A nationally recognized energy advisor, Jim primarily concentrates his practice on emerging markets in the wholesale electric and natural gas areas. Inside and outside government, Jim has focused his representations on electric utilities, utility investors, transmission companies, and gas and oil pipelines on issues of infrastructure development and rate regulation, demand response, and environmental law. He is also the Founder and Principal of Hoecker Energy Law & Policy PLLC, where he serves as outside counsel to WIRES, a national business alliance of companies advocating investment in electric transmission, including transmission-dependent wind and solar energy firms as well as transmission developers. Jim also represents a national alliance promoting demand response in domestic power markets. He has advised foreign countries and utilities on energy industry reconstructing and has served as an expert witness throughout the United States and Canada. He has given testimony before the committees of Congress.
Prior to rejoining private practice, Jim served as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 1997 to 2001 during the Clinton Administration. During the nearly eight years he served as FERC chairman and, before that, FERC commissioner, he was responsible for instituting regional transmission organizations to administer the wholesale electric power system and streamlining regulatory processes. In the 1980s, Jim was assistant general counsel for Gas and Oil Litigation at FERC, as well as assistant general counsel for Rulemaking and Legislative Analysis.
Awards & Recognitions
· National Energy Resources Organization, Distinguished Service Award, 2000
· National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Silver Good Citizenship Award, 2000
Professional Associations & Memberships
· Allegheny Energy, Board of Directors, 2001-2004
· American Bar Association, Environment, Energy and Resources Section, Council Member
· Clinton/Gore Campaign, Energy Team, Co-Chair, 1992
· Energy Bar Association
· National Council on Competition and The Electric Industry, Board Member, 1995-2002
· University of Tulsa School of Law, Practitioner-in-residence, 2001
Civic Involvement
· Northland College, Trustee Emeritus
· National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
News & Publications
News
3.1.12, Penn Energy: Husch Blackwell's Jim Hoecker Examines FERC Order No. 1000 and Its Effect on Hydroelectric Projects
11.15.11, Omaha World-Herald: Husch Blackwell's Jim Hoecker Urges Nebraska to Build State's Wind Energy Potential
12.8.10, Demand Response Law Conference Gathers National Energy Stakeholders
10.15.10, The New York Times: Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Backing
5.21.10, Investment Dealers' Digest: Obstacles Remain for New Clean Energy Sources
8.1.08, Former FERC Chairman Joins Husch Blackwell Sanders
Publications
7.25.11, Another Major Step in the Restructuring of the Power Industry
4.23.10, Termination of Mandatory Power Purchase Obligations Under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
11.1.09, Hoecker: Electric Infrastructure Needed, Roll Call
6.1.09, A Sea Change for Federal Energy Policy? Natural Gas & Electricity
4.1.09, The Age of Infrastructure, Natural Gas & Electricity
1.1.09, Dear Mr. President-Elect ..., Natural Gas & Electricity
Events
4.26.12, Failure to Act: The Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Electricity Infrastructure
Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement
4.4.12, Electric Transmission Trends: We Live in Interesting Times
Houston, TX
Speaking Engagement
11.15.11, The Electron Superhighway: National Policy and Prospects
Kearney, NE
Speaking Engagement
10.26.11, Load Participation as a Resource in Energy Markets: A Solution to a Utility Problem
Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement
10.19.11, Job Growth Through Transmission Investments
Providence, RI
Speaking Engagement
9.16.11, Transmission's Role in Regional Economic Development
Des Moines, IA
Speaking Engagement
7.21.11, Transmission: Overcoming Bottlenecks and Increasing Opportunities
Sacramento, CA
Speaking Engagement
7.15.11, Electric Transmission 205: Economic Stimulus and Jobs Benefits
Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement
6.7.11, FERC and Transmission Planning
New York, NY
Speaking Engagement
4.7.11, Electric Transmission 101: How the High-Voltage Grid Works and Who Regulates ItWashington, D.C. Speaking Engagement
12.1.10, The Law of Demand Response Conference
Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement
11.16.10, Modernizing the Electric Grid: Regulatory Issues, Challenges, and Modern Trends, Transmission & Distribution Summit
Las Vegas, NV
Speaking Engagement
9.1.10, Four Electric Transmission Briefings on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement
6.1.10, The State of the U.S. Grid: Recalibrating Risk and Regulation, The World Bank Workshop: Expanding Transmission for Renewable Energy - Smart Planning and Cost Recovery
Speaking Engagement
5.19.10, Private Capital, Public Good, Bond Buyer's Financing Sustainable Energy and Efficiency Conference
Speaking Engagement
5.1.10, The Bond Buyer's Financing Sustainable Energy and Efficiency Conference
Houston, TX
Speaking Engagement
4.29.10, Demand Response: Reaching Potential, Peak Load Management Alliance Conference
Santa Monica, CA
Speaking Engagement
4.1.10, Schneider Electric Customer Meeting, Peak Load Management Alliance Spring Conference
Speaking Engagement
4.1.10, Siting Electric Transmission, Electric Utility Consultants, Inc.
Orlando, FL
Speaking Engagement
2.1.10, Transmission Trends: Current Policy and Regulatory Issues and What They Mean for Renewables, enXco: Emerging Trends in Renewable Energy
Rancho Mirage, CA
Speaking Engagement
1.1.10, Transmission Siting and the Federal Landscape, Public Participation in Transmission Siting, Orlando, Fla.
Speaking Engagement
10.23.09, UMKC's Energy Symposium
Kansas City, MO
Speaking Engagement
10.6.09, Kansas Wind & Renewable Energy Conference
Topeka, KS
Speaking Engagement
2.1.09, Electric Transmission 101; Electric Transmission 102, Cannon H.O.B., Washington, D.C.
Speaking Engagement