Nicholas H. Rabinowitsh

Associate

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Energy, Land Use

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Nick’s practice focuses on advising clients in various aspects of energy and land use law. He specializes in land use and energy permitting and regulatory issues, and has experience working with the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Independent System Operator, local air districts, and cities and counties. He works often with the California Environmental Quality Act, the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, the Clean Air Act, and laws regulating greenhouse gases and the development of energy resources.

EXPERIENCE

Assisted with permitting natural gas, solar, and wind power projects.

Assisted with representing power plant developers and financiers in interactions with the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the California Independent System Operator.

Drafted briefs, petitions, motions, and letters in California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission proceedings.

Assisted power plant projects and other development projects with California Environmental Quality Act compliance.

Conducted both lender and borrower side permitting due diligence review for power plant financing and sale transactions.

Assisted natural gas and biomass projects with air quality issues under state and federal clean air laws.

Defended a California Supreme Court writ petition challenging a power plant approval.

Advised clients regarding various issues pertaining to electrical interconnections and transmission arrangements.

Prepared testimony for expert witnesses, compiled administrative records, and assisted with evidentiary hearings before the California Energy Commission.

Advised clients regarding compliance with state and federal greenhouse gas laws, including AB 32, the federal Tailoring Rule, and various greenhouse gas reporting requirements.

Drafted comments on the proceedings establishing California’s tradable renewable energy credit law.

Advised clients regarding state and federal Endangered Species Act compliance and risks.

Assisted with state and federal water permitting issues.

Drafted responses to comments from agencies and from the public on various CEQA issues.

General

Sonoma County Counsel, Former Law Clerk

University of California, Davis Campus Counsel, Former Law Clerk

MEMBERSHIPS

Young Professionals in Energy, Member

Power Association of Northern California, Member

State Bar of California, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Member

Sacramento MetroEDGE, Member

EDUCATION

University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D., 2008)

University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Law (Education Abroad Program, Spring 2007)

University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2001)

PUBLICATIONS

Mineral Law