Energy

Ater Wynne’s expertise in energy law runs deep.  For more than 40 years, we have served a broad range of clients involved in power use, regulation and development throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada and California.  Our clients are regional, national and multinational companies and include municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, tribal governments and enterprises, a transmission system operator, and private developers of small hydro, wind, geothermal, and cogeneration projects.

The firm provides counsel to the broad range of clients involved in power regulation, including municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, utility districts, transmission providers and irrigation districts.  Our advice involves such areas as regulatory proceedings, power supply negotiations, transmission issues, project development and finance, environmental matters, general corporate matters, legislative affairs, and litigation.

Our lawyers have significant experience in litigation and counseling on antitrust-related matters, including distributor terminations, trade secrets, and trademark and unfair competition claims.

Ater Wynne has unparalleled experience in all phases of representation, including: transactions with energy producers, developers, fuel suppliers, utilities and consumers, land use and environmental siting and permitting assessments, evaluations and licensing, renewable resources and alternative energy projects, project finance, litigation before regulatory agencies, power supply, transmission, project licensing, air quality, land use and other substantive issues.  We represent clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. EPA Environmental Appeals Board, the U.S. Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals and the U.S. Department of Interior Board of Indian Appeals and the U.S. Congress.

Ater Wynne is actively involved with the development and access to market issues of alternative energy projects including wind, biomass and hydro.  We represent energy clients in dispute mediation and arbitration, administrative and judicial forums.

Representative Clients

• Jefferson County Public Utility District
• Kinetica Partners
• Southeast Alaska Power Association
• Tohono O’odham Nation (AZ)

Representative Transactions 

• Negotiation in 2012 of USDOE Project Subcontract for the major drilling subcontractor at the Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Generating Station in Southeast Oregon.  The project is principally funded by US$98.6 million in USDOE direct loan and loan guarantees from DOE’s Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Advanced Transmission and Distribution Solicitation loan guarantee program under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
• General counsel to Columbia River People’s Utility District (Columbia County, Oregon).
• Energy counsel to City of Centralia Utilities (Centralia, WA) with its power contracts with Bonneville Power Administration and service territory issues.
• Counsel for SEAPA (Southeast Alaska Power Agency).  SEAPA is a joint action agency in Southeast Alaska owning and operating two hydroelectric projects.  Work has included original establishment of agency, restructuring and financing, long term power agreements, and all related utility matters.
• Lead counsel for Diné Power Authority (Navajo Nation) in construction and financing of transmission line facilities.