Experience

Sales of Kennebec Hydro Project

Verrill represented Kennebec Water District in connection with the sale to Essex Hydro of its hydro-electric facility on the Kennebec River. Bill Harwood and Brian Marshall represented Kennebec Water District in seeking FERC approval of the transfer of the project and securing an order of the Maine PUC declining to assert jurisdiction over the sale. Mark Googins negotiated the Purchase & Sale Agreement and Tony Calcagni negotiated the transfer of real estate and related easements.

Arbitration of Hydro PPA Dispute

Represented a Maine utility in arbitratiion of a contractual dispute between the utility and a hydro facility owner arising under a long-term power purchase agreement. After a lengthy hearing, the arbitrator ruled in favor of the utility, finding that, even though the full output PPA provided only a single MWh price and referred only to energy sales, the utility purchased both the energy and capacity available from the hydro facility.

FERC Headwater Benefits Case

Secured a settlement on behalf of several downstream hydro owners in a FERC headwater benefits case that spanned 12 years and involved millions of dollars of claims between several major U.S. hydro developers owning hydro facilities on the Penobscot River. The case was complicated by several factors, including (1) a jurisdictional fight between the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and FERC after one of the parties filed for bankruptcy; (2) a contested 15-year-old settlement of a portion of the claim; and (3) multiple sales of both the upstream and downstream hydro facilities while the case was being litigated, resulting in multiple indemnification claims and defenses between the parties related to the underlying headwater benefits claims.

FERC Hydro License Compliance

Represented ENEL, an international leader in hydro power, before FERC in defending against a formal Section 206 Complaint by the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and various abutters, alleging that ENEL North America has violated the terms of its FERC hydro license by failing to maintain and repair the canals along the Merrimack River.Verrill successfully obtained a letter order from Commission Staff dismissing the complaint. After Complainants filed a request for rehearing, Verrill successfully opposed the request and obtained an order from the Commission denying in full the request for rehearing.

Power Purchase Agreement Dispute

Represented Emera in defending a claim by a hydroelectric operator disputing Emera's determination of so-called avoided cost PURPA rates paid by Emera to the hydroelectric operator.

Firm Highlights

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

News

Verrill's Norman Belanger and Betts Gorsky Featured in Mainebiz Article

Blog

HR Power Hour with Sabine Gedeon

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

Publication/Podcast

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say…Gorelick v. Star Markets: A Study in Indemnity

Indemnity clauses in contracts are a valuable tool for allocating risk among the contracting parties, most often risk attendant to personal injury and property damage, and their effect can be far-reaching. Despite their significance...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023

Join Verrill's Christopher S. Lockman at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where he will be presenting Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023 . This workshop will review...

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

News

David Lazarus Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Article Regarding Cryptocurrency Whistleblowing.

Publication/Podcast

Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.

Verrill attorney Liz Johnston was recently published in Law360 for her article “Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.” In the article, Johnston discusses the recent decision in Kinzer v. Whole Foods...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop A: Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias

Join Verrill's Tawny L. Alvarez at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where she will be presenting Workshop A:Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias. Proximity bias can raise discrimination issues for...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700