Renewable Energy Development on Brownfields: New Opportunities and Issues

When
March 15, 2017 5:00 pm — 6:30 pm
Where
San Francisco, CA (and teleconference)

Co-sponsored by:
The Environmental Law Institute
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Berkeley Law Center for Law, Energy & the Environment


With increasing pressure on greenfield development and renewable energy demand, there is heightened focus on developing smaller scale renewable energy projects located closer to the demand load.

Brownfields may provide opportunities to develop such projects to meet off-taker needs. Not only do these projects spur development of blighted or abandoned sites, they also have potential to meet local needs for renewable energy. With clear benefits, there are also potential risks to be managed:

  • Investigation and cleanup requirements
  • Timeline, cost of construction and operation
  • Governmental assistance and concerns
  • Potential private party liabilities  

Our panelists discussed the environmental and liability risks with the development of renewable energy projects on brownfields.

Panelists:
Ian Webster, President & Founder, Project Navigator, Ltd. (moderator)
Jon Benjamin, Partner, Farella Braun + Martel
Karen Irwin, Sustainable Local Government Lead, EPA Region 9
Mark Tholke, Chief Development Officer, Advanced Microgrid Solutions