
Overview
Paul Belval, represents investors, developers, utilities and suppliers in transactions relating to power projects and energy companies.
Paul's practice involves the development, financing and restructuring of renewable energy facilities. He represents clients across a range of technologies, including offshore and land-based wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and landfill gas. Paul also represents debt and equity investors in single project and portfolio transactions across the country and in restructuring projects experiencing operational or other difficulties. He drafted the contracts and operating rules for the renewable energy credit tracking system in New England and has counseled the operators of other renewable energy credit tracking systems in the development of those systems. Paul also represents clients in the negotiation of power purchase agreements for utility-scale renewable energy projects and the termination of those agreements when they cease to be economic.
Experience
Negotiated and drafted multiple power purchase agreements for offshore wind facilities in the Northeast
Represented lenders to geothermal projects in loans totaling $445 million that were guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Energy
Representing a New England utility in various power and REC purchase agreements throughout its service area involving wind, solar, landfill gas, hydroelectric and anaerobic digester projects
Represented debt and equity investors in restructuring eleven utility scale wind projects resulting from the bankruptcy of the project sponsor
Represented a large infrastructure fund in a $1.25 billion investment in a solar and wind generating portfolio
Education and Credentials
Education
- Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, J.D., magna cum laude, 1989, Note and Comment Editor, Pace Law Review
- University of Massachusetts, B.A., cum laude
Admissions
- State of Connecticut
- State of New York
Affiliations
- Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA), Board of Directors
- American College of Investment Counsel, Fellow
- Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Fellow
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in the Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for energy: electricity (transactional), Nationwide, 2013-2020
Chosen for inclusion in the Chambers Global (Chambers & Partners) list for energy: electricity (transactional), 2016-2021
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Energy Law, 2010-2025
Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Energy and Natural Resources, 2006-2024
Chosen for inclusion in Guide to the World's Leading Project Finance Lawyers (Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC), 2011, 2018
Community Involvement
Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Board of Directors, 2013-2023; Vice President, 2013-2015; Treasurer, 2015-2020
Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation, Board of Directors 2005-2015; Vice President 2009-2011; President, 2011-2013
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
- Supreme Court Overturning Chevron Leaves a Wake of Regulatory Uncertainty for Employment and Energy Agency Actions , July 18, 2024
- NJDEP Adopts Environmental Justice Rules , April 21, 2023
- How Inflation Reduction Act Will Lift Offshore Wind Projects , September 9, 2022
- The Inflation Reduction Act: How Will Its Provisions Impact Offshore Wind Development? , August 30, 2022
- New Mass. Law a Step Forward for Offshore Wind , August 29, 2022
Events
- "Energy Planning for Your Business Future: CBIA Leadership Essential Series," CBIA, October 11, 2022
News
- Chambers Global 2021 Ranks Day Pitney's Energy Practice and Attorneys, March 8, 2021
- Chambers USA 2020 Ranks 34 Day Pitney Attorneys and 12 Practices, April 30, 2020
- Chambers Global 2020 Ranks Day Pitney's Energy Practice, Energy Attorneys, and Individual Client Attorneys, February 18, 2020
- Chambers USA 2019 Ranks 38 Day Pitney Attorneys and 12 Practices, May 8, 2019
- Day Pitney Represents John Hancock in its $1.25 Billion Acquisition of Commercial Renewable Energy Portfolio from Duke Energy, April 25, 2019
In The Media
Speaking Engagements
- "ESG Planning for Your Business," CBIA, CPES, October 11, 2022
- Renewable Energy in New England, September 2020
- Developing and Financing Wind Energy Projects: Protecting Your Rights Through Contract Provisions, October 25, 2019
- Developing and Financing Wind Energy Projects: Contract Provisions, Protecting Developer and Landowner Interests, June 25, 2019
- Project Finance 201, April 4, 2019
- Alternative Financing for Renewable Energy Projects: Evaluating Options, Structuring the Deal, May 23, 2018
- New Developments in Energy Project Finance, May 19, 2016
- Speaker, "Power Purchase Agreements: How they differ with the type of resource," Energy in the Northeast Conference, Law Seminars International, September 26-27, 2011, September 26, 2011