Firm News and Announcements

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Completes Expansion of Navajo Nation Utility-Scale Solar Plant

Source: Navajo Times - https://navajotimes.com/ntua-kayenta-solar-project-chart-path-to-the-future/

On September 20, 2019, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) celebrated the grand opening of its newly expanded thermal power generating facility in Kayenta, Arizona. The project, known as Kayenta II, is the first and only utility-scale solar power generation facility to be 100% owned and operated by a tribal nation in the United States. The Kayenta project, which includes an earlier phase of 27.5 installed megawatts completed in late 2017, now totals approximately 55 megawatts of installed solar capacity. The project will serve approximately 36,000 residents and businesses within the Navajo Nation. NTUA also partnered with Salt River Project in a power purchase agreement for the offtake of the excess energy generated, as well as, the renewable energy credits produced from the Kayenta facility.

DWGP represents NTUA in energy development matters on and off the Navajo Nation. DWGP is proud to have been a part of this significant project by the Navajo Nation. For more information on this project, tribal energy issues and other transaction matters related to energy development, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

DWGP Attorneys Led Seminars on FERC Electricity 101, Compliance and Enforcement

On October 7 and 8, 2019, attorneys from Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. led seminars hosted by the EUCI entitled FERC Electricity 101 and FERC Compliance and Enforcement in Herndon, VA.

Kristen Connolly McCullough Presented on Regulatory Changes and Impact to Compliance Managers at the ReliabilityFirst Fall Workshop

DWGP Attorney Kristen Connolly McCullough presented at the Fall Workshop put on by one of the six designated North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Regional Entities, ReliabilityFirst. She was invited to speak on how environmental and other regulatory changes to the grid are challenging compliance managers in new ways. She walked through the impacts each of these changing grid characteristics has on the ability to plan and model, as well as see the grid in real-time to maintain the reliability and resilience of the grid. She identified opportunities to adapt and modernize the grid, including the recent announcement by the Department of Energy to establish the North American Energy Resilience Model (NAERM). She ended with an example of the reliability implications created for compliance managers at the intersection of environmental policies, advancing technologies, and standards not being able to keep up with the changing grid characteristics. Specifically, she addressed the loss of solar resources during transmission disturbances due to inverter settings. For more information, please contact Kristen Connolly McCullough.

Bhaveeta Mody and Kristen Connolly McCullough will present on Recent FERC Issuances and Filings and their Potential Impacts on the Cost of Transmission Service and on Transmission Infrastructure Development at the APPA 2019 Legal and Regulatory Conference

DWGP attorneys Bhaveeta Mody and Kristen Connolly McCullough will speak at the APPA October 2019 Legal and Regulatory Conference as part of a Transmission Report panel to address various FERC filings and issuances in the past year that have the potential to significantly impact the costs of transmission service and transmission infrastructure development, including as to transmission incentive rates, return on equity, and transmission planning and cost allocation.

Sean Neal will present on Critical Energy Infrastructure Information Considerations at the State and Federal Level at the APPA 2019 Legal and Regulatory Conference

DWGP Attorney Sean Neal will discuss how ensuring that sensitive information is protected concerning key infrastructure is a priority of public power systems at APPA’s October 2019 Legal and Regulatory Conference in Portland, Oregon. He will describe how law, regulations, and industry practice have defined Critical Energy Infrastructure, and the limitations of such designations under the Freedom of Information Act and state public records acts. In addition, he will outline how definitions of critical infrastructure used in reliability compliance regimes interplay with definitions used in other legal regimes. For more information, please contact Sean Neal.

Bhaveeta Mody Presented on FERC’s Electric Transmission Incentives Policy at APPA National Conference

On June 11, 2019, DWGP Attorney Bhaveeta K. Mody presented on the topic of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) electric transmission incentives regulations and policy (Incentives Policy) at the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in Austin, Texas.

Ms. Mody discussed FERC’s implementation of its current Incentives Policy as established in FERC Order No. 679. Order No. 679 was issued pursuant to the mandates of the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, which added a new Section 219 to the Federal Power Act, directing FERC to promulgate a rule providing incentive-based rates for electric transmission for the purpose of benefitting consumers through increased reliability and lower costs of power.

Matthew Rudolphi Completes Service as Energy Bar President

DWGP congratulates Matt Rudolphi for a successful year as President of the Energy Bar Association (EBA). In serving as EBA President, Matt oversaw the energy industry’s preeminent organization committed to promoting the excellence of energy attorneys, professionals and students within the legal, regulatory, and political realm. During his tenure, Matt worked to advance EBA’s strategic goals of: (1) building and growing a regional focus, (2) optimizing membership strategies, (3) enhancing content and its accessibility, and (4) expanding participation and leadership opportunities. Under Matt’s leadership EBA established, fostered, and received initial reports from three new affinity groups: the Energy Professionals Council, the Masters Council, and the In-House Counsel Task Force. EBA greatly benefitted from Matt’s stewardship, and we are proud to have him as a valued member of the DWGP team.

Lisa Gast Elected to EBA Board

DWGP is delighted to announce that Shareholder Lisa S. Gast has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Energy Bar Association (EBA). This will be Lisa’s second three-year term on the EBA Board.

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