Green Energy Law and Land Use: Trends, Contracts, and Zoning Solutions

Eric L. Christensen | Beveridge & Diamond PC

Eric Christensen is a leading energy practitioner in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on assisting renewable and traditional energy companies, as well as major energy consumers, to navigate the complex legal and regulatory systems governing the nation’s energy industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Eric has successfully represented clients in litigation and regulatory matters, ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to proceedings before federal and state agencies. Before entering private practice, Eric served as Assistant General Counsel at Snohomish County (WA) Public Utility District, one of the largest public utilities in the U.S., and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Eric has successfully litigated matters critical to renewable energy developers, involving, for example, PURPA, the Federal Power Act and FERC regulation, transmission access and pricing, environmental permitting, renewable energy credits and electricity markets. In addition, Eric has successfully guided clients through transactions involving renewable and traditional energy facilities, energy and derivatives trades, engineering and construction services, early-stage and traditional financing, risk management, and government grants and tax incentives.

Eric holds a law degree (with honors) from Stanford Law School and a degree in biology (with high honors) from the University of Kansas.

Frederic “Fritz” Knaak | North Star Law Group

Fritz Knaak has been practicing law for over 45 years in Minnesota and 30 in Wisconsin and Colorado. He has tried cases and argued appeals throughout the country in both State and Federal Courts, primarily in the area of real estate development and finance. For nearly that whole period he has been a City Attorney. Past clients include the Minnesota cities of Fridley, Maplewood, Lake Elmo, Newport and Afton. He is currently city attorney for Ramsey and Taylors Falls, Minnesota, and continues to represent private clients on a variety of matters, especially involving situations requiring interaction between local governments and developers, as well as state and federal election law. He also has considerable experience in litigation involving title insurance claims and title insurance . Fritz served ten years in the Minnesota Senate, representing a district in the northeastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. He was Special Counsel to the Minnesota Secretary of State in redistricting litigation and was lead counsel on the Senator Norm Coleman election recount. He is a frequent commentator on Twin City news programs on political matters and is a frequent guest political panelist of the Twin Cities Public Television Almanac program. He also regularly teaches in national seminars on municipal and development law and has published a number of essays and articles on various topics. His article “Using Development Agreements to Further Environmental Ends: A Case Study” was just published this summer in the ABA’s Probate and Real Property Section magazine.

Fritz has 5 adult children, four sons and one daughter.

Session I – Navigating the Complexities of Green Energy Law: Updates, Trends, and Power Contract Considerations | 1:00pm – 3:10pm

• Recent developments in green energy laws and policies
• Impact of government policies and regulations on wind and solar energy projects
• Discussion of current trends and updates in the industry

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

• Complexity of Electricity Contracts
• Types of Contracts
• Addressing Contractual Issues

Break | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

Session II – Land Use and Zoning Barriers to Renewable Energy Development | 3:20pm – 4:20pm

• Zoning and permitting barriers to solar and wind energy development
• Strategies for navigating local land use regulations and ordinances
• Case studies of successful wind and solar energy projects that overcame land use and zoning challenges