Chad Richards advises project developers, strategic investors, financial institutions, investment funds and their portfolio companies, and other other industry participants on a wide range of energy regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the energy regulatory aspects of complex transactions and financings. Leveraging his experience on many of the most significant deals in the energy infrastructure sector, Chad counsels clients on transaction diligence, structuring, and negotiation to manage regulatory risk and to secure required energy regulatory approvals from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), among other regulators. Chad also provides counseling on energy regulatory compliance and periodic reporting obligations under the relevant federal statutes and regulations governing the energy industry.
Chad has advised on a broad range of transaction types, including acquisitions and divestitures, mergers, joint ventures, restructurings, reorganizations, financings, and equity investments and other complex equity holder arrangements. His experience also spans a broad range of energy assets, including natural gas, liquefied natural gas, solar, hydro, oil, on and offshore wind, transmission, demand response, fuel cells, and storage.
Experiencia
In the renewables and energy transition space, advised:
Consortium of Global Infrastructure Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in connection with their $6.2 billion acquisition of ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE).
Global Infrastructure Partners in connection with its $12.5 billion acquisition by BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK).
Energy Capital Partners in connection with its $1 billion combination with Bridgepoint Group plc (LSE: BPT).
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in connection with its $1 billion preferred equity investment in a portfolio of wind and solar projects with NextEra Energy Resources.
Basalt Infrastructure Partners in connection with its acquisition of AEP OnSite Partners, the distributed generation business of American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP).
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX) and its portfolio company, Aypa Power, in connection with the construction and tax equity financing of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects.
ArcLight Capital Partners in connection with its acquisition of Duke Energy’s (NYSE: DUK) commercial distributed generation business.
Tax equity investors in connection with the $1.76 billion financing of the Western Spirit transmission line and wind portfolio in New Mexico. This transaction was named the 2020 “Transmission Deal of the Year” by Power Finance & Risk.
A renewables company sponsor in connection with the construction and tax equity financing of a 1.7 GW utility-scale solar portfolio in Texas and California.
Lenders in connection with the construction, term, and tax equity financing of the Edwards Sanborn solar and storage facility in California. This transaction was named the 2022 “Americas Renewables Deal of the Year” by Project Finance International.
Tax equity investors in connection with the $1.6 billion financing of a 2.3 GW utility-scale solar and wind portfolio in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota, and Virginia.
Lenders in connection with the construction, term, and tax equity financing of the Highlander solar facility in Virginia. This transaction was named the 2020 “North America Deal of the Year” by Project Finance International.
Lenders in connection with the repowering and refinancing of the Shepherds Flat wind facility in Oregon.
A private equity firm in connection with its acquisition of a portfolio of forty-two hydroelectric facilities spanning eleven states.
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the $59 billion bankruptcy of Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
In the oil, gas, and LNG space, advised:
Global Infrastructure Partners in connection with its majority equity investment in Rio Grande LNG’s $18.4 billion Phase I development and project financing. This transaction was named the 2023 “Americas Deal of the Year” by Project Finance International.
Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE: PR) in connection with its $4.5 billion acquisition of Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE).
Sovereign wealth fund in connection with its $1.78 billion minority equity investment in Sempra Infrastructure Partners.
A private equity firm in connection with its acquisition of a portfolio of six natural gas distribution companies in Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Lenders in connection with the debt refinancing of a midstream oil and gas company with gathering, production, and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast.
Lenders in connection with the construction financing of the CPV Three Rivers natural gas-fired power plant in Illinois. This transaction was named the 2020 “Conventional Power Deal of the Year” by Power Finance & Risk.
