Real Estate Development and Construction of Renewable Energy Projects (2025)

Session 01: California Spotlight: Real Estate Planning, Diligence, and Execution - A high-level discussion of California-specific real estate issues for the renewable energy industry and how developers and other parties can address these issues in contracting, through diligence, and in preparation for financing. Topics include the interplay of lease terms and state tax regimes, mineral rights in CA, Williamson Act/FLSZ, and title insurance.

Session 02: Urban Area BESS Projects - Energy storage projects continue to play an important role in resource planning. Discuss why energy storage projects are increasingly sited in urban areas and the benefits they bring to resource planning. Also address the legal, policy, and local communications considerations related to site control, permitting, development (including procurement and installation considerations) and operation of energy storage facilities.

Session 03: Legal Considerations in Geothermal Energy Development and Pore Space Rights in Texas - Technological advancements have broadened the potential applications for harnessing geothermal energy from wells in Texas. With applications of this technology exploring ways to combine geothermal wells with subsurface pore spaces, it is important to outline the rights of all interested parties, including the surface, mineral, and geothermal estates. The Texas legal landscape has historically evolved in two separate paths, one concerning geothermal rights and the other pore space rights. However, practitioners are now forced to consider both geothermal rights and pore space rights within the same transaction. Explore the legal complexities surrounding geothermal energy development in Texas, with a particular focus on the ownership and regulation of pore space rights.

Session 04: Mechanics’ Lien Coverage and Underwriting in ALTA States - A discussion around coverage over mechanics and materialman’s liens in states around the country and how developers and their title insurers negotiate this coverage between them and for the benefit of lenders. Explore different states’ laws, coverage forms, credit risk and lien law compliance.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides