Massachusetts – September 17, 2012 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West LLC (PLDW) Municipal Infrastructure Team has released a case study detailing the legal services it provided in helping a Massachusetts city become a ‘green city’ by considering a public-private partnership. The process is outlined in a case study entitled, PLDW Attorneys Help Fall River, MA Become a ‘Green City’.
In the case study, Teno A. West, a PLDW Partner and team leader of the firm’s Municipal Infrastructure practice, details the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement for the City of Fall River, and includes the methodology for a private company’s procurement of city-owned land to construct the solar panel system. Upon completion, the public-private partnership will result in the solar power system supplying the electricity needs of Fall River’s municipal, Housing Authority and school buildings, making the City a ‘green city’.
According to the Clean Energy Group’s initiative, States Advancing Solar, energy systems produced by converting the sun’s rays into electricity or hot fluids are among the cleanest power-generating technologies available today because the systems produce no air pollution, hazardous waste, or noise. However, for municipalities it is still an expensive undertaking. This case study details how using a state incentive funding source and a private company’s expertise and resources can create value to the public, build a long-term sustainability program for clean energy and benefit the economy. In addition, the process and procedures established by the PLDW attorneys in this public-private partnership will help facilitate future development of renewable generation of resources for the City.
To learn more about the scope of work performed by the PLDW Municipal Team, please log onto the case study at www.PLDW.com.
Attorney West is a nationally recognized municipal infrastructure attorney and a frequent lecturer on the matter. He is a highly experienced lawyer in the areas of public-private partnerships; water and wastewater law; solid waste management; alternative energy projects; procurement law; and design-build-operate projects. He routinely represents government agencies in many parts of the United States dealing with the challenges associated with municipal infrastructure projects and related legislation required for undertaking alternative procurements and design-build and design-build-operate projects.
The PLDW Municipal Infrastructure Team delivers responsive, cost-effective and strategic legal counsel and guidance to states, counties, municipalities and public authorities across the country seeking solutions to complex infrastructure needs. The firm’s Municipal Infrastructure attorneys provide legal advice to public entities involved in the construction and improvement of all types of public facilities, including water and sewer facilities, solid waste management, municipal buildings, recreational facilities, and other public infrastructure projects. The Team draws upon in-depth experience in multiple areas of law, as well as our knowledge of public finance, project management, real estate, contract administration and other disciplines to solve complicated legal issues on municipal projects from conception to completion. Whether a project involves financing, structuring contract documents, alternative project delivery methods such as design-build, or the creation of comprehensive public-private partnerships as it relates to a public project, PLDW attorneys deliver the fullest range of legal services to clients nationwide.
For more information about the firm’s Municipal Infrastructure Team, contact Mr. West at twest@pldw.com or call 914-898-2497. To learn more about PLDW, contact David C. Sweet, Director of Administration, at dsweet@pldw.com or call 401-824-5100, or visit www.pldw.com.
About Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West LLC
The attorneys and staff at Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West LLC (PLDW) are committed to developing practical and cost-effective solutions while also being supportive of the community in a meaningful way. With offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Florida, PLDW has developed a business model that combines international expertise with a more cost-effective delivery system that involves cross training of lawyers and a more practical approach to problem solving. The primary areas of practice for the firm include administrative, corporate and municipal law, civil litigation, government relations, real estate and commercial lending and estate planning and special masterships. The partners demand of themselves and those on the PLDW team, an unparalleled sense of urgency and responsiveness which is derived from an authentic appreciation for their clients and the community in which they serve. For more information, visit www.pldw.com.