Craig Gannett focuses his practice on efforts to decarbonize the production of electricity, and then to use that clean electricity for as many purposes as possible. As a former Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and a veteran renewable energy practitioner, he has a deep understanding of the electric power sector, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. He advises regarding federal energy and climate legislation, including the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as the comprehensive climate regulatory structure that has been enacted in Washington State since 2019. That includes legislation: (a) to decarbonize the electric utility sector; (b) creating an economy-wide cap and trade program; (c) to lower the carbon levels in liquid fuels; and (d) to advance environmental justice. Craig has also taught Climate Change Law at the University of Washington School of Law since 2010, and is the President of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, which focuses its programming and grantmaking on climate change. He was recently recognized by the National Law Journal as a Trailblazer in energy and environmental law.
Practice Highlights:
- Advises regarding the development of utility-scale solar projects, including siting, transmission, land use, tax, and labor issues.
- Assists in understanding and complying with Washington State’s new cap and trade program, as well as assisting in the filing of comments on pending rulemakings to implement the legislation.
- Tracks the ongoing federal and state regulatory processes that will lead to the development of offshore wind projects off of the U.S. west coast.
- Handles relicensing of hydropower facilities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including negotiations with federal and state natural resource agencies under the Federal Power Act and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
- Advises parties considering investment in energy-related assets regarding the federal and state regulatory context that may affect the value of such assets.
- Provides regulatory advice regarding a wide range of energy-related projects, including biomass facilities, energy efficiency programs, broadband fiber optic cable deployments, and smart grid.
- Represents clients before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) regarding energy and solid waste matters.
- Advises on electric utility regulatory matters, including siting, transmission upgrades, regional transmission organizations, interconnection of new generation, and related matters.
Admitted to Practice
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Washington
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U.S. Supreme Court
Education
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J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 1979
- Associate Editor, Washington Law Review
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B.A., University of Washington, 1976
Memberships & Affiliations
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- President, Henry M. Jackson Foundation
- Chair, Advisory Board, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington
- Member, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources; Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law – American Bar Association
- Member, Committee on Renewable Energy; Committee on State Commission Practice and Regulation; Committee on Electricity Regulation – Energy Bar Association
Professional Recognition
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- Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Energy & Natural Resources (Washington), 2021-2023
- Recognized as a Trailblazer in "Energy & Environmental Law" by the National Law Journal, 2021
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers in Energy Law, 2003-present; in Environmental Law, 2021-present
- Awarded "2013 Top Rated Lawyer" in Energy, Environmental, & Natural Resources by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
Background
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- Lecturer, "Climate Change Law," University of Washington School of Law, 2010-present
- Lecturer, "U.S. Energy Policy," Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Spring Quarter, 2011
- Lecturer, "Climate Change: Realities and Options for U.S. Policy," Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Winter Quarter, 2008
- Lecturer and Task Force Evaluator, "The Geopolitics of Global Warming: U.S. Policy Options," Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Winter Quarter, 2007
- General Counsel, Northwest Hydroelectric Association, 1997-2007
- Mayor of Seattle's Advisory Committee on Seattle City Light, 2002
- Senior Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, responsible for overseeing the electric utility industry and the federal Power Marketing Administrations, including the Bonneville Power Administration, 1993-1995
- Law Clerk, Hon. Barbara J. Rothstein, U.S. District Court