Daniel P. Craig

Practice Areas

A dedicated practitioner representing the energy industry in real estate development, transactions, and litigation for more than a decade, Daniel provides experienced and knowledgeable legal counsel and advocacy to renewable energy project developers, landowners, and off-takers. He practices across the areas of renewable energy law and oil and gas law, business, contract, real property, and regulatory law. His understanding of FERC-regulated wholesale power markets and RTO/ISO tariffs brings value to both energy developers and commercial or industrial clients purchasing bulk power through fixed or variable rate power purchase agreements. Daniel devotes considerable time and attention to understanding how the transitioning energy economy impacts the business and legal needs of his clients. His experience representing clients in state and federal courts across Ohio and Pennsylvania gives him strong insight into identifying and mitigating risks to successful project development.

Professional Memberships

Energy & Mineral Law Foundation | Board of Trustees

2021 – Present

Bloomfield Development Corporation | Board of Directors, Legal Counsel

2019 – Present

Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition | Facilitator and Active Member

2018 – Present

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Name Change Project | Volunteer Attorney

2021-Present

Voter Protection PA | Democratic Party Poll Observer

2020 and 2022 General Elections, 2024 Primary Election

Publications

State Solar Regulation in Appalachia,” 42 Energy & Min. Law Inst. 186 (2022).

“Challenges Ahead For U.S. Generator Interconnection Process,” Law360 Expert Analysis, < https://www.law360.com/newjersey/articles/1479779/challenges-ahead-for-us-generator-interconnection-process> (April 4, 2022).

“FERC Order 841: Removing barriers to electric storage technology in wholesale power markets,” Virtual Poster Presentation, North American Smart Energy Week (2020).

Legal Ethics and American Political Scandal: Pennsylvania’s Recent Supreme Court Scandal Explored Through the Lens of the Historical Development of American Legal Ethics,” 37 Energy & Min. Law Inst. 1 (2017).

“Recent Decisions in Oil and Gas Jurisprudence,” 36 Energy & Min. L. Inst. 733 (2015).

“Jurisdictional Considerations for the Oil Gas Practitioner,” 34 Energy & Min. L. Inst. 621 (2013).

“2012 United States Oil and Gas Law Update,” Institute for Energy Law 64th Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference (Feb. 21-22, 2013, Houston, Texas).

“Compulsory Pooling and Unitization in the Marcellus Shale: Pennsylvania’s Challenges and Opportunities,” 83 Pa.B.A.Q. 47 (April 2012).

Work Highlights

Led team of attorneys serving as special state and local permitting counsel for utility-scale solar projects closing on financing transactions

Draft, negotiate, and advise solar industry clients on commercial contracts including lease options, leases, easements, surface use agreements, non-disturbance and attornment agreements, physical and virtual power purchase agreements, energy services agreements, and installation contracts

Advise solar energy clients (utility-scale and DERs) on real estate and regulatory matters including title insurance, curing title defects, restrictive covenants, zoning, interconnection, net metering, valuing excess generation from net metered systems, virtual meter aggregation, parcel splitting, renewable energy credits, and legislative developments impacting strategy for companies entering new markets

Draft and negotiate power purchase agreements for solar developers and bulk power purchasers

Advise solar industry clients on interconnection requirements and application process of PJM Interconnection, Inc., the largest of the federally regulated RTOs/ISOs

Perform due diligence for acquisitions of portfolios of solar projects

Draft and negotiate settlement agreements for pending or threatened litigation

Defend largest natural gas production company in Ohio in real estate title litigation

Served as lead attorney at AmLaw 200 firm for issues related to wholesale power markets, FERC rulemaking proceedings, and RTO/ISO tariffs

Served as lead attorney at AmLaw 200 firm counseling clients on certification of community solar project in various jurisdictions

Represent clients before Environmental Hearing Board in appeals of Department of Environmental Protection actions

Represent clients in litigation in state and federal courts

Represent community development organizations working to create and preserve affordable housing

Advised major financial institution serving as corporate trustee of a trust developing distributed solar projects on regulatory and C-PACE financing issues

Advised utility-scale solar developer on whether addition of battery storage to existing solar project would trigger Ohio Power Siting Board review

Assisted utility-scale solar developer building project on former U.S. Army munitions testing facility in identifying locations on property subject to restrictive covenants concerning buried unexploded ordinance, archeological preservation sites, and Indiana bat (protected species) roosting grounds

Developed process for identifying agricultural conservation easements (which exclude solar energy development) on target project acreage in advance of title abstracting for industry-leading utility-scale solar energy developer

Represented energy industry clients in permitting disputes before regulatory bodies and federal courts

Advised coal mine owner regarding joint venture with solar energy developer

Won appeal of a $15 million judgment in a case involving oil and gas lease dispute

Successfully defended oil and gas zoning permit in challenges brought by environmental groups and landowners before local zoning hearing boards and state trial and appellate courts

Represented energy industry clients in contract, tort, real estate, regulatory and zoning cases in municipal, state, and federal courts; researched and drafted pleadings, motions, briefs, subpoenas, and case memoranda; appeared at depositions, arguments, and evidentiary hearings

Drafted oil and gas drilling title opinions, and conducted rapid response due diligence in connection with large land acquisitions for oil and gas companies operating in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays

Drafted first compulsory pooling application filed for an unconventional oil & gas well in Pennsylvania

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Pennsylvania and Ohio