Description

Duration

This is a two-year fixed term position with full benefits and the possibility of extension.

Location

This position may be remotely based or based in office. Candidates Austin, TX strongly preferred.

Application Instructions

Please include a cover letter in your application.

Program Overview

EDF's U.S. Legal & Regulatory team engages in strategic regulatory advocacy and litigation to achieve clean and healthy air, drive clean energy progress, and ensure a stable climate for all. We envision a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the public health and environmental challenges we face, and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team works primarily out of the Washington, D.C., Boulder, CO offices and remotely.

Our Clean Affordable Power program advances our mission by advocating before state public utility commissions and other state and regional bodies for clean, affordable energy solutions that benefit consumers, bolster electric grid resilience and reliability, and deliver health and climate benefits. We work closely with experts across EDF's U.S. Region and Energy Transition teams, and with a broad range of partners including industry, community organizations, consumer advocates, and regulators, to secure practical energy system progress. We seek to modernize electric utility planning and rate design to accelerate clean energy deployment and reduce the need for new fossil fuel investments; promote cost-effective and efficient electric grid development that unlocks clean energy resources; advance clean transportation solutions; and move toward a clean future for natural gas utilities.

Texas is a priority for EDF's energy advocacy due to its significant power sector emissions, rapidly growing electric loads, exceptional potential for clean, low-cost electricity generation, and immense untapped energy efficiency reserves. EDF seeks to leverage these opportunities to ensure the development of a clean, affordable, reliable, and resilient energy system in Texas.

Overall Function

The Senior Attorney, Texas Clean Affordable Power leads EDF's legal and regulatory advocacy in support of clean energy in Texas. This primarily comprises representing EDF before ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) for utility practices that support timely, affordable electrification. This position also supports EDF's legislative advocacy and civil litigation related to clean energy, particularly with respect to Texas. The Senior Attorney works in close coordination with EDF's State Director for Texas as well as colleagues in EDF's Energy Transition team.

Subject-matter areas of focus include utility forecasting and planning; transmission and distribution grid infrastructure buildout; leveraging distributed energy resources; load flexibility and demand response; grid reliability and resiliency; vehicle and building electrification; and electricity rate design. In addition to formally representing EDF before administrative agencies and civil courts, this position will also engage with external and internal partners to develop strategy, refine policies, generate thought leadership, and leverage external communications to support and amplify clean energy advocacy across the country.

This position will report to the Distinguished Counsel & AVP, US Legal and Regulatory and will work closely with the Senior Attorney, Electrification in Legal & Regulatory.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with EDF's State Director for Texas and other colleagues in the U.S. Region and Energy Transition teams to set and advance project goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for our utility regulatory advocacy in Texas.
• Lead the development of briefs and motions and draft litigation filings and administrative comments advocating for relevant priorities.
• Conduct research and prepare legal analysis and formal and informal written materials, for internal and external audiences, on legal, legislative, and regulatory issues facing Clean Affordable Power and relevant teams.
• Assess the legal rigor of policy proposals and ensure that EDF priority policies have a robust legal underpinning.
• Participate in advancing EDF Organizational Effectiveness and Culture (OEC) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Collaborate with internal EDF partners to develop and implement effective communication strategies to build public understanding about clean energy infrastructure.
• Influence decisionmakers through legal filings, official comments, individual and working group meetings as appropriate, and stakeholder engagement.
• Understand legal policymaking process requirements in Texas and ensure that our advocacy campaigns account for these processes.
• Ensure utility regulatory priority policies are reflective of the best legal, economic, and technical expertise at EDF.
• Represent EDF at critical external venues, including conferences and hearings.
• Retain and manage outside counsel in legal engagements.
• Oversee production of policy-relevant analyses and factual testimony, including by EDF internal experts as well as external consultants.
• Build, grow and maintain relationships with strategic partners, including environmental justice and community-based organizations.
• Work with various coalitions to achieve strategic objectives.
• Support fundraising, including contributing to proposals, growing relationships with donors and foundation officers, tracking and reporting progress, and other functions.
• Coordinate and collaborate across EDF and multidisciplinary teams to ensure success and alignment with strategies, goals, and objectives.
• Depending upon future staff levels and needs, this position may supervise at least one attorney.
• Mentor junior legal employees, fellows, interns, etc. as applicable.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years practicing before ERCOT and/or the PUCT required. Experience in both ERCOT and non-ERCOT regions of Texas preferred.
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school and an active state bar membership in good standing required.
• Proficiency with ERCOT and PUCT procedural rules and conventions.
• Familiarity with major energy issues facing Texas (e.g., data centers and load growth, electrification of end-uses, electric distribution and transmission system planning, renewable generation, electricity market design, energy affordability etc.), and ability to substantively engage therewith.
• Experience interfacing with a range of stakeholders, including community leaders, companies, industry trade associations, and policymakers with the ability to garner consensus between disparate groups.
• Demonstrated experience in regulatory advocacy, litigation, and/or policy development at the state or federal level.
• Excellent oral and written communication, with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate comprehensive subject matter expertise and technical and policy findings to colleagues, policymakers, other stakeholders and allies, journalists, and the general public.
• Ability to deploy and integrate science, law, economics, and advocacy tools to initiate and win positive environmental change.
• Ability to recognize and build on political opportunities for progress.
• Strongpresentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving abilities; attentive to detail, proactive, and highly organized.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team across multiple time zones.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.
• Commitment to EDF's mission and values, and to advancing clean air and climate solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time.