Experience

Solar Projects

Represented the developer of a large concentrating solar energy facility in Nevada, the largest solar energy facility to be built in almost 20 years. Advised the project developer about land rights management, power purchase arrangements, construction documentation, vendor agreements, financing and other development matters.
Represented the developer of a series of 500kW-2MW solar systems in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Advised the client about development and financing documentation.
Represented more than a dozen solar developers ranging from startup to publicly traded, with specific focus on early-stage structuring (utility and retail), including requests for proposal responses, power purchase agreement/lease negotiations and creative pricing structures.

Wind Projects

Fifteen years of experience working with windfarm developers in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana, New Mexico and California. Notable windfarm projects include Tatanka (ND), Judith Gap (MT), Buffalo Mountain (TN), Western New York Wind (NY), Cabazon (CA) and Goshen (ID).
Represented a leading global wind turbine manufacturer in its initial market entry into the United States.

Other Renewable Energy Projects

Represented the lender in the acquisition and repowering of a series of hydropower facilities.
Represented developers of biomass projects in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Traditional Energy Projects

Represented the utility owners in the sale of two nuclear power plants, with particular focus on buy-back power purchase agreements.
Represented the utility offtaker for a combined cycle gas plant project in tolling agreement negotiations.
Represented an active nonregulated utility affiliate in the bidding, acquisition and financing of a series of energy assets, including two Pennsylvania coal facilities and a portfolio of New England hydropower facilities.
Represented the utility offtaker for a coal plant in Michigan undergoing conversion to burn woodchips.

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Insights & Presentations

Morten is a frequent presenter on renewable energy matters. Recent examples include:

Panelist, “Exploring the Impact of Recent Regulatory Rulings on Commercial Activity in The Renewables Space,” Stoel Rives LLP/Cleantech San Diego/San Diego WRISE webinar, October 8, 2020
Speaker, “Renewable Energy: Recent Trends and Updates LIVE Webcast,” The Knowledge Group, November 7, 2019
Speaker, “EV Charging Network Structure and Finance,” Charge Expo Symposium, San Diego, CA, October 1, 2019
Speaker, “Energy Storage Offtake Agreements,” Law Seminars International, Seattle, WA, June 12, 2018
Moderator, “What Investors Are Looking For in the U.S. Solar Market,” Infocast Solar Finance & Investment Summit, San Diego, CA, March 21, 2018
Co-Presenter, “C&I Power Purchase Agreement and Other Model Contract Activities,” SEIA Webinar, December 1, 2017
Panelist, “Federal Perspectives,” USD International Energy Law, University of San Diego, November 3, 2017
Moderator, “Technology Costs and Efficiencies – Where are Things Headed?” Infocast Solar Connect Conference, La Jolla, CA, October 2, 2017
Speaker, “How Standardized Contracts Reduce Transactional Costs & Financing Complexities,” Solar Power International 2017, Las Vegas, NV, September 10, 2017
Guest Lecturer, USD International Energy Law, University of San Diego, April 5, 2017
Panelist, “Unlocking Commercial Solar Project Finance – Track 2: Commercial Solar,” Greentech Media U.S. Solar Market Insight, San Diego, CA, October 25, 2016
Panelist, “Wholesale C&I: The Next Wave of Large-Scale Demand,” Greentech Media, US Solar Market Insight, San Diego, CA, November 4, 2015
Moderator, “The Utility Scale Asset Supply Landscape,” Infocast Utility Scale Solar Summit, San Diego, CA, October 20, 2015
Moderator, “Vertical Integration vs Network vs Specialization – Models of Success in Distributed Solar,” Infocast Distributed Solar West 2014, San Diego, CA, November 18, 2014
Speaker, “Changes (and Solutions) to Financing Small Commercial Projects,” SPI 2014, Las Vegas, NV, October 22, 2014
Panelist, “Solar Leaders Dialogue / CEO Panel,” SNEC PV Power Expo 2014, Shanghai, China, May 20, 2014
Panelist, “Utility Scale: Where the Market is Headed,” Greentech Media, 2014 Solar Summit, Phoenix, AZ, April 16, 2014
Panelist, “FERC Order No. 784 – Energy Storage Webinar,” Infocast Energy Storage Week, October 2, 2013
Panelist, “Solar Leaders Dialogue / CEO Panel,” SNEC PV Power Expo, Shanghai, China, May 16, 2013
Presenter, “Using DoD Contractual Vehicles in Renewable Energy Finance,” Infocast 3rd Annual Defense Renewable Energy & Military Microgrids Summit, Washington D.C, April 8, 2013
Panelist, “The Community Market: A Massive New Opportunity,” Infocast Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit, San Diego, CA March 9, 2013
Moderator, “The California Market Opportunity & Business Landscape,” Infocast Distributed Solar Summit, Del Mar, CA November 13, 2012
Presenter, “Solar Projects in the US,” SNEC PV Power Expo, Shanghai, China, May 17, 2012
Panelist, “CEO Panel,” SNEC PV Power Expo, Shanghai, China, May 16, 2012
Panelist, “Solar Project Finance in a Post-1603 World,” Solar Summit 2012, Phoenix, AZ, May 1, 2012
Moderator, “Banking & Finance Panel,” PV/CSP Summit San Diego, CA, April 18, 2012
Moderator, “Financing 2–20 MW Scale Projects,” Power Finance & Investment Summit, San Diego, CA, March 1, 2012
Speaker, “Neighborhood Clean Energy: Planning and Developing Local Renewable Energy Generation in California,” The Environmental Law Section of the State Bar, USD, San Diego, CA, February 2, 2012
Moderator, “Asset and Portfolio Capital Providers’ Appetite for Investing in Distributed Solar,” Distributed Solar Summit, San Diego, CA, December 2, 2011
Moderator, “Long-Term Strategic Capital to Finance Industry Growth,” Distributed Solar Summit, San Diego, CA, December 2, 2011
Moderator, “Utilities’ Latest Perspectives on Utility Scale Solar,” Utility Scale Solar Summit 2011, San Diego, CA, September 2011
Instructor, “Solar EPC and Long-Term Component Supply,” EUCI Law of Renewable Energy Series Webinar, March 28, 2011
Moderator, “The Search for Company Capital: Solar Developer Perspectives,” Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit 2011, San Diego, CA, March 21–24, 2011
Briefing chair, Third Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit, San Diego, CA, September 13–15, 2010
“Principal Development Documents and Development Risks,” Intersolar North America 2010, San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2010
“The Making of a Solar Power Purchase Agreement,” ASES National Solar Conference 2010, Phoenix, AZ, May 21, 2010
“Special Issues in Renewable Project Non-Financial Contracts,” Risk Identification and Allocation in Renewable Energy Forum, Infocast Project Finance Tutorial, New York, NY, April 26–28, 2010
“Utilization of the DOE Loan Guarantee Program for Wind Projects,” Infocast Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit, Rancho Bernardo, CA, February 10–12, 2010
Panel Moderator, “Perspectives of Petrochem Refiners and Major Bio-Processors on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain and Market,” Infocast Bio-Based Chemicals Summit, San Diego, CA, February 8–10, 2010

