Scott Birse, Calgary

About Scott

Scott's practice focuses on project-related natural resource development, environmental law and energy regulation, as well as administrative and Indigenous law issues. He acts for a variety of companies in regulatory proceedings to obtain approvals for major projects in the wind, solar, battery storage, electricity transmission and pipeline sectors.

Scott provides strategic advice across the full lifecycle of major electricity generation and natural resource projects. He advises clients on matters related to project planning and siting, environmental assessments, stakeholder consultation and negotiations, continuing regulatory compliance, and decommissioning and reclamation requirements. He also regularly assists clients with natural resource and environmental sector commercial transactions, regulatory investigations, environmental enforcement actions, contaminated site liability issues and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.

Scott has assisted clients with matters before the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Land and Property Rights Tribunal, the British Columbia Utilities Commission and all levels of court in Manitoba. He has successfully represented clients in some of the largest and most high-profile energy developments in Western Canada.

Prior to joining Blakes, Scott was a lawyer at a large full-service law firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba, practicing environmental, commercial and municipal law. He was also an archaeologist for six years before becoming a lawyer and gained on the ground experience related to energy generation, natural resource development and environmental impacts.

Select Experience

Representative matters include:

Renewable Generators Alliance, being a consortium of 19 renewable generation companies, with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice in response to the Alberta Utilities Commission inquiry into the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta and related policy direction from the Government of Alberta
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission to construct and operate the 450 MW Aira solar power project located in the County of Forty Mile, Alberta, which is the largest solar energy project proposed in Canada
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for amendment applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission to construct and operate the 514.6 MW Buffalo Plains Wind Farm project located near Lomond, Alberta
Capstone Infrastructure Corporation with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for an amendment application to the Alberta Utilities Commission on the 192 MW Wind Rose 2 Wind Farm located near Medicine Hat, Alberta
Voltarix Group with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for an application to the Alberta Utilities Commission for the 24 MW Creekside solar project located near Calmar, Alberta
Elemental Energy Renewables Inc. with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission to construct and operate the 150 MW Foothills solar project located near Blackie, Alberta, and the 18.5 MW High River solar project located hear High River, Alberta
Potentia Renewables Inc. with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission to construct and operate the 80 MW Prominence solar project located near Picture Butte, Alberta
BluEarth Renewables Inc. regarding an amendment application to the Alberta Utilities Commission on the 130 MW Hand Hills wind project near Delia, Alberta
ABO Wind Canada regarding applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission to construct and operate transmission infrastructure for the 514.6 MW Buffalo Plains Wind Farm project located near Lomond, Alberta
Advising various companies with respect to renewable energy facility applications and amendments, compliance-related proceedings and other related matters before the Alberta Utilities Commission
Assisting various companies in negotiations with Indigenous and other stakeholders involved in utility-scale commercial energy projects
Advising on regulatory and environmental issues associated with purchases, sales, initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions of various companies
Advising clients in connection with regulatory compliance and litigation involving contaminated sites, including responding to contaminant releases and communicating with applicable regulators
Representing a pipeline company regarding various land rights acquisition and utility crossing proceedings before the Canada Energy Regulator
Assisting a client in a proceeding before the Canada Energy Regulator regarding the Enbridge Mainline Open Season and Contract Carriage complaint proceedings
Advising natural resource companies with respect to ongoing regulatory requirements and reporting
Acting for companies charged with violations of environmental statutes