Climate-Related Business & Technology

Climate change – and the measures required to address it – raise fundamental business, legal and risk management issues. Sullivan & Worcester LLP’s Climate-Related Business & Technology Group has helped clients address these issues in a broad range of matters including in:

gaining approval of the first carbon offset credits under California’s new program
energy-technology projects, negotiating long-term power purchase agreements, and developing new energy generation facilities
the introduction and marketing of green and energy-efficiency and conservation products
sustainability-related building initiatives

Representative Client Work

Advised a California forest trust in negotiating one of the country’s first contracts for the sale of carbon credits from a forest trust
Represented a new casino in the development of thermal and retail power supply agreements. Negotiated contract terms to address potential effect of future climate-change legislation and to require that contractors fulfill LEED green building standards
Gained inclusion in LEED for Homes credits for a manufacturer of energy-efficient faucets and shower heads
Gained inclusion in LEED for Existing Buildings credits in the operations and maintenance category for a manufacturer of battery-powered, non-greenhouse gas- or particulate-emitting outdoor power equipment
Advised the City of New Orleans in establishing its energy efficiency program, “Energy Smart New Orleans” by helping to evaluate the feasibility of options including renewable credits, distributed generation from local solar and other renewable energy sources, green-building initiatives, consumer education and incentives, and the full range of available funding mechanisms, while working closely with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Advised regarding the structuring of a financing by Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), a city-sponsored non-profit organization that is creating a program to significantly reduce energy and water use and CO₂ emissions in Cambridge, Massachusetts. CEA is seeking to raise more than $100 million to provide loans to city residents, businesses and institutions to finance the installation of energy efficient measures in their residences and buildings in order to reduce on a city-wide basis energy and water consumption by a significant percentage
Advised a manufacturer of new energy-efficiency and conservation products regarding opportunities to enhance product marketing through existing incentive and consumer-education programs, and regarding legislative and regulatory opportunities to gain marketplace advantages