Publications

“Supply chain woes won’t stop solar industry expansion” (co-author), Reuters Legal News, December 1, 2021
“Weather and climate change highlight challenges of deregulated retail energy markets” (co-author), Reuters Legal News, September 3, 2021
“Biden’s Jobs Plan—A Game-Changer for Clean Energy?” POWER magazine, July 1, 2021
“Heading off power outages in California — a regulatory challenge” (co-author), Reuters Legal News, June 24, 2021
“The status of solar and wind tax credits and tariffs as we enter 2021” (co-author), Solar Power World, December 7, 2020
“Blockchain + Renewables = Red Tape?” (co-author), Renewable Energy World, March/April 2018
“Practitioner Insights: Forward With Solar, Storage in Puerto Rico” (co-author), Bloomberg BNA Environment, November 7, 2017
“How Distributed Solar Could Help During Natural Disasters,” Solar Industry, September 2017
“What If Federal Support for Solar Disappears?” (co-author), Solar Industry, April 2017
“Power Purchase Agreements: Distributed Generation Projects” (co-author), Chapter 2, The Law of Solar Energy: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Fifth Edition, 2017
“So You Want to Enter a New Energy Market,” Intelligent Utility, September/October 2014
“What Water Can Learn from Electric Utilities,” The Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 1, 2014
“Jagged Rocks of Wisdom – Negotiation: Mastering the Art of the Deal,” Fine Print Press, June 2011
“How To Avoid Fatal Flaws At Closing,” North American Windpower, August 2009
“Jagged Rocks of Wisdom – The Memo: Mastering the Legal Memorandum,” Fine Print Press, May 2009
“Jagged Rocks of Wisdom: Professional Advice for the New Attorney,” Fine Print Press, March 2007