General Counsel | Regulatory Strategist | Policy Advocate

Energy & Environmental: Regulatory Strategy • Infrastructure Equity Capitalization • Sustainability • Project Development

Regulatory & Public: Public Accountability • Constitutional Law Administrative Law • Federalism

Corporate & Capital: Corporate Governance • Capitalization  Institutional Risk • Cooperative Policy • Board Governance

Operations: Resource Logistics • Circular Economies • RFPs & EPCs Risk Mitigation • Contracts • Compliance

Congress allocated $7B in tax dollars to bolster national security and reduce energy burden in low- and moderate-income communities. stimulate local economies by keeping energy dollars local. Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation won the people of Tennessee over $150M in grant funds to enhance grid security and stimulate local economies by keeping energy dollars local. 

After signing the grant contract, US EPA Administrator Zeldin clawed back the funds in a move seen by many legal experts as illegal. 24 State and Territory Attorneys General filed lawsuit in two courts under contract, administrative, and constitutional theories. 

What makes Tennessee unique? Follow along as we investigate. 

Co-organized conference and moderated the panel on Community Resilience through Cooperative Development

Developed and led Continuing Legal Education (CLE) module for New Hampshire attorneys via Lawline.com along with student clinicians and colleagues 

Lecture tracing history of movement lawyers and major policies from the Civil Rights era through the environmental and economic justice movements to the energy justice and new economy movements today 

Noted absence of DER scenarios and insufficiency under NEPA by failing to consider allowing community solar and energy efficiency regardless of Flex 2.0 caps

Created “bite-sized legal guides” (thanks theselc.org!) for cooperative founders working through incorporation to lower barriers to entry (8 mini lectures)

The Tennesseean, April 19, 2024

"State representatives and senators, we have an opportunity to protect our local communities from shocks in energy markets. Distributed renewable energy helps us “get ahead of this thing,” regardless of what happens in Ukraine and Russia, or the European Union and the Securities Exchange Commission. We have an opportunity to cultivate renewable energy cooperatives at any scale, making local economies more resilient...."

The Tennessean, October 3, 2022

"See, I − like many − thought “the way things are” was set in stone. Turns out, there are rules you must follow when creating and running a company, but there are many more opportunities to empower workers and benefit communities through corporate structure... We can build any structure we want."

The Tennesseean, March 22, 2022

"More than 30 states have created a RPS, resulting in revenue flowing back to local communities in the form of savings and profits. These policies, initially passed for environmental concerns, have the added benefit of creating a circular economy with many associated benefits beyond emissions reduction..."

Farmland Solar Policy Design Toolkit, September 2021

Senior Clinician researcher for a USDA-funded national toolkit, spearheading comprehensive legal analysis of state interconnection policies and land-use permitting for dual-use solar assets. Directed by Prof. Genevieve Byrne