Land Agent vs. Land Consultant
Ensuring successful CCS, utility, geothermal, and other energy projects requires careful on-the-ground planning and coordination. Some developers manage their land activities in-house, while others prefer outsourcing work to specialized providers like our team at Trigen Energy.
If you’re thinking about partnering with a land services provider, it’s important to know which skills and expertise are necessary. This article compares two types of land professionals:
● Land agents
● Land consultants
Contact us if you’re looking to hire land agents or enhance your land acquisition strategy.
Land Agents
Sometimes referred to as “landmen,” land agents focus on securing land usage rights from landowners. How do they do that? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, skilled land agents leverage a unique blend of interpersonal skills and creativity to build real relationships with interested parties.
Landmen must be highly organized to ensure timely follow-up with landowners, project developers, and community stakeholders. Although land agents are not typically attorneys, they play an important role in contract negotiation and execution. And, landmen serve as landowners’ first point of contact throughout the life of an energy project.
Simply put, land agents go out into the community and make things happen.
Land Consultants
The term “land consultant” could potentially refer to anyone who performs a land-related job—even those serving as land agents. That said, a land consultant ideally possesses deep experience and insights to strategically advise project developers. An energy company might engage a land consultant to help answer complex questions, such as:
● Where is the best area of interest (AOI) for the project?
● How many land agents do we need to support the AOI?
● Which land agents should we hire?
● How can we create accountability for land agents?
● What is the community sentiment for the project?
● Are there any local or state moratoriums that will cause delays?
● How much per acre should we budget for land lease agreements?
● What are the geological impacts of the project?
In summary, reliable land consultants add value by offering sound advice across a variety of disciplines and situations.
Find Land Professionals for Energy Projects
Request a consultation with our team at Trigen Energy, a professional land services company that specializes in energy and decarbonization projects. We can help you staff up with land agents and provide strategic support for projects in the lower 48 states.
Learn more about our land services.