Johnson & Bell’s Energy practice group provides comprehensive advice and is available to represent clients (individual landowners, limited liability companies, corporations and municipalities) in drafting and negotiating agreements, zoning ordinances and making presentations to the public. We are dedicated to the development of competitive energy markets throughout the Midwest.  Whether working with a client whose core business is energy or handling noncore projects that involve a component of the industry, Johnson & Bell’s attorneys are key strategic partners throughout all phases of energy development.

In the last several years, Johnson & Bell’s attorneys have also represented one of the largest nuclear power plant design and construction companies in the world.  Johnson & Bell’s attorneys stand ready to address the unique needs and concerns of all alternate energy providers as they assume a more prominent role in this emerging marketplace.
Johnson & Bell's Wind Energy group provides comprehensive advice and is available to represent clients in all phases of energy developments; including siting, zoning, contract drafting, review and consultation, negotiations, presentations, litigation, and legislative and administrative matters.

Concern about global climate change and continued uncertainty about the future costs and liabilities of natural gas and coal facilities has helped spur the current political and social attitudes towards the use of renewable energy sources. State and local governments are competing to attract wind industry developments to their community to create jobs and improve the tax base, not to mention to further the “green” movement.  States have adopted Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) to both encourage and require the use of renewable energy in their states.  The Illinois RPS adopted in 2007 is one of the more aggressive RPS in the country requiring 75% of all renewable energy to be wind power renewable energy, if available.

Johnson & Bell's Wind Energy group is comprised of attorneys who have a wide range of knowledge in the wind energy industry and rural land usage, and are able to utilize the vast contacts and resources in representing our clients in this developing practice.  We are committed to protecting landowners and assisting townships, cities, counties and state authorities in moving forward with development of this clean, renewable energy source. 

NOTE: The Banner County Wind Energy Committee has retained Johnson & Bell, Ltd. to negotiate the Cooperation Agreement with Midwest Wind Energy out of Chicago. The Cooperation Agreement is the first step in developing a wind farm and provides for the terms of the research/development stage. Usually, the Lease Agreement is preliminarily negotiated at this time as well but final negotiations are done after the development term when the developer decides to proceed with the project. The research term is 5 years.

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