Craig Gannett focuses his practice in the fields of energy, natural resources, and the environment. He advises clients on the relicensing of hydropower facilities, pending federal and state legislation concerning climate change and renewable portfolio standards, and a wide range of other electric utility regulatory matters. Craig is a frequent lecturer on climate change policy and hydropower relicensing, and is a former senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He is also a member of DWT’s Executive Committee, and a co-chair of its Governmental Relations Practice Group.
Representative Experience
Lead counsel for hydroelectric licensee in Avista v. U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (trial before a Department of the Interior Administrative Law Judge under Section 241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, holding that many factual assertions by BIA in hydroelectric relicensing proceeding were unfounded) (2007)
Lead counsel for hydroelectric licensee in negotiation of multi-party settlement agreement leading to the issuance of a 50-year license for the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project by FERC (2006)
Lead counsel for hydroelectric licensee in Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation v. Ecology (trial before the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board, holding that Section 401 of the Clean Water Act does not require strict adherence with numeric water quality criteria) (2004)
Handles relicensing of hydropower facilities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including negotiations with federal and state natural resource agencies under the Federal Power Act and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act
Advises on federal, regional, and state regulatory developments regarding climate change and renewable portfolio standards, particularly pending federal cap and trade legislation, the Western Climate Initiative, and legislation enacted in Washington State
Advises on electric utility regulatory matters, including siting, transmission upgrades, regional transmission organizations, interconnection of new generation, and related matters
Represents clients before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) regarding energy, telecommunications, solid waste, and water utility matters
Prior Experience
Senior Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (1993-1995), responsible for overseeing the electric utility industry and the federal Power Marketing Administrations, including the Bonneville Power Administration
Served as General Counsel to Northwest Hydroelectric Association, 1997-2007
Served on Mayor of Seattle's Advisory Committee on Seattle City Light, 2002
Law Clerk, U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein
Publications and Presentations
Co-author with Alison Davis, "State and Regional Approaches to Climate Change: Precocious or Preempted?", Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Special Institute on Resources Development and Climate Change (April 2008)
Guest Instructor, "Climate Change: Realities and Options for U.S. Policy," Jackson School of International Studies (Winter Qtr. 2008)
Co-author with Dan Adamson, "The Bumpy Road to Federal CO2 Caps," POWER magazine (July 2007)
Co-author with James P. Walsh, "Supreme Court Rebukes EPA on Climate Change Regulation" (April 2007)
Co-author with Dan Adamson, "Climate Change Legislation: Major Policy Issues Before Congress" (Feb. 2007)
Guest lecturer and Task Force Evaluator, "The Geopolitics of Global Warming: U.S. Policy Options," Jackson School of International Studies (Winter Qtr. 2007)
Co-author with Joseph Ronan, Jr., "Keeping the Lights On: Siting Power Generation Projects in the West During the Energy Crisis," 47 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 11-1 (2001)
Co-founder, former co-chair, and regular speaker at "Buying and Selling Electricity in the West," an annual energy conference presented by Law Seminars International (1995 to 2005)
Memberships and Activities
Member, Washington State Bar Association
Member, United States Supreme Court Bar
Member, Energy Bar Association
Member, Board of Governors, Henry M. Jackson Foundation
Chair, Advisory Board, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington
Professional Recognition
Named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Public Utility Law by Woodward/White, 2001-2002; 2003-04; 2005-06; 2006-07; named in Energy Law, 2008
Education
J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 1979
- Associate Editor, Washington Law Review
B.A., University of Washington, 1976
