Daniel A. Yarano

Dan is an experienced transaction lawyer who assists clients in the renewable energy, infrastructure, decarbonization and sustainability industries with complex operating and project company finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial transactions.

Dan assists domestic and international public and private companies in the renewable energy and fuels industries, including infrastructure, decarbonization and sustainability sectors, to decarbonize the transmission, agriculture, transportation and industrial complexes.

Dan leverages his over 30 years of finance, M&A and transaction experience in the renewable energy industries, and the Firm’s energy, real estate, regulatory, tax and corporate practices, to provide seamless client service to developers, investment banks, private equity and venture capital companies, and emerging technology and service operating companies.

In the renewable energy and fuels industries, Dan helps developers raise development capital and assists with the development of renewable energy and fuels projects throughout North America. He supports companies that develop wind, solar and battery storage projects. He works with advanced biofuels developers to assist them with all facets of development, construction and finance. He has helped clients introduce new technology and services to the markets that can support tax equity and debt financing. Dan and his team counsel companies on creating and executing strategies that fully utilize federal and state tax incentives promoted by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Dan has helped operating companies navigate the complex regulatory, legal and financial challenges related to the renewable energy and fuels markets. He enjoys helping new emerging companies raise venture capital, grow and execute strategic relationship and liquidity events for shareholders.

Dan recognizes the value of carbon as an important environmental attribute to manage climate change. He advises companies on strategies and plans to create and monetize carbon credits and renewable energy credits in the regulated and voluntary carbon markets. He assists innovative companies in harnessing the value of carbon credits whether to reduce a company’s carbon footprint or create credits for sale to others. He has worked with a variety of companies to decarbonize agriculture and transportation sectors using California and other state Low Carbon Fuel Standards and voluntary markets such as VERRA and The Gold Standard. 

Dan serves as Division Chair of Fredrikson’s Energy, Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Regulatory practice groups.

Corporate Finance Experience

• Represented a variety of renewable energy developers to raise millions of dollars in operating capital, using market and off-market terms, from strategic, venture and private equity and angel investors.
• Represented a variety of renewable energy developers in complex secured and unsecured debt financing.
• Represented public company in $100 million investment by private equity group to support the acquisition of a portfolio of manufacturers and service companies in the renewable energy market.
• Represented several renewable energy developers in strategic joint ventures and capital investments involving with international utility, Canadian pension plan and turbine manufacturer.

Renewable Energy and Fuels Development and Finance

• Managed development of over a gigawatt of wind, solar and battery storage energy generation facilities placed in service throughout the United States.
• Negotiated power purchase agreements, virtual power contracts and hedge agreements for independent power producers involving public utilities, cooperatives and municipalities and Commercial customers.
• Negotiated all commercial contracts related to renewable energy projects, including development agreements, supply agreements, EPC and construction management contracts, O&M and Asset Management Agreements and related commercial contracts customary to the industry and tax equity finance.
• Negotiated all commercial contracts for renewable fuels projects, including feedstock and offtake agreements, EPC contracts and related commercial contracts customary to the industry and tax equity finance.
• Lead counsel on tax equity financing of wind and solar projects.
• Negotiated large Generator Interconnection Agreements for independent power producers in Mid-Continent Independent Systems Operations, Western Area Power Administration and PJM.
• Serve as local counsel in connection with renewable energy financing for projects located in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Venture Capital & Private Equity

• Assisted numerous emerging technology and service companies in the renewable energy market with raising capital from venture capital and private equity funds.
• Assisted start-up companies with capital raise and strategic planning for growth and liquidity events.
• Advised on numerous financing and sale of portfolio companies to private equity.

M&A Experience

• Represented renewable energy developer in sale of development company and wind & solar portfolio companies to foreign public utility.
• Advised numerous purchasers in acquisition of renewable energy operating projects.
• Counsel to sellers in sale of renewable energy projects to strategic buyers.
• Represented public company in acquisition of four operating companies in roll-up of manufacturing and service companies to create a vertically integrated platform in the wind energy industry.

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., cum laude
• The American University, M.B.A.
• University of Michigan, B.S.

Admissions

• Minnesota
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

• Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, 2021-2025
• Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis for Energy Law, Best Lawyers, 2023
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2023
• Minnesotans on the Move, Finance & Commerce, 2011
• Football Athletic Scholarship, University of Michigan

Professional Activities

• Minnesota Justice Foundation, Board of Directors
• National Association of Corporate Directors
• American Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association