Power and Utilities

Helping Electric Cooperatives Deploy Broadband
Helping 5 out of the 9 electric distribution coops in Michigan deploy broadband with regulatory approvals, local franchises, state licensing, FCC compliance, financing, and establishing organizational structure so each coop could enter and offer high-speed broadband space for their areas.

Aiding Energy Client in Spinoff
Counseling client in the completion of a planned spinoff of its non-utility midstream business. The client will be an owner, operator, and developer of natural gas midstream interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, and compression, treatment, and surface facilities and offer a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage, and gathering.

Securing Victory for Nonprofit that Owns and Operates Mine-mouth Power Generation Plant
Winning complex appeal and affirming the trial court's judgment in all respects for our client. At issue in the case was a key 2,200-acre lignite coal lease that was preparing to mine for more than four decades. The lease contains the lignite reserves expected to fuel our client’s power plant. Near the time mining was expected to begin, a suit was filed to cancel the lease.

Guiding Client Through Regulatory Approvals and Addressing Whistleblower Concerns to Obtain Approval of New Pipeline Route
Aiding client in avoiding costly fines and litigation by getting approval for a new pipeline route and addressing whistleblower concerns. In a matter that was time sensitive, deviated at every turn, and was hotly contested, we were able to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a very unique 15-mile LNG pipeline for our client to service a new soybean processing plant. The pipeline is notably unique in that it is not utility-owned. However, we were able to have it placed in the public right-of-way over the objection of the competing local distribution utility and abutting landowners.

Obtaining Order Approving $36.4 Million Rate Increase for a Large Electric Utility in Michigan
Helping client strengthen their infrastructure, modernize the southwest Michigan electric grid and support continued efforts to transition to more diverse generation options by establishing the "IM Plugged-In" program to expand incentives for electric-car charging to apartment buildings and commercial fleet vehicles.

Securing Significant Victory in Michigan Supreme Court for Electric Transmission Company
Defending client in Michigan Supreme Court and obtaining unanimous decision in favor of our client that ensures municipalities will not be able to force utilities to comply with multiple local ordinances that attempt to regulate the construction or location of transmission lines when those ordinances conflict with a certificate issued under Act 30. The court held that the certificate from the MPSC under Act 30 approving the construction and location of new transmission lines prevailed over an unreasonable (and, therefore, unconstitutional) local ordinance that, in part, sought to require the lines to be constructed underground. The decision gives finality to a multi-year project, which involves acquisition of property rights for construction of a new seven-mile double circuit 138kV transmission line that spans seven miles and includes 67 properties.