Washington, DC; San Francisco; Boulder, CO; Boston MA
Washington, DC; San Francisco; Boulder, CO; Boston MA
THOMAS D. O’CONNOR
5427 Fenwood Avenue - Woodland Hills, California 91367
Office: (818) 883-1038 -
Fax: (818) 883-1039 -
E-mail: TodOC1[at]aol.com
SENIOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY
Experienced attorney possessing a well-developed legislative and regulatory expertise in utility and renewable energy public policies with a background in campaign finance and political action committee legislation and regulations. Possess 9 years experience as a Congressional legislative aide and attorney with a particular background in working for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas P. “Tip†O’Neill and familiarity with bipartisan Members of Congress. Possess over 20 years experience in California utility, energy, renewable portfolio standards, California Energy Commission and California Public Utility Commission R&D, solar and energy efficiency programs.
JD and LLM degrees.
EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND / TRANSFERABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, NRG ENERGY WEST AND NRG SOLAR 2009- -2010
Developed and implemented effective legislative and regulatory strategies that enable NRG and NRG Solar to successfully compete in the energy generation markets in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.
Accomplishment
 Developed and successfully implemented lobbying strategies with the Independent Energy Producers, Trades Union and key California legislative leaders and energy and environmental committees on legislation that enable one of NRG’s natural gas generating facilities to qualify for necessary air emission reduction permits.
 Represent NRG Solar on state RPS legislation and rulemaking and FERC VER NOI
ENERGY AND UTILITY ATTORNEY
Partner, Exemplar Law Partners, Boston , MA and
President, O’Connor Consulting Services, Inc. Woodland Hills, CA 1999 – 2010
Renewable, environmental, sustainable and alternative energy related consulting firms providing legislative and regulatory affairs, financial investment, business development, and legal services for a diverse customer base consisting of government agencies, utilities and alternative and renewable energy developers and manufacturers.
Represent clients before federal and state legislators and regulators, and other government officials for the purpose of enhancing clients’ abilities to successfully participate in sustainable, renewable and alternative energy markets. Negotiate PPA’s for renewable energy clients with utilities and regulatory commissions. Seek private investment and business development opportunities for clients. Alternative and renewable energy and utility clients have included Southern California Edison, the U. S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, CADER (The California Association for Distributed Energy Resources), EPRI, Gloria Spire Solar, Solar Turbines, Capstone, APS, Sempra Energy Utilities, The Gas Technology Institute, STM Power, Ormat, Lockheed Martin Energy Services and Solargenix Energy.
Client Accomplishment - The Intermountain Combined Heat & Power Initiative);Advocacy – Western Governor Association
 Successfully initiated and effectively negotiated public policy recommendations to the WGA Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative Commission that enhance the deployment of CHP energy products and systems in the 22 state WGA region.
Client Accomplishment (Solargenix Energy, a North Carolina solar energy developer); RPS Advocacy
 Successfully advocated before the California Legislature, the Nevada and California Public Utilities Commissions, Members of Congress and state legislators for renewable energy and tax legislation and regulations requiring utilities to purchase renewable energy.
Client Accomplishment (Solar Turbines, the largest manufacturer in San Diego). Regional Environmental Negotiations
 Successfully interacted with the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Board’s members and staff to showcase Solar Turbines systems’ ability to meet the SCAQMD proposed distributed generation air quality compliance rules.
Client Accomplishment (ORMAT, Nevada, an international Geothermal developer); Power Contract Negotiations
 Successfully negotiated a purchase power agreement (PPA) with California utilities worth at least $20 million in revenue.
 Served on state Transmission Working Group
ELECTRIC ENERGY RD&D AND NATURAL GAS UTILITY EXPERIENCE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY
Edison International, Inc. subsidiaries - Rosemead, California 1993 - 1999
Collaborative Funding Manger, Southern California Edison (SCE) RD&D Department;
Director, Government Relations, Edison Technology Solutions.
Edison International is the nation’s second largest international electric power generator, distributor, and structured finance provider supplying power to a population of 11 million people. Annual Revenue $7.3 billion.
