Sustainable Communities

Strategically located in Southern California's 'renewable energy corridor,' Best Best & Krieger is your local connection for renewable energy projects.

With eight California offices, nearly 200 attorneys and more than 100 years of experience, we are the go-to law firm for environmental compliance, water rights, land use permitting, energy contracts, and financing in the state.  We know the region, the laws and the agencies that enforce them.

BB&K is committed to the successful completion of your renewable energy project.  Rely on us to strategically navigate your project through any legal challenge.  Our attorneys have:

• successfully counseled clients regarding the development of solar PV, solar thermal, geothermal, wind, biofuel and cogeneration facilities.
• worked on approximately 15% of the state’s public agency solar projects under the California Solar Initiative rebate program.
• been recognized nationally for their expertise in the area of water law, with particular expertise in groundwater supply issues in the Mojave Desert. 
• unparalleled experience with state and federal environmental laws and regulations, including drafting and implementing two of the nation’s largest multispecies habitat conservation plans in Southern California and assisting both developers and agencies with obtaining project environmental approvals.
• assisted a multitude of public agencies and private developers in creating and complying with local land use regulations.
• advised private and public clients on the effective use of federal tax credits and grants as a way to finance projects and positively impact the bottom line.
• helped public agencies establish or issue bonds for contract assessment programs used to secure low-interest residential/business loans for energy-efficiency programs per AB 811.
• assisted clients with accommodating ownership structures to the requirements of investment tax credits, production tax credit and Section 1603 cash grant.

Environmental Compliance

• Endangered Species Act       
• Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act    
• National Environmental Policy Act
• California Environmental Quality Act

Water Rights

• Water Rights Analysis           
• Water Procurement and Transfer Agreements          
• Water Availability and Supply Analyses
• Water Quality Compliance

Permitting & Land-Use

• Land Acquisition and Due Diligence
• Local, State and Federal Permitting  
• California Energy Commission Compliance
• California Public Utilities Commission Compliance

Energy Contracts

• Serving Utility & Customer Scale Facilities  
• Power Purchase Agreements for:      
  • Solar, Wind, Biogas and Geothermal  
  • Private and Public Entities       
  • Alternative Procurement for Government  Agencies  
• Energy Service Agreements with Utilities
• Regulatory Filings and Rate Authorization
• Advocacy before the:
  • California Energy Commission
  • California Public Utilities Commission

Financing & Investment

• Federal & State Tax Planning
  • Ownership Structuring for Federal Tax Benefits
  • Accelerated Depreciation Allowance
  • Federal Investment Tax Credits (ITC)
  • Production Tax Credits (PTC)
  • Federal Cash Grants
  • Section 179 Deduction
• Municipal Bonds
  • Traditional Tax-Exempt Bonds
  • Taxable Bonds with direct payment subsidy from the federal government or tax credit bonds
    • New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (New CREBs)
    • Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs)
    • Build America Bonds (BABs)
• Cash Grant Programs
• Rebate Programs
  • California Solar Initiative
• Contractual assessment programs to finance renewable energy projects and energy and water efficiency improvements to developed residential, commercial, agricultural and other private properties pursuant to AB 811 and AB 474
• Renewable Energy Credits

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