Energy

Our Energy Practice Group is extensively involved in energy law related projects, including renewable energy, and ensuing statutory and regulatory developments in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Oil & Gas

We advise and assist clients in the petroleum industry in matters related to storage, transportation, wholesale and distribution, among others. We provide counsel on the import, transportation, storage and use of natural gas and propane gas in their operations and on matters concerning the development, design, finance, build out and operation of alternative fuel manufacturing facilities.

Renewable Energy  

We are actively involved in renewable energy projects. We have successfully represented clients before the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority in negotiating power purchase and operation agreements (PPOAs), letters of intent, and other development and contractual commitments related to wind, solar and resource recovery facilities.  Our practice group members have successfully represented proponents in key energy infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, among these the first single base-load renewable energy generation and resource recovery project ever to be proposed and permitted on the island.

Public Policy

On the policymaking front, our group was extensively involved in the drafting of Acts No. 82 and 83 of July 19, 2010 – known as the “Puerto Rico Energy Diversification through Sustainable and Alternative Renewable Energy Policy Act” and the “Puerto Rico Green Energy Incentives Act”, respectively.  In 2010, our Practice Group Chair served as a private sector member representative of the Puerto Rico Wheeling Committee, comprised of representatives from the Puerto Rico Governor’s Office, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the State Office of Energy Public Policy (former Energy Affairs Administration) and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), as well as other private sector stakeholders.  Our group was also involved in the enactment process of Act 57-2014, the “Puerto Rico Energy Relief and Transformation Act”. This gives us a particular insights into the major changes introduced by Act 57 to the legal framework of Puerto Rico’s energy industry.

Our legal team has strong, established professional relationships with all relevant regulatory agencies, including these key players:

  • Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
  • Puerto Rico Energy Commission
  • State Office of Energy Public Policy (OEPPE, by its Spanish Acronym)

We advise our clients on relevant federal and local developments – statutory, regulatory, and case law – in environmental law. We also assist them in the preparation of proposed revisions to statutory and regulatory provisions and/or the submittal of comments to proposals for statutory and regulatory provisions regarding issues that impact their operations.