One Federal St.//Boston, MA 02110-1726//United States
Kathryn J. Ostman represents equity investors, sponsors, lenders, developers, and utilities in connection with project finance, project development, and general corporate transactions related to electrical generation and infrastructure projects. She counsels clients through the development, construction, operation, acquisition, divestiture, and financing of natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, and other alternative energy projects. Katie also represents companies in corporate and finance matters, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, and debt and equity financings.
Katie’s experience with diverse debt and equity financings and divestitures and acquisitions of traditional and renewable energy projects throughout the United States includes the development and financing of natural gas–fired generation, solar, and wind projects; the purchase and sale of both individual projects and portfolios of solar, wind, biomass, and natural gas–fired generation projects; the joint venture development of transmission projects and conventional and renewable energy projects; the development of battery storage projects, and various other developments, debt and equity financings, and M&A transactions throughout the United States.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Katie served as an associate in the energy and project finance practice of another international law firm in Boston.
selected representations
An institutional investor group and a lender syndicate in connection with the financing of Southwest Generation’s acquisition of the Mankato Energy Center, an approximately 720 megawatt power project which includes two natural gas, combined cycle units. The financing was comprised of the sale of approximately $400 million in senior secured notes, in the private placement market, and a letter of credit and working capital facility with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Natixis.
South Jersey Industries (SJI) in a joint venture with REV LNG which will invest in various renewable natural gas (RNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and compressed natural gas (CNG) projects. The RNG business involves the development and installation on dairy farms of anaerobic digesters to break down biodegradable material such as cow manure and convert and process it into RNG.
National Grid in its acquisition of Geronimo Energy, a developer of more than 2,200 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar energy projects located in the midwestern United States. In connection with the transaction, National Grid also entered into a joint venture with Washington State Investment Board to acquire certain renewable energy projects developed and constructed by Geronimo Energy.
A utility in connection with the sale to an independent power producer of a thermal and cogeneration facility located in New Jersey.
Ares EIF Management in connection with the development, construction, and approximately $420 million private placement project financing of the Hill Top Energy Center, an approximately 620 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility to be located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. In connection with this transaction, also represented Ares EIF Management in the partial sale of the Hill Top Energy Center to other equity participants.
Apex Power and Caithness Energy in connection with the development and construction of Guernsey Power Station, an approximately 1850 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility to be located in Guernsey County, Ohio.
Ares EIF Management in the development, $350 million project financing, and partial sale of Birdsboro Power Project, an approximately 485 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. In connection with this transaction, also represented Ares EIF Management in connection with the partial sale of Birdsboro Power Project to other equity participants.
An infrastructure investment fund in a $130 million private placement mezzanine financing related to interests in affiliates of Pio Pico Energy Center, an approximately 330 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility located in Otay Mesa, California.
Ares EIF Group and project company Pio Pico Energy Center in connection with the development, construction, and approximately $443 million private placement project financing of an approximately 330 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility located in Otay Mesa, California, and the subsequent sale of the Pio Pico Energy Center to an infrastructure investment fund. The financing transaction was named 2015 North American Power Bond Deal of the Year by IJGlobal.
Maxim Power Corp. in the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary Maxim Power (USA), Inc., holding the entirety of its US portfolio of five large generating facilities, following an auction process to a subsidiary of Hull Street Energy, LLC.
Goldwind Americas in its acquisition of a 160 MW wind project under development in Texas from developer RES Americas.
Atlantic Power Corporation in the sale of a portfolio of natural gas–fired power generation facilities located in Florida with an aggregate capacity of approximately 397 MW to subsidiaries of Quantum Utility Generation.
Clean Energy Future, LLC in the development and construction of an approximately 940 MW natural gas–fired, combined-cycle power generation facility located in Lordstown, Ohio, with an enterprise value of approximately $980 million.
An independent power producer in connection with the development of two energy storage projects in San Diego on an expedited basis in connection with the California Public Utilities Commission’s resolution for an emergency energy storage solicitation, one of which was the largest lithium-ion battery project in the world as of January 2017
Caithness Energy, Moxie Energy, and project company Moxie Freedom LLC in connection with the development, construction, and approximately $531 million project financing of a 1029 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Moxie Energy and project company Moxie Patriot LLC in connection with the development, construction, and approximately $627 million project financing of an 829 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility located in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and the subsequent sale of the project to Panda Power Funds.
Astoria Energy II LLC in connection with the development, construction, and approximately $1.1 billion project financing of a 550 MW, natural gas–fired, combined-cycle electric generation facility located in New York City. This deal was named 2009 Americas Power Deal of the Year by Project Finance International.
Awards and Affiliations
Rising Star, Finance: Project finance, The Legal 500 US (2020)
Rising Star, Energy and Natural Resources, Boston Super Lawyers (2013–2018)
Member, American Bar Association
Vice-Chair, ABA Energy Infrastructure, Siting, and Reliability Committee (Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources) (2018–2019)