Richard Kanoff is chair of Prince Lobel’s Renewable Energy Industry group and a member of the firm’s Real Estate practice 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 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.
National Law Journal – Energy & Environmental Trailblazer (2017)
As part of his practice, he presents clients in complex litigation in 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.
Counsel in a matter of first impression before the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals with respect to an appeal under the Natural Gas Act of a water quality certification.
Counsel in a case before the United States district court defending an injunction and complaint relating to an ongoing appeal at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Counsel to numerous municipalities and non-profits groups with respect to siting of interstate gas pipeline infrastructure in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including representation before the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts and the Supreme Court in New Hampshire.
Counsel to developer in large scale (over 1 MW) rooftop solar installation including procurement, power purchase agreement and interconnection.
Counsel to a national equity fund financing 10 MWs of solar facilities in MA; responsible for due diligence, regulatory advice, risk assessment, and transaction documentation.
Counsel to several newly formed solar development companies with respect to structuring, due diligence, acquisitions and development matters.
Counsel to a large equity fund developing, acquiring and financing over 30 MWs of solar facilities in MA; responsible for due diligence, regulatory advice, risk assessment, and transaction documentation.
Counsel to prominent bank in debt financing the development and operation of solar facilities on a well-known big box retailer in MA; responsible for due diligence, risk assessments, regulatory advice and transaction documentation.
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 in transactions regarding the applicability of investment/production tax credits for solar, wind and biomass projects.
Counsel to a solar developers 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 national solar companies in the development, diligence and financing of multiple large scale solar projects in New England, New York, Maryland and Georgia.
Counsel to a stakeholder group in proceedings at the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board.
“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
“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