This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the development, financing, and operation of renewable energy projects in the United States. The course is designed to mirror how lawyers actually work on solar, wind, battery storage, and emerging clean energy projects—from early site control and permitting to financing, construction, and long-term operation.
Students will analyze federal, state, and local regulatory regimes, including environmental review, grid interconnection, land use approvals, and incentive structures such as tax credits. The course emphasizes practical lawyering skills, including risk allocation, contract structuring, compliance strategy, and navigating multi-agency approval processes.
The seminar treats renewable energy law as a transactional and regulatory practice area, preparing students to advise developers, investors, utilities, and government agencies in a rapidly evolving clean energy economy.
This course assumes prior study of environmental law, administrative law, or business law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the full lifecycle of renewable energy projects.
2. Navigate federal, state, and local permitting processes.
3. Analyze environmental review requirements.
4. Structure key project agreements and transactions.
5. Evaluate regulatory and compliance risks.
6. Understand grid interconnection and transmission issues.
7. Analyze incentive structures (tax credits, subsidies).
8. Advise clients on project development strategy.
9. Identify litigation and regulatory challenges.
10. Develop practical legal solutions for real-world projects.
