Airport Electrification & Advanced Air Mobility

Kaplan Kirsch offers comprehensive legal services to airport clients exploring or developing electrification projects, microgrids and advanced air mobility solutions. Our team of experienced lawyers has a deep understanding of the numerous legal and regulatory challenges facing these emerging technology solutions and are committed to helping clients navigate these complexities with confidence and ease.

In our airport electrification and microgrid practice, we advise clients on project governance and delivery, funding mechanisms, siting and potential environmental review, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory compliance and coordination with local utilities and electric suppliers. We are skilled in negotiating complex agreements related to these projects, including power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, energy services agreements, development agreements and leases

Representative Experience

Solar Project on Runway-Adjacent Property: Our team has represented an international airport in preparing a legal and regulatory strategy with regard to the development of a large-scale solar project on airport land. We assisted the airport sponsor in determining a defensible fair market value methodology for the situation, navigated local utility concerns and evaluated how to best use federal grant funding to support the sponsor’s financial, environmental and social objectives.

Solar Development on Airport Properties: We represented a solar developer in navigating National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, FAA review and local requirements associated with developing solar projects and associated transmission infrastructure on airport property in multiple states.

Utility Negotiations for a Major International Airport: Kaplan Kirsch team members drafted and negotiated novel and complex lease agreements with utility providers on airport property (landside and airside), including agreements regarding demolition and removal of utility structures, installation of new lines and services and data sharing.

Multi-Site Airport Solar Development: We assisted an airport authority in drafting and issuing a solicitation for solar energy projects at both a small hub and general aviation airport. We then provided guidance on a set of lease documents to govern the development on four separate parcels of property, with specific attention to compliance with the authority’s federal grant assurance and safety obligations

Related Practices