline-will-cost-ratepayers/article_6a679c00-6870-5a0f-9305-edb37529e660.html
Renewable Energy/Storage/Finance
- Counsel to a national solar company in the development, diligence, and financing of approximately 250 MWs of commercial scale solar/storage projects in New England, New York, Maryland, and Georgia.
- Counsel to a national solar developer with respect to the acquisition and diligence of over 50 MWs of commercial scale solar/storage in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
- Counsel to a national solar developer relating to the acquisition of commercial scale solar projects, including a brownfield development, in Massachusetts.
- Counsel to a national solar developer with respect to multiple projects, including a large roof top project, in Rhode Island.
- Counsel to a landowner/developer in the proposed development of a roof top project in Rhode Island and in a large-scale 16 MW commercial project in Maine.
- Counsel to prominent bank in debt financing the development and operation of a roof top solar facilities on a well-known big box retailer in MA; responsible for due diligence, risk assessments, regulatory advice, and transaction documentation.
- Counsel to a national hedge fund in its acquisition of numerous projects in Massachusetts.
- Counsel to an international bank it is financing of solar projects in Massachusetts.
- Counsel to a well-known retail grocery chain in its net metering and energy related transactions in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
- Counsel in transactions regarding the applicability of investment/production tax credits for solar, wind and biomass projects.
- Counsel to an energy storage company in the development, permitting, leasing, and financing of its energy storage (flywheel) technology.
- Counsel to a solar developer in North Carolina in connection with the acquisition and financing of $20 million in PV facilities in North Carolina in a complex multi-party transaction involving equity and debt financing, deal structuring, tax implications, and drafting and review of purchase and sale, credit, investment, and operating agreements.
- Counsel to numerous landowners in transactions relating to the option/leasing of land for the development commercial scale solar projects.
- Counsel to a wind developer in the siting of a wind facility in New Hampshire.
Litigation/Regulatory Matters
- Counsel to an independent power association in complex regulatory proceedings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire with respect to issues relating to competitive markets and policies.
- Counsel to a stakeholder group in proceedings at the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board.
- Counsel to numerous cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire relating to siting, permitting and approval of utility infrastructure.
- Counsel to a stakeholder group in regulatory proceedings in opposition to approval of a gas fired peaking plant.
- “Energy Storage in Massachusetts,” webcast panelist and co-chair, February 16, 2022.
- “Renewable Energy Project Development and Financing: What Every Real Estate Lawyer Should Know”, webcast presenter, Real Estate Bar Association, November 17, 2021
- “Funding Clean Tech Innovation,” Speaker, New England Venture Summit, December 2016
- “How Best to Implement a Balanced Energy Regional Energy Policy,” Moderator, New England-Canada Business Counsel Roundtable on Clean Energy Resources and Innovation, November 2016
- “Successful Alternate Energy Projects,” Presenter, Real Estate Bar Association, October 2015
- “Tackling Clean Energy Projects: Risk Management & Future Growth,” Panelist, Boston Bar Association Program, September 2014
- “Wind Energy Law,” Faculty, National Business Institute Telecast, December 2013
- “Renewable Energy Project Development and Business and Legal Risk,” Panelist, Boston Bar Association, October 2013
- “Introduction to Renewable Energy in New Hampshire,” Co-Chair, Environmental Business Council Seminar, September 2013
- “Construction and Energy Collide: Solar and Renewable Energy are Changing the Construction Industry,” Co-Chair, Law Firm Event, June 2013
- “Elements of Successful Alternative Energy Projects,” Lecturer, Boston University Law School, March 2013
- “Financing Large PV Installations”, Law Firm Event, August 2011
- “Financing an Alternative Energy Project”, Co-Chair, Law Firm Event, March 2011
Education
- J.D., cum laude, George Washington University
- B.A., Lafayette College
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Memberships & Affiliations
- Energy Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- American Bar Association
News & Events
CLIENT ALERTS
Client Alert: The Inflation Reduction Act Benefits Mass. Solar, Wind, and Renewable Tech Sectors
August 24, 2022
The recently enacted federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) is designed to create…
Firm News
Prince Lobel Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023
August 18, 2022
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