Michael Richmond Photo
Michael Richmond Photo
Michael Richmond Photo

Mike Richmond is a leading energy law lawyer with exceptional expertise in the renewable energy space, and the national leader of the firm’s Energy Group. Mike provides trusted commercial, regulatory and financing advice to purchasers, developers, investors and lenders. He has a particular focus on finding legal solutions for clients involved in solar, wind and gas-fired generation, as well as in energy storage.

Having played a leading role in the development of over 600 solar and wind projects, Mike provides guidance on power purchase agreements for projects across Canada, and on electricity wholesale and retail contracts. His work in energy law encompasses project acquisitions, site and rooftop leases, engineering procurement & construction contracts (EPCs), equipment purchases and warranties, connection agreements and disputes, regulatory licences and approvals, market rule compliance, project financings and dispositions. He also advises on policy relating to market design and operation.

Mike previously served as senior policy advisor to the Minister of Energy, counsel to a parliamentary caucus, corporate director of Toronto Hydro, and most recently, as a member of the National Energy Board. This experience gives him unique insight into the perspectives of regulators, governments, utilities and shareholders, which has been a proven benefit in advancing his clients’ interests and serves him well as a member of the national public affairs firm McMillan Vantage Policy Group.


Expertise


Representative Matters

Wind Project Experience

  • 100 MW West Cape Wind Farm in Prince Edward Island (Acquisition, Financing, Sale, Assignment and Operation)
  • 9 MW Norway Wind Farm in Prince Edward Island (Acquisition, Financing and Operation)
  • 100 MW Caribou Wind Farm in New Brunswick (Development and Operation)
  • 10 MW Mohawk Point Wind Farm in Ontario (Property Leasing on behalf of Landowners)
  • Proposed 200 MW wind park in Saskatchewan (Acquisition, RFP compliance, PPA Review, Turbine Supply)
  • Multiple proposed 100 MW + wind parks in Ontario (Acquisition, Development and Sale)
  • Wind Farm Option, Lease and Easement Agreements (for developers and landowners)

Solar Project Experience

  • Corporate and commercial structuring under Ontario’s FIT 1, FIT 2 and FIT4 Programs
  • Development of behind-the-meter and storage-connected solar projects at industrial manufacturing facilities
  • 600+ Solar Rooftop Leases, Easements and Licenses (for a wide variety of developers)
  • Acquisition of multiple rooftop and ground-mount solar facilities on behalf of a local distribution company affiliates and private developers
  • Engineering, Procurement and Construction contracts and master agreements for hundreds of rooftop and ground-mount projects
  • Connection Agreements and connection disputes with various utilities
  • Operation and Maintenance contracts and master agreements for hundreds of rooftop and ground-mount projects
  • Metering and monitoring contracts
  • Land Assembly and Broker Services Agreements (for developers)
  • Development Services Agreements (for developers)

Natural Gas-Fired Generation Project Experience

  • 110 MW West Windsor Power Co-Generation Facility in Ontario (Operation, Financing, PPA, Licensing)
  • 50 MW Maitland Co-Generation Facility in Ontario (Operation)
  • 289 MW Green Electron Power Plant in Ontario (Gas Bypass, Regulatory)

Energy Storage Experience

  • Multiple battery storage, Uninterruptible Power Supply and self-generation projects and contracts for large industrial manufacturers
  • Review of Global Adjustment mitigation proposals and strategies

Biomass Project Experience

  • Development of proposed 10 MW Co-Generation Facility in Ontario
  • Strategic advice for proposed waste-to-energy facilities in Ontario

District Energy Experience

  • Development of geothermal and district energy systems for new residential, condominium and mixed use communities, on behalf of real estate developers and energy service providers
  • Negotiated Heating and Cooling Services Agreements for commercial customers
  • Developed and negotiated multiple Energy Service Agreements
  • Drafted Residential HVAC and Water Heater Rental Agreements
  • Negotiated district energy servicing and call centre arrangements

