As utilities struggle to meet requirements set out in state Renewable Portfolio Standards, wind energy projects are making an increasing contribution to generation across the U.S. Wind energy poses a number of challenges – hedging uncertain power prices, monetizing tax benefits, arranging equity and debt financing, negotiating utility sale contracts, maintaining grid reliability, improving load-following performance, and ensuring that statewide RPS requirements are met. LAI has worked with clients on a variety of wind matters. Our consultants understand onshore and offshore wind project performance and how appropriate contract structures can balance revenue uncertainty against fixed construction and operating costs. Our pro formas provide a useful basis to test alternative hedging strategies and capital structures, as well as proposed environmental regulations and market rules, for developers, lenders, and counsel.

LAI has the technical ability to estimate energy production and RECs based on standard wind data and specific wind turbine models. We advise clients on wind resource challenges associated with transmission interconnections, cost allocation for grid upgrades, and demands placed on conventional power plants. Our capabilities in modeling power market dynamics provide a quantitative, market-oriented framework for assessing the commercial prospects and evaluating the key uncertainties. LAI has helped state regulatory commissions, utilities, ISOs, developers, and bankers quantify wind economics under the full range of market, performance, and financial scenarios. We have authored studies that identified the maximum theoretical wind potential and optimal sites for the six New England States. We have quantified the direct and portfolio costs and benefits of renewable resource options, specifically wind, to meet long-term state-wide energy requirements. We have also administered RECs procurement process for a large Midwest utility system.

Our wind expertise includes:

	Transactional support
	Wind data and unit performance analysis
	Energy and capacity factor forecasts
	Transmission integration and reliability
	REC procurement, estimation, and validation
	Power price forecasts and probabilistic analysis
	Project economics and enterprise valuation
	Strategic hedging assessments
	Environmental impact assessment