Karen E. Torrent Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Part of the legal team supporting the development of small modular reactors by providing vital legal insights, advising on corporate transactions, championing compliance across diverse company endeavors, and contributing to the progress of Last Energy's international power projects.

Easton, Maryland, Us

Commercial contracts experience, including reviewing, revising, drafting, negotiating, and advising on sophisticated and traditional contracts including finance, construction, procurement, energy and infrastructure and novel contracts ranging from hosting, mining, custodying of digital assets and blockchain transactions.Transaction management experience, leading transaction and managing workload of complex and novel transactions at the intersection of Bitcoin,blockchain and distributed energy resources. M&A and project finance.Identifying regulatory and litigation risks and applying strategic solutions.

Legal firm representing clean energy and energy storage project developers and corporate energy consumers in business and regulatory matters.  Negotiated and drafted distributed generation and utility PPA’s, permitting and land use agreements, debt and equity project finance documents, federal tax incentives and ownership structures for commercial solar PV client. Drafted and negotiated various business agreements including prospective purchaser, engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”), operations and maintenance (O&M), supply contracts, licenses and financing term sheets for renewable energy clients. Appeared before Virginia SCC and South Carolina PUC on utility dockets relating to the aggregation of nonresidential retail customers of electric energy and third-party PPAs.  Representing client in SEC rulemaking concerning mandatory climate-related and environmental, sustainability and governance (“ESG”) disclosure standards under existing federal securities acts.

Staunton, Va, Us

Directed all legal aspects of acquiring, developing, financing and selling multi-million dollar commercial and industrial scale solar projects. • Drafted and negotiated contract agreements including LOIs, NDAs, PPAs, EPC service agreements, utility interconnection, real estate, and environmental permitting. • Created solar grant program with Virginia non-profit foundation to leverage grant funds with private investment to scale the development of solar projects on government-owned buildings. • Successfully resolved supplier contract with insolvent solar equipment manufacturer. • Negotiated finance, procurement, construction and energy service contracts of Virginia’s first commercial scale solar installation with energy storage for hospital using federal tax incentives and Solar Renewable Energy Credits.• Developed and implemented strategic policies and oversaw in-house legal functions and outside counsel.

Chicago, Il, Us

Founded and managed DC office of Midwest-based non-profit and directed federal regulatory and legislative agenda relating to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainable energy and transportation.Regulatory:• Filed comments and attended FERC hearings on clean energy matters.• Coordinated with White House and CEQ on streamlining NEPA guidelines for renewable energy projects.• Advocated for clean energy interests in PJM and MISO proceedings. Legislative:• Worked with farmers, coops and rural businesses to increase mandatory funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in the Agricultural Act of 2014, providing loans to rural America to purchase and install renewables and energy efficiency technologies. • Forged industry-wide coalition of manufacturers and state and local government officials to gain the extension of the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit for renewables. • Represented renewable industry before Congressional energy committees on PURPA issues.Litigation:• Collaborated on successful amicus curie brief supporting grant of certiorari by U.S. Supreme Court in FERC v. Electric Power Supply Association, et al., 753 F. 3d 216 (D.C. Cir. 2014) cert granted, concerning FERC’s authority under Federal Power Act to regulate demand response in wholesale electricity markets.ELPC Governance:Responsible for compliance with federal lobbying, campaign finance and election laws.Managed registrations and reporting for 501(c)(3) and (c)(4).

Provided advice and counsel to Chairman, House Members and Congressional staff on climate change, energy and environmental matters. • Drafted provisions for Energy Independence and Security Policy Act, Pub. L. 110-140, enacted in 2007, the last major federal energy bill that gave rise to renewable fuel, energy efficiency and smart grid.• Directed Committee hearings related to energy, climate change, and water supply and treatment by preparing witnesses and drafting testimony. Also coordinated oversight hearings of federal agencies.• Coordinated Congressional response to global problem of elemental mercury contaminating water, air and fish. Drafted and managed passage of the Mercury Export Ban Act, Pub. L. 110-414, enacted in 2008, prohibiting the sale, distribution and export of elemental mercury. • Drafted provisions for Energy Independence and Security Policy Act, Pub. L. 110-140, enacted in 2007, requiring industrial users of carbon sequestration to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act. • Directed Committee hearings related to energy and climate change by preparing witnesses and drafting testimony. Also coordinated oversight hearings of federal agencies.

Washington, Dc, Us

Lead prosecuting attorney in complex civil enforcement cases in federal court under wide range of environmental statutes. Independently managed all phases of litigation, including investigation, trial planning, motions practice, discovery, legal research, and courtroom appearances. • Led 12-member team in successful prosecution of one of the largest multi-party Superfund cases brought by the United States, U.S. v. Monsanto, et al., involving 13 parties and recovery of millions of dollars in response costs. • Prevailed in significant summary judgment argument in the Southern District of Illinois, and earned Department Special Achievement Award. • Negotiated high-dollar settlements under various federal environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, resulting in injunctive relief and penalties.

Litigated complex environmental insurance coverage cases in state and federal courts. Conducted administrative trials before EPA Environmental Appeals Board.

Master Of Public Policy, Economics

Juris Doctor, Law

B.A.., Economics And Political Science