Power Projects

The world is constantly faced with changing and challenging demands, but there is no shortage of innovative projects racing towards a brighter future. Blakes is very proud to be at the forefront of these changes. We have represented clients in many of the largest, most complex and innovative projects in Canada and all around the world, including with respect to thermal, gas-fired, combined heat and power (CHP), nuclear, district, and renewable (wind, solar, hydro and biomass) energy.

Whether it be in the course of project planning, project development, business operations, investment, financing, acquisition, regulatory matters, end-of-project-life considerations or the continuing and ongoing day-to-day legal advice, we are always first in line to assist and guide our clients through each and every step, from the initial discussions through to project close.

Blakes is the first choice of a wide range of industry participants such as project sponsors, owners and developers, investors, public and private companies, contractors, project lenders such as domestic and international banks, as well as institutional lenders, and many other stakeholders, including energy suppliers and consumers, municipalities, governments and their agencies.

We are regularly called upon to provide legal advice to the numerous stakeholders of power and energy-related projects on a broad range of topics, including the impact of evolving markets, facilities operations, management, development, operation and financing of power projects, infrastructure issues, environmental compliance, Indigenous relations and treaty matters, power supply, transmission and distribution challenges, and a host of other energy law issues.

We negotiate, structure, plan, draft and provide comprehensive advice based on our multidisciplinary approach covering our expertise in project development, construction, project finance, infrastructure, transportation, energy, power, renewable energy, environmental and Indigenous issues. We work collaboratively with our preeminent Financial Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate & Commercial, Environmental, Indigenous, Infrastructure and Regulatory lawyers and other specialized practitioners located across Canada. Our lawyers are highly ranked in national and international directories and ranking publications and are involved in industry organizations.

Recent Experience

C$805-million refinancing of the 230 MW Niagara Region wind farm project in Ontario, one of the largest in North America.
Elemental Energy Renewables Inc. with regard to providing environmental and regulatory advice for applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission on the 26.5 MW Brooks Solar II solar plant located near Brooks, Alberta, and the 20.1 MW East Strathmore solar project located near Strathmore, Alberta.
BluEarth Renewables Inc. on the project financing of the Narrows Inlet hydro project.
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. on its C$331-million acquisition of Enbridge Gas New Brunswick, Inc.
The lenders on the project financing of the Le Plateau 138.6 MW wind-generation project in Quebec (Ruisseau-Ferguson in the Regional County Municipality of d’Avignon and in the Municipality of L’Ascension-de-Patapédia).
The Desjardins Group Pension Plan on the acquisition of a portion of EDF Renewables Canada Inc.'s stake in the Cypress wind-power project near Medicine Hat, Alberta.
H2O Power LP in the creation of its joint venture with Watergen Canada Holdings Inc. to own and operate eight hydroelectric power-generation facilities in Ontario.
Ontario Power Generation Inc. in relation to the mid-life refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, which recently achieved first criticality for Unit 2.
Canadian counsel to Heartland Generation Ltd., an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners, on its C$835-million acquisition of Canadian Utilities Ltd.’s natural gas and coal electricity generation interests in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario.
H2O Power LP with respect to the project financing of eight hydroelectric generating facilities in Ontario.
The lenders (The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Canada), KFW Ipex-Bank GmbH, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation of Canada, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, New York Branch and Siemens Financial Ltd.), in the project financing of the 272 MW Seigneurie de Beaupré wind projects, located 60 km northeast of the city of Québec.
AltaLink Management Ltd., Alberta’s largest electrical transmission service provider, in obtaining land requirements for its major transmission system reinforcements in southern Alberta.
SNC-Lavalin Capital Inc. and InPower BC General Partnership, the successful contractor for the design, construction, financing, testing, commissioning, maintenance and life-cycle rehabilitation of BC Hydro’s John Hart Generating Station replacement project in Campbell River, British Columbia.