Project Development Experience

  • Drafted template forms of wind park leases and easements
  • Drafted and negotiated solar rooftop leases, easements and licenses
  • Drafted and negotiated individual and master agreement forms of engineering, procurement and construction contracts (EPC)
  • Drafted and negotiated individual and master agreement forms of equipment supply agreements
  • Drafted, negotiated and reviewed Operation and Maintenance agreements (O&M) for wind, solar and co-generation projects
  • Negotiated Connection Agreements with local distribution utilities
  • Negotiated utility asset relocation agreements
  • Structuring access arrangements for the purchase, sale, lease and development of real property interests

Power Purchase Agreement Experience

  • Non-Utility Generation Contracts (NUG)
  • Renewable Energy Supply Contracts (RES)
  • Clean Energy Supply Contracts (CES)
  • Feed-In Tariff Contracts (FIT)
  • Blackstart Contracts
  • Reactive Support and Voltage Control Contracts
  • Demand-Side Management  Contracts (DSM)
  • Renewal Energy Standard Offer Contracts (RESOP)
  • Renewable Energy Credit Purchase and Sale Agreements (REC)
  • Green Power Retail Contracts
  • Provincial Utility PPAs (New Brunswick Power, Hydro-Québec, SasPower, Nova Scotia Power, Ontario Hydro/OPA/IESO)
  • Retailer Standard Form Residential PPAs
  • Retailer Standard Form Commercial PPAs
  • Wholesaler Standard Form PPAs
  • Commercial and Industrial Customer PPAs

Gas Purchase Experience

  • Gas Purchase Agreements (Negotiation, Renegotiation and Termination)
  • Arbitration regarding price escalation clauses (for Gas Purchaser)
  • TCPL Gas Transportation Experience (for Generators)
  • Import and Export Licensing (for Generators and Traders)
  • GasEDI Base Contract for Short- Term Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas
  • NAESB Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas (and Canadian Addendum)

Steam Sale Experience

  • Steam Sale Agreements (for Co-Gen Operators)
  • Site Services Agreements (for Co-Gen Operators and Steam Hosts)

Renewable Energy Credit Experience

  • REC Sales Agreements (for Generators and Retailers)
  • ecoLogo Master License Agreement (for Wind Developers)
  • GHG Credit Sales Agreements for vehicle manufacturers’ compliance with tailpipe emission standards

Financing Experience

  • Acted as legal counsel to VanCity Community Investment Bank (VCIB) in connection with the project financing provided to Noventa Energy Partners for the development of the $42.9 million energy transfer project to be constructed at Toronto Western Hospital, part of the University Health Network (UHN).
  • $50 million+ financing for a pool of 100+ commercial rooftop solar projects
  • $30 million+ financing for a pool of 75+ commercial rooftop solar projects
  • $100 million+ financing for a pool of 300+ commercial rooftop solar projects
  • Revolving Lines of Credit for construction of hundreds of solar projects
  • Financing for a 100 MW wind farm (Borrower’s Counsel)
  • Financing for a 9 MW wind farm (Borrower’s Counsel)
  • Financing for a 110 MW natural gas co- generation facility (Borrower’s Counsel)

Commodity Trading Experience

  • Canadian counsel to the purchaser of a major international energy trading business
  • Regularly advise US and European investment banks and energy traders on corporate, regulatory and licensing requirements with respect to launching energy trading businesses in Canada
  • Import and Export Licensing for oil, gas and electricity

Project Acquisition and Disposition

  • Structured and negotiated the acquisition of hundreds of solar projects and FIT Contracts
  • Advised on the sale of a wind project to the Korean Consortium
  • Counsel to various purchasers of wind projects, solar projects and development assets
  • Acted in the start-up of a green power retail company
  • Advised electricity distribution companies in connection with incorporations, sales and amalgamations
  • Advised on the corporate restructuring and assignment of various power project portfolios

Regulatory

  • Appointed by Prime Minister to 5-year term as a Member of the National Energy Board
  • Represented electricity generator at Ontario Energy Board gas bypass and certificate hearing
  • Represented industry association at multiple OEB hearings
  • Represented industrial customers at OEB hearings and in utility billing disputes
  • License applications and renewals
  • Compliance with professional engineering and electrical safety regulations, licenses and certificates
  • Consumer Protection Act compliance reviews

Project Cancellation

  • Advised multiple developers and operators in the face of unilateral government cancellations of renewable energy projects

Utility Strategy

  • Served on the Board of Directors of Toronto Hydro Corporation and Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc.

Speaking Engagements

Ontario Panel Discussion, Panelist The Annual Canadian Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition (CanWEA), Calgary, Alberta

October 2018

Bi-Lateral Solar Power Purchase Agreements with Large Electricity Consumers, Moderator Solar Canada Annual Conference & Exposition - presented by the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), Calgary, Alberta

June 2018

Ideas Interlude: Regulatory Policy Across North America Energy Conference 16, Ontario Energy Association, Toronto, Ontario

September 27, 2016

Teaching Engagements

  • Guest Lecturer on Energy Policy, Master of Public Administration degree program, Queen’s University School of Policy Studies, 2008-2014

News


Media Mentions


Rankings & Recognition

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2024), avocat fréquemment recommandé, Énergie (électricité)
  • Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Energy (Electricity)
  • Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Energy (Electricity)
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Energy (Electricity)
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Energy Law
  • Recognized in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers as a Leading Energy Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Energy (Electricity)
  • Recognized in the 2019 Lexpert/ROB Energy – Special Edition as one of Canada’s Leading Energy lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Energy (Electricity)
  • Recognized in the Lexpert Report on Business 2018 – Special Edition, as one of Canada’s leading Energy lawyers
  • Ranked in Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada 2014 as a Corporate Lawyer to Watch in the areas of Energy and Power

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Former Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
  • Former Director of Tribute Resources Inc.
  • Former Director of Toronto Hydro Corporation
  • Former Director of the Ontario Energy Association
  • Former Member of the National Energy Board

Education & Admissions

2000
Called to the Ontario bar
1998
LLBUniversity of Toronto
1995
B.Soc.Sc.University of Ottawa

Publications

Insights (6 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Canada’s Budget 2023: Compromise and Competition – Climate, Carbon and CCfDs

An update on Canada’s Budget 2023 and the future of carbon contracts for differences (CCfDs) in Canada.

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Mar 29, 2023
Featured Insight

Electricity Rebates for Multi-Unit Complexes in Ontario

Legal bulletin outlining changes to Ontario provincial government rebates for electricity consumers, including changes for multi-unit complexes.

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Nov 6, 2019
Featured Insight

Ontario’s New Cabinet Revealed

On Friday, June 29, 2018, Ontario's new government was sworn in. Who are the new players and what will they bring to their new roles?

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Jul 16, 2018
Featured Insight

An Analysis of Ontario’s Speech from the Throne

An Analysis of Ontario's Speech from the Throne

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Jul 13, 2018
Featured Insight

What the new Doug Ford Government means for the Energy Sector – A detailed analysis

With a new provincial government now in control of Ontario's policy landscape, we are pleased to provide insight into what lies ahead for the Energy sector.

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Jul 4, 2018
Featured Insight

Ontario Welcomes New Cabinet – Expect Quick Action

On June 29, 2018, Ontario welcomed a new Premier, a new Provincial Government and a new Cabinet.

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Jun 30, 2018

Deals & Cases (1 Posts)

Featured Insight

Vancity Commits $38 Million Towards Toronto Western Hospital Wastewater Energy Transfer Project

On October 21, 2021, Vancity Community Investment Bank and Canada Infrastructure Bank reached financial close on a $38 million project financing to Noventa Energy Partners for the development of the world’s largest raw wastewater energy transfer system at Toronto Western Hospital...

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Oct 21, 2021