Nextera Case Study

Counsel is a valued partner of NextEra, North America’s largest generator of renewable energy, in its highly successful move into the Ontario market. When NextEra first entered the Ontario market, Counsel introduced the company to Ontario decision-makers and played a direct role as they navigated the Green Energy Act and subsequent approval processes.

In particular, Counsel worked with NextEra to successfully advance and secure eight major FIT contracts for more than 600 MW of wind power, including advising the company on positioning relative to the prioritization schemes developed by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). We continue to provide ongoing advice to the firm around navigating necessary environmental and other approvals for the projects, all of which have now completed the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process.

We have also advised NextEra on potential next-generation projects in generation and transmission, including their successful bid for the East-West Transmission Line in Northern Ontario. Today, NextEra is investing over $2 billion in Ontario through its energy projects.

Counsel has helped NextEra to navigate the policies and regulations developed under the Green Energy Act. In one instance, the government and OPA had publicly considered changes to the rules which would have eliminated an applicant’s ability to change their interconnection point after application, which could have stranded NextEra developments. We were able to demonstrate to the government and regulatory agencies the importance of maintaining a strict adherence to the published rules which ultimately allowed the projects to proceed.

We are now commencing advocacy on renewable energy issues for NextEra with the federal government, with a focus on greening remote First Nations and northern mining projects.