Developed and implemented effective legislative and regulatory strategies to successfully leverage ratepayer and shareholder RD&D funding with at least $18 million in federal and state government energy research funding for the purpose of commercializing renewable and alternative energy technologies. Managed external communications by supervising a staff of three to prepare regulatory and legislative testimony, and “white†papers, preparing proposed legislation, regulatory testimony, and monthly energy technology newsletters to public officials, collaborative energy industry partners and customers and ratepayer associations. Developed effective relationships with Members of Congress, DOE and state legislators and energy and environmental regulators.
Accomplishments
 Successfully negotiated the first of a kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Energy (DOE), which promoted cost-shared collaborative energy R&D funding for energy efficient and renewable technologies.
 Successfully negotiated and managed a $9 million award under the PIER program with California Energy Commissioners. The award funded solar, MTG, fuel cell and micro-grid alternative and renewable energy technology demonstrations and resulted in $3 million in shareholder value.
 Successfully negotiated with California legislators and regulators legislation and corresponding regulations that incorporated solar and other renewable technology and Transmissions and Distribution RD&D into the state public energy research program
 Successfully designed and directed strategies with the State of California, industry, and the Congress (with opposition from some Congressional staff) that resulted in the reauthorization and continued appropriations for Solar Two, a $53 million collaborative solar thermal R&D technology demonstration.
 Effectively participated with other electricity RD&D stakeholders including regulators, industry, utility research managers, and technology manufacturers to recommend the creation of a new state-wide “first of kind†in the nation public energy research (PIER) program.
LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY ATTORNEY
Pacific Enterprises and subsidiary Southern California Gas Co. - Los Angeles, California 1989 - 1993
The nation’s largest natural gas utility serving over 18 million customers. Annual Revenue $5 billion.
Developed effective legal, legislative and regulatory strategies to promote federal and state legislation and regulatory actions affecting employer’s ability to successfully participate in a deregulated natural gas industry. Analyzed proposed federal and state legislation and regulations. Prepared effective communications and legal materials for advising senior management, legislators and regulators. Negotiated positions with Congress, the California legislature, trade industry groups, and federal and state regulatory agencies. Advised senior management on campaign finance, election, lobbying and ethics law requirements. Represented corporation and its Political Action Committee (PAC) with the state legislators, Congress, Federal Elections Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
Accomplishments
 Developed and implemented effective lobbying and communication strategies with Congress and successfully negotiated with key bipartisan members of the California delegation as well as with the House and Senate leaders on legislative language allocating radio spectrum to the utility industry and FERC NOPR 888, which restructured the natural gas bundled tariff structure.
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP STAFF - U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, DC
Legislative Aide, Speaker US House of Representatives - 1980-1981
Advised Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill, Jr. of pending legislation and proposed federal regulations. Developed relationships with the House Democratic and Republican Leadership. Represented the Committee and the Speaker before industry and other interested groups.
Assistant Counsel to Augustus F. Hawkins, Chairman Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities, 1981 - 1983
Advised the Chairman and Committee members on legal, procedural and policy matters relating to authorization of the Federal Election Commission, and federal and state campaign finance, (PACs)political action committee, election and lobbying disclosure laws.
Assistant Director and Staff Attorney, Office of Records and Registration,
Office of the Clerk, 1983 - 1988
Advised the Clerk of the House, Lobbyists, Congressional candidates and Members of Congress on campaign financing and financial disclosure requirements. Established and maintained ongoing relationships with Members of Congress, the Federal Election Commission and the media.
EDUCATION
LL.M. Degree (Masters of Law, Labor Law) - Georgetown University Law Center – Washington, DC - 1983
J.D. (Juris Doctorate) - Suffolk University Law School – Boston, Massachusetts - 1980
BA Degree Political Science - St. Michael’s College – Winooski, Vermont - 1974
PUBLICATIONS
POWER PARK White Paper,
World Energy Engineering Conference Foundation;
Co-Authored with U. S. Department of Energy,
Oct.27, 2000
“A Clean and Green Hydrogen Economy: A White Paperâ€
Contributor, The Green Hydrogen Scientific Advisory Committee
The Foundation on Economic Trends
May, 2005
PROFESSIONAL AFFILLIATIONS
Member, Bar Association, Commonwealth of Massachusetts –
Member, The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
Member, United States Combined Heat and Power Association (USCHPA)
Founding Member and former Executive Director, California Distributed Energy Resources (CADER)
Member, Planning Committee - Annual International Solar Power (SEPA and SEIA) Conference
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