Battery and Energy Storage Attorneys
The battery and energy storage market represents a massive opportunity. Though it can be a lucrative industry, it also comes with a complex web of legal and regulatory challenges. At MPL Law, we provide the focused legal knowledge you need, whether you’re a developer or a municipality. We can help guide you through the regulatory landscape to help turn an energy storage vision into a successful operational reality.
Navigating the Complexities of Battery and Energy Storage Law
Energy storage projects can be a strategic choice, giving greater grid modernization and stability during the integration of renewable energy sources. Having energy storage systems may also help to reduce costs. While these systems can bring many advantages, you may also face various challenges as part of a battery and energy storage project, such as:
- Structuring agreements: Depending on your role, you may need to negotiate favorable terms for power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the purchase and sale of electricity and establish tolling agreements that let project owners pay third parties to use their facilities to generate or store energy.
- Getting approvals: Projects frequently require zoning relief, conditional use approval, special exception approval, land development approval, variances, and related municipal permits. Developers must navigate local zoning ordinances, public hearings, site plan requirements, setbacks, safety standards, and evolving municipal regulations governing battery energy storage systems. Municipalities likewise face the challenge of creating zoning frameworks that balance economic development opportunities with public health, safety, and welfare considerations.
- Meeting safety standards: The project may involve evolving safety standards and the complexities of environmental reviews and compliance.
- Managing land: From siting to land use, you may need to handle zoning, land acquisition, leasing and securing the necessary property rights for storage facilities.
About Our Battery and Energy Storage Services
The battery and energy storage project process can involve several hurdles. At MPL Law, we provide legal support throughout every phase of the project. We’ll be there to offer the legal background and guidance you need.
Turn to our battery storage attorneys for help throughout:
- Land use, zoning and local entitlements: We guide developers through every stage of the local approval process, including zoning due diligence, site selection, zoning amendments, conditional use and special exception applications, variances, land development approvals, public hearings, and related municipal approvals. Our attorneys work closely with landowners, engineers, planners, and consultants to help move projects from concept to construction. We also represent municipalities in reviewing proposed battery storage facilities and in administering local approval processes.
- Financing and transactions: Our role may involve structuring and securing financing for an energy storage project. We may provide advice on topics such as venture capital and project financing, and conduct due diligence, carefully reviewing all legal and financial risks to help secure the investment.
- Contract negotiation: Our legal team can draft and negotiate critical contracts for battery and energy storage projects, including power purchase agreements (PPAs) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, which detail who will design and build your facility.
- Risk management: We can assess and help mitigate risks related to operations, regulatory compliance and other aspects of energy storage projects. If disputes arise, we can provide litigation support for legal proceedings, including lawsuits or regulatory actions.
We provide forward-looking support, keeping ahead of emerging trends and new legal frameworks that may impact projects, such as evolving energy storage regulations.
Types of Clients We Support
Various types of clients in the battery and energy storage sector seek our support as they establish and operate systems to capture and store energy for later use. You may be a project developer seeking guidance from the initial concept to the commercial operations. Additionally, we can help investors and financial institutions by providing the critical due diligence and risk analysis to help you protect your investment.
For municipalities, Battery energy storage technology is evolving rapidly, and many zoning ordinances were drafted before these facilities became a common land use. We assist municipalities throughout Pennsylvania with reviewing development proposals, evaluating compliance with existing ordinances, conducting hearings, preparing conditions of approval, and drafting or updating zoning ordinances specifically addressing battery energy storage systems. Our experience allows us to help local governments develop regulations that are legally defensible, protect public health and safety, and provide clear standards for applicants and residents alike.
For landowners, our battery storage lawyers can help you navigate leasing agreements and maximize your property’s value. If you’re a commercial or industrial client, we can advise you on options for navigating complex interconnection requirements or for meeting regulatory standards to capitalize on federal incentives.
Why Trust Our Energy Storage Lawyers?
Energy law is one of our practice areas, which means we understand how it works. We’re familiar with the regulations and legal challenges you may face at every stage of your project, from initial planning through development. Our firm is built on the foundations of three Central Pennsylvania law firms that have grown in parallel for over 40 years. Throughout this long history, we’ve navigated legal changes and continuously expanded our knowledge to better serve our clients’ needs.
The lawyers on our energy law team bring extensive insights into the energy sector, with direct experience in energy and land-use contracts. They have handled various transactions and real estate matters, which enable them to assist you with details such as site acquisition. We even have experienced litigators prepared to handle any disputes that may arise.
Beyond energy law, our attorneys possess substantial experience in Pennsylvania land use and municipal law. We regularly assist clients with zoning and entitlement strategies, ordinance drafting, conditional use proceedings, land development approvals, and land-use litigation. This combination of energy-sector knowledge and local government experience allows us to advise both developers seeking approvals and municipalities developing regulatory frameworks for battery energy storage systems.
Secure Your Project’s Success
We bring the necessary legal knowledge to support everyone, from developers to municipalities, during battery and energy storage projects. With a strong background in battery and energy storage law, we have the in-depth experience you need. Contact us online to discuss your case or legal matter with our team.