Gregory W. Lavigne Jr.

GREG LAVIGNE advises private capital providers and major sponsors in renewable and energy transition transactions, including tax equity, private equity, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, project finance and structured finance transactions. He represents clients globally in the power, energy, and infrastructure sectors in U.S. projects and investments.

With more than a decade of experience focused in the renewable energy and sustainability sector, Greg’s practice includes a wide variety of investments in solar, wind (onshore and offshore), green hydrogen and ammonia, battery and storage, and other alternative energy projects. He also has extensive experience in representing investors and lenders in transactions involving recycling facilities, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, clean fuels and other energy transition projects.

Greg is recognized by numerous industry publications, including Euromoney Expert Guides “Rising Stars,” United States – Project Finance (2020) and as a “Rising Star” by Law360 (2020). Greg is also recognized by Legal 500 United States for Project Finance: Advice to Sponsors (2019–2020) and Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power (2020).

M&A and Structured Equity

• A consortium, headed by APG Asset Management N.V. (APG), on behalf of the largest Dutch pension fund, ABP, and Australian Retirement Trust (ART), in the acquisition of Riverstone Holdings’ equity stake in Pattern Energy Group LP (pending).
• Calibrant Energy (a Macquarie Asset Management portfolio company) in its acquisition of a carveout of Enel X North America’s distributed energy storage business, with more than 700 MWh of distributed projects in late-stage development.
• Global Infrastructure Partners in its acquisition of 50% of TotalEnergies majority ownership position on SunPower Corporation.
• A global offshore wind developer in a disposition of promissory note interests and development commitments in offshore wind development infrastructure in North America.
• Macquarie Asset Management in a $325m investment in Atlas Agro Holding AG, an industrial scale green nitrogen fertilizer plant developer sourced from green hydrogen.
• Apollo Global Management Inc. on the US$816m convertible equity portfolio financing with NextEra Energy Partners for a 2.5 GW renewable energy portfolio, which consists of 13 utility-scale wind and solar assets and approximately 115 MW of integrated battery storage, all of which span the U.S. power markets.
• Macquarie Capital’s Green Infrastructure Group in creating and financing Calibrant Energy, its joint venture and development platform with Siemens Smart Infrastructure and Financial Services groups focused on providing energy as a service (EaaS) solutions for corporate and municipal clients.
• Corio Generation in an equity raise from Ontario Teachers Pension Plan with respect to its position in the Attentive Energy offshore wind developments in the U.S.
• Macquarie Asset Management in a series equity raise in Sortera Technologies, Inc., an innovative material sorting company with a recycling platform powered by artificial intelligence.
• Lombard Odier Asset Management in its preferred equity investment in Aspen Power Partners, a commercial solar developer.
• Macquarie Asset Management in a $250m investment in Galway Sustainable Capital, a specialty finance company.
• Avenue Capital Management in a preferred equity investment in Enerkem, Inc., a waste to biofuels company.
• Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in the acquisition of its Fighting Jays project from Solar Plus Development Inc.
• Avenue Capital Management in a preferred equity investment in CEA Fresh Farms, Inc., a vertical agriculture developer.

Tax Equity Investments

• RBC Community Investments in the PTC tax equity financing of the 80MW Lockhart I solar project, the 80MW Lockhart II solar project, and the 45 MW 4 hour Lockhart II energy storage project developed by Terra-Gen.
• RBC Community Investments in the PTC tax equity financing of the 240MW Appaloosa Solar I project developed by Greenbacker Capital.
• RBC Community Investments in the ITC tax equity financing of the 185MW/565Mwh Kapolei Energy Storage project developed by Plus Power.
• RBC Community Investments in the ITC tax equity financing of the 80MW Sagebrush A standalone energy storage project developed by Terra-Gen.
• RBC Community Investments in the ITC tax equity financing of several residential solar portfolios developed by Sunrun.
• RBC Community Investments in the ITC tax equity financing of the 100MW Blake solar project and 160MW Elizabeth solar project developed by Opdenergy.
• RBC Community Investments in the ITC tax equity financing of the 200MW Calhoun Solar Energy Center developed by Invenergy.
• RBC Community Investments in syndicating ITC transfer sales with Terra-Gen and Invenergy.
• Calibrant Energy in its first portfolio tax equity investment with Greenprint and portfolio debt facility with Siemens Financial Services, LLC.
• Several tax equity investors and syndicators in structuring and development of ITC and PTC syndication and financing structures.
• ClearPath Energy in a tax equity and preferred equity investment with respect to a portfolio of renewable energy assets.

Project Development and Finance

• EQT Partners in a mezzanine debt financing with respect to refinancing the existing mezzanine and subordinate debt obligations of its portfolio company Cypress Creek Renewables.
• Lombard Odier Asset Management in a structured debt financing of Tillman Networks telecommunications infrastructure development business.
• DE Shaw Renewable Investments in the acquisition, development, tax equity and project financing of the Highlands solar project.
• Fifth Third Bank in a debt facility for solar assets being developed by Amp Solar.
• DE Shaw Renewable Investments in negotiating shared facilities agreements with Algonquin.
• Avenue Capital Management in a convertible note made to CarbonFree.
• CIT Bank in a landco debt financing for SunEnergy1.
• Avenue Capital Management in a $40mm senior secured note to Hudson Sustainable Group.
• ING Capital LLC in a construction and term loan to the Phoenix solar project developed by Pattern Energy.
• Apollo Global Management Inc. in the mezzanine financing of a portfolio of solar projects being developed by Doral Renewables.

The above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.