New Haven Geothermal Project Finance Legal Services

The City of New Haven (“the City”) is soliciting qualifications from qualified law firms to provide specialized legal services for the development and implementation of the Union Station Area Thermal Energy Network (“the Project”). This project is partially funded by an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and will involve the construction of a geothermal ground loop serving Union Station and adjacent housing units developed by Elm City Communities. The project also includes retrofitting Union Station with a ground source heat pump and leveraging federal and state clean energy incentives. The City is seeking to finance the remainder of the project costs through a bridge loan from the Connecticut Green Bank and to utilize the geothermal investment tax credit direct pay process and Energize CT rebates to be reimbursed for the principal of the loan. The City leases Union Station under a long-term (35 year, 33 years remaining) lease agreement with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The ground loop will be located either entirely in the public rights-of-way or in the public rights-of-way and on the Elm City Communities properties. The selected firm will work closely with the City, its partners, and other stakeholders to address the complex legal, financial, and regulatory challenges associated with this project.