What We Do

The following are recent representative Bryan Cave Clean Tech projects:

Developer of Geothermal Energy Production Facilities
A multi-office, multi-discipline team of Bryan Cave lawyers has been retained to assist our client in the development of geothermal production facilities in California and Nevada. This client and its affiliates are creating an investment fund to provide financing for four or five geothermal production facilities, at a total cost of approximately $500 million.

Biodiesel Producer
Bryan Cave assisted this client in the siting and permitting of a biodiesel manufacturing facility in Illinois, and a second facility is now planned in California.

Electric Truck Manufacturer
A multi-office, multi-discipline team of Bryan Cave lawyers has undertaken an effort to assist this client, a manufacturer of electric trucks, in obtaining ARRA stimulus funds and finding new business opportunities. This client already has an existing contract to supply 100 electric trucks to handle the movement of cargo within one of the largest ports on the west coast. Among other things, this client has asked Bryan Cave to assist it in pursuing similar opportunities at ports and other facilities throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Solar/Wind Power Developer
Bryan Cave is assisting a public entity in assessing the feasibility of developing a wind and/or solar power generating facility public park land, including the installation of an array of solar panels and/or wind turbines and related equipment and facilities on public lands. The goal of this effort would be to develop a cost-effective alternate energy facility that could generate enough power to reduce or eliminate the need for conventional electricity for residents and businesses in surrounding areas.

High-efficiency Power Line Manufacturer
A number of California alternative energy companies are potentially eligible for stimulus grants and/or tax credits available under the ARRA. Our client develops, manufactures and sells innovative, high performance carbon composite electrical transmission cable and related renewable energy generation products. We have been working closely with this company and its strategic partners over the past few months to assist the company to take advantage of federal, state and local funding opportunities, including ARRA grants and tax credits. In addition, we anticipate working with them to identify and secure installation opportunities with both private and public (municipal) electricity providers throughout the U.S.

Land Fill to Natural Gas Project
Bryan Cave recently closed the restructure of the Archer Winder land fill to natural gas project finance deal in which we represented the lender, Archer Capital. At the time of the original closing in late June 2008, the price of natural gas was approximately $13 MMBtu. The price today is less than $4 MMBtu. And as in virtually all project finance deals, it is the sale of the product produced (here, natural gas) that supports the project and pays the debt service. In the restructuring, the pricing on the loan was increased, the financial covenants were adjusted, new money was raised (which principally came from the municipal gas purchaser in the form of a direct equity investment and a forward purchase of gas) and our client received an equity participation interest.

Industrial Laundry Service Provider
Los Angeles and other cities in California are in the process of adopting mandatory water rationing and other drought-response measures. California businesses and individuals are being asked (and, in some cases, forced) to drastically cut back on water consumption due to the severe drought conditions. Our client provides laundry services to hospitals throughout southern California. As such, it is a high-volume water user and could be severely impacted by current and prospective drought-response programs. Bryan Cave is assisting this client in developing a compliance program for these programs and, where possible, will be attempting to influence the adoption and crafting of new programs.

Plumbing Fixture Distributor
California recently enacted legislation to restrict lead content in kitchen and bath fixtures to reduce lead levels in potable water. As a leading manufacturer of high-end kitchen and bath fixtures, this client is directly impacted by this new regulatory framework. Over the past few months, Bryan Cave has analyzed the legislation and related testing standards and has formulated a strategy to turn this new regulatory challenge into a competitive advantage for this client by establishing them as a “green” market leader and giving them an “inside track” compliance strategy. Our expertise and relationships have provided this client with access to the relevant trade organizations and regulatory agencies to advocate for a favorable set of testing standards, and we have strengthened relationships with several important stakeholders to maximize our ability to influence the emerging regulatory program details.

Hydro Power Plant
We have been engaged by China Export and Credit Corporation (SinoSure) in connection with a hydro power plant in Cambodia to be constructed and financed by Chinese parties.

Power Project Refinancing
We are advising a Singapore publicly listed company in a $30 million refinancing of two Cambodian power plants. This is believed to be the first power project refinancing deal done in Asia since the onset of the current economic climate. The lending syndicate includes Singaporean, Cambodian and Thai banks. Closing is expected by the end of July.

Electricity and Steam Co-Generation Facility
We are advising a Singapore-German sponsor on the development of a co-generation facility in Singapore that will supply electricity and steam to an industrial customer, with the ability to sell excess electricity and steam to third parties. We are advising on all aspects of the development including utilities purchase agreements, gas supply agreements, construction and operation agreements, land, regulatory regime and approvals and permits.

Water Revenue Bonds
We represented Merrill Lynch as underwriter’s counsel for a $198,915,000 bond issue for the Kansas City, Mo., water system.