• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
• Business and Commercial Transactions
• Commercial and Employment Litigation
• Energy Law
• Federal Concessions and Recreation Law
• Government Procurement and Small Business Development
• Government and Agency Relations
• Land Exchanges and Acquisitions
• Native American and Tribal Law
• Natural Resources Law
• Telecommunications and Technology Law
• Wildlife Law

Home Practice Areas D.C. Overview Energy Law

Energy Law

Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot represents an expansive range of interests in the energy industry.  This practice area is led by veteran energy law practitioners who are both highly skilled and deeply knowledgeable about this specialized field.

We represent clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on hydroelectric licensing, electric and gas utility rates and rulemakings.  We also represent electric utilities before state public utilities commissions and provide assistance on related business issues.  We provide advice to electric utilities on laws and regulations which impact their business, including on migratory bird, permitting, endangered species and other land, wildlife and natural resource issues.

BHBC has particular expertise in applications of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ("PURPA") and in the development of renewable energy projects, including wind and biomass.  BHBC has assisted clients in securing federal funding for renewable energy projects, and developed agreements between independent power producers and electric utilities.  It has represented clients in cases at FERC and State regulatory commissions relating to (federal) certification of qualifying facilities, approval of agreements and other PURPA-related issues.

BHBC has also assisted clients in the oil and gas industry, including companies seeking federal funding for innovative projects to access federal lands for exploration.

BHBC clients include a wide array of corporations that conduct business in rural Alaska, including Regional, Village and nonprofit Native corporations.  We serve clients in a range of subject areas, including:

• Federal funding for energy projects
• Rate setting tariffs before state and federal regulatory bodies
• Property interest, ownership and rights evaluation of public and private lands
• Oil and gas leases, transfers and property matters
• State and federal permitting for oil, gas and mining interests
• Oil and gas exploration agreements
• Pipeline easements
• Pipeline connection and operating agreements
• Coal bed methane issues
• Regulatory analyses for oil, gas and mining interests
• Regulatory and appellate practice related to oil pipeline tariff rates
• Rulemaking and obtaining regulatory approvals for pipeline acquisitions or pipeline interests

Attorneys

• Douglas S. Fuller
• William P. Horn
• Elisabeth Ross