Regulatory, Legal, & Business Development in the Renewable Energy and Water Sectors

Law, policy, and consulting for environmental and energy technology startups, NGOs, agencies, and others involved in ways to improve the state of our world's natural and social resources.

www.anthropoceneinstitute.com* Followed and analyzed Legislation, Rules, and Proceedings from Federal to State to PUC, whenever the energy, water, and environmental fields were addressed. * Advised and participated with team members on air sensor technologies and associated air quality concerns, particularly PM2.5 health related issues.* Water Ballot Initiative 2018. Wrote draft framework and currently vetting a potential ballot initiative for a statewide water fee that would essentially fund the sustainable management of California water through increased funds for agencies such as the SWRCB, CDFW, and DWR, as well as a pass through for local water agencies. * Desalination: Due diligence for a solar thermal desal company. Studied coastal desal using non-carbon energy resources.* ENERGY: Responded to a number of Bid proposals for an energy company investment, due diligence analyses on many companies looking for investment, contributed to a presentation for the nation of Palau for 100% solar energy + storage resources, data and engineering analyses, market analyses, etc.* Successfully managed and principally authored a Dept. of Energy Loan Guarantee Part I application. Deep dive in Part II and managed the financial and technical due diligence to receive $40+ million backing. * Performed flood analysis for owned property (Civil Engineering)* Successfully implemented and defined procedures for a Marine Protected Area mapping project that included ocean legal restrictions and other attributes. I successfully managed the implementation of a California database, which was our first. Project data have been incorporated into marine charting software and a web based map system.* Assessed and analyzed Solar on Canal and Solar on Reservoir projects. Discussions with utility and water/irrigation districts. Ultimate goal is to see solar generation on all public water canals to generate renewable energy and conserve water lost through evaporation.

Resources Legacy Fund (California Water Foundation), Sacramento, CA (Feb 2014 – Pres.)- Technical assistance for Groundwater Reform Dialogue. I provided technical assistance to the Resource Legacy Fund’s California Water Foundation groundwater program to ultimately deliver a final report to the governor and legislature on ways to reform California groundwater management to make it sustainable. My tasks were to attend steering and interest group meeting, interview stakeholders, develop informational materials, research policy and legal issues and draft recommendations, coordinate closely with CWF staff and contractors, and write drafts of the Final Report. Every Voice Engaged Foundation, Mountain View, CA (Sept 2014 – Pres.)- Technical assistance to develop a San Luis Obispo County Water Issues Guide with the Every Voice Engaged Foundation. Identified and analyzed approaches, actions, and drawbacks related to the use of water generally and in San Luis Obispo County specifically.Coastal Habitat Educ. & Environmental Restoration, Gilroy, CA (Mar 2013 – Pres.)- I help to identify funding development and strategies for this local non-profit that protects and rescues fish species in the Pajaro River system.

Staff Attorney for the California Water Project. I worked at the state level to reform water law and improve management of water supplies, and manage cooperative projects with farmers and other landowners to improve streamflows and water supply reliability.Assessed water rights within certain watersheds Trout Unlimited is working and analyzed the potential for increased productivity and health in listed Coho salmon and steelhead fisheries. Helped to analyze potential water transfers for instream use under §1707 of the Water Code, and currently in the process of implementation. Worked with several landowners and farmers in more than four impactful watersheds.Co-wrote brief for litigation on State Water Board’s RD-1644 and the Lower Yuba River Accord.Co-wrote Streamflow Improvement Plans for target watersheds, based on existing water rights and instream flow targets for fish passage and rearingLed implementation of possible new Small Irrigation/Domestic Use registrations for offstream storage projects to increase instream flow. Managed grant projects and applying for new grants for streamflow stewardship projects with the goal of increasing instream flow in threatened Coho and steelhead watersheds.Assessed CEQA and NEPA legal hooks for FERC relicensing of large dams in the Sierra, including the State Water Board’s certification and public trust responsibilities.Active in planning, strategizing, and developing policies for other ways California water law may need to be utilized or changed to promote efficiency, protect public trust resources, and benefit the people of California.Researched and wrote a white paper on the legal and policy implications and barriers to implementation of rainwater harvesting.Closely monitored the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan process and DWR’s FloodSAFE planning to ensure that environmental and species concerns will be addressed and effective.

Patent infringement litigation for WiFi (IEEE 802.11a,g,n). Document review and management.

I analyzed and compiled Latin American country climate change policies and laws.

Climate Change: Produced client alert after extensive review and research of federal GHG Registry Rule. Review of California regulations, RGGI, WCI, and federal cap and trade legislation.Clean Air: Case managed a document review and legal analysis for an NSR/PSD § 114 request regarding coal-fired power plants; Successful NESHAP and NSPS violation negotiations with EPA.Clean Water: Produced legal analysis for CWA antidegradation demonstration for an ethanol plant which resulted in NPDES permit; Analysis of mercury technology based NPDES standard for refinery.RCRA: Analyzed and supported successful hazardous waste delisting petition before IL Pollution Control Board; Phase II regulatory analysis of UST program with successful receipt of state NFA letter.EPCRA: Successful negotiation of Tier II violations culminating in beneficial settlement with EPA.

California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Natural Resources Division, San Francisco, California, Spring 2007Climate Change: Researched potential litigation issues for implementation of AB32; Participated in discussions on strategy and researched litigation issues for defense of tailpipe emissions in federal district court lawsuits.Memoranda: § 404 and the “Tulloch Rule”; Motion to transfer venue in bankruptcy; State’s responsibilities to a private sewer and water corporation; Enforcement of an out of state administrative subpoena.

Performed various research including an update on recent grazing law, Native American Trust/Federal agency conflicts of interest, and the extent to which NEPA and the ESA apply to transboundary federal actions.

Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, Summer 2006Presented oral comment to Energy Commission regarding Contra Costa power plant in the Sacramento River Delta.Wrote comment letters to two Regional Water Quality Control Boards regarding Clean Water Act § 316(b) cooling water intake structures for power plants, CEQA, and co-location of proposed desalination plants. Wrote a reply brief for state court trial involving public trust tidelands.Researched county ordinance and its implications on murrelets under Endangered Species Act.

California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Environmental Enforcement Division, Oakland California, Summer 2005

Project Civil Engineer, Carlson, Barbee, & Gibson Inc., San Ramon, California, 1999-2004 - Large scale residential developmentDesigned and managed large-scale (100+ lots), multi-million dollar residential subdivisions. Work included due diligence for project planning, meetings with city and government officials, planning commission hearings, submission of reports for environmental review, and property documents review. Successfully managed small teams to completion of projects. Gained intimate knowledge of construction contracting and the development process from concept, to land acquisition, subdivision, grading plans, improvements plans, utility plans, final maps, and other permitting