Baker Botts is a leading firm in the cleantech sector, representing Fortune 500 companies, venture capital investors and start-ups alike. Our clients look to us to help them successfully develop and finance their cleantech projects, protect and exploit their technology and structure profitable exits. Our capabilities in cleantech build on our twin strengths: energy and technology. Frequently ranked as one of the top law firms worldwide in energy and projects, Baker Botts has more than 150 lawyers from an array of practice disciplines whose primary focus is the energy industry. Another 135 lawyers practice in the Intellectual Property Practice, many possessing at least one engineering or scientific degree. Our depth and experience in renewable power projects, alternative fuels, carbon commercialization and energy efficiency matters offers clients an integrated approach to addressing existing and emerging clean energy challenges.

• minimize the political, economic and legal risks, associated with developing clean energy projects, big or small
• help companies deliver needed products and services while respecting the environment through our experience representing investors, developers and integrated majors in more than 100 renewable energy and alternative fuel projects across the globe
• assist clients in commercializing their technology, expand their services, and realize the full value of their assets with our integrated climate change/environmental, project development and finance, corporate and IP offerings

Renewable Power Projects
We have worked on more than 60 wind, solar, biomass and other renewable energy projects in 22 states and Mexico, representing several of the largest renewable energy developers in the development of their projects. This experience includes:

• the Project Finance Magazine 2006 Deal of the Year for a leading wind energy company
• mergers and acquisitions, joint venture formation, tax equity, and commercial banking financings, including the acquisition of over 2,500 MW of wind turbine generators
• power purchase agreements and wind hedges
• land acquisitions
• engineering, procurement and construction contracts
• state and local tax structuring, including tax abatement agreements
• defense of siting challenges
• solar supply and installation agreements
• permitting and transmission agreements

Alternative Fuels
Baker Botts has acted as the lead counsel for development of projects and assisting with investments, financings, public offerings, patent filings and licensing arrangements, including:

• Biomass projects: representing developers of landfill, wood waste, sugar waste and other biomass gas processing projects in connection with the development of power generation facilities, offtake purchases and sales, environmental and permitting issues, governmental policy, EPC arrangements and financing
• Gas-to-Fuels (GTF): development and commercialization of proprietary GTF technology for the conversion of natural gas to transportation fuels
• Gas-to-Liquids (GTL): development of GTL facilities and financings and on the technology and licensing arrangements for GTL technology and GTL sales and offtake arrangements
• Ethanol: development of both corn and sugarcane ethanol plants, licensing of technology, financing, and M&A transactionsdevelopment of both corn and sugarcane ethanol plants, licensing of technology, financing, and M&A transactions
• Coal-to-Liquids: development of a $7 billion coal to liquids facility to produce ultra-clean diesel, jet fuel and naphtha
• Coal-to-Gas: development of proposed coal gasification projects to convert coal to methane and to produce a CO₂ stream for use in enhanced oil recovery

Carbon Commercialization
Our understanding of the drivers and implications of climate policy can be a valuable asset in this complex and rapidly evolving area of investment. This understanding enables us to advise our clients on how to obtain the full economic benefit from their carbon-oriented actions, including:

• advising at project inception regarding selecting the carbon market and validation standard that best suits the project, enabling our client to generate the highest valued and most marketable carbon assets
• targeting the most appropriate investors and carbon credit off-takers for our client
• structuring and documenting the development of carbon offset projects to profitably manage carbon assets
• protecting our client's investments by structuring deals to withstand the effects of ever-changing international agreements and national greenhouse gas reduction programs

Energy Efficiency
Baker Botts is a leader in advising on the evolving economics and incentives needed in energy efficiency projects in different markets, derived from our advocacy work for utility clients seeking cost-recovery. We counsel developers on projects with associated technologies, such as advanced efficiency metering systems, battery systems, energy storage and efficiency services, and other "smart" technologies. We often advise on the latest tax incentives for efficiency projects, and have in-depth experience in structuring projects to take advantage of tax credit opportunities.