Taft’s Energy attorneys offer effective strategic and comprehensive counsel to corporations, associations, utilities and municipalities throughout the region on a wide range of energy, natural resources and utility issues.
Averaging 25 years of experience, our Energy attorneys are known for providing practical, cost-effective legal advice and services. We have been recognized nationally by prestigious peer-review organizations, including Martindale-Hubbell, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Ohio Super Lawyers.
Our attorneys assist clients with issues such as siting of electric generation and transmission facilities and pipeline projects, renewable energy credits, water and wastewater issues, the purchase and sale of electricity and electric generation facilities and the purchase, sale and distribution of natural gas. Having represented a leading wholesale power supply organization, American Municipal Power, Inc., for over 30 years and the country’s largest independent natural gas marketer, IGS Energy, Inc., for over 20 years, our attorneys are well positioned to advise clients in all aspects of the natural gas and electric industries, including hydroelectric, wind and solar energy projects. Due to our extensive experience, our attorneys have broad access to the industry and state and federal regulatory agencies. We also represent several large entities as electric consumers, including The Kroger Company, one of the nation’s leading growing chains, and we have had significant success negotiating substantial utility cost discounts in connection with industrial redevelopment projects. We also represent Ohio’s largest investor owned water company, Aqua Ohio, Inc., in regulatory matters.
Our attorneys routinely represent clients on a wide range of electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications matters before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and in proceedings before other state and federal courts and regulatory agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We have a working knowledge of government oversight, as some of our attorneys have served in positions such as technical staff and counsel to the PUCO, assistant Ohio Attorney General, assistant City Attorney for the City of Columbus, service assistant City Solicitor for the City of Cincinnati, and City Attorney for the City of Lebanon.
Attorneys in Taft’s Energy practice also advise clients with respect to oil and gas law issues arising from the emerging Utica and Marcellus shale exploration in Eastern Ohio. These unique geological formations are capable of producing unprecedented quantities of natural gas and petroleum products through a drilling technique known as hydrofracturing, or “fracking.” Our attorneys represent landowners in the negotiation of oil and gas leases, and we represent companies in all facets of the growing pipeline and natural gas processing industries, including regulatory and environmental matters related to the Utica and Marcellus shale formations. As Ohio and neighboring states become leaders in the production of natural gas and related by-products, we have the experience and knowledge to assist our clients through the evolving regulatory and transactional issues related to these opportunities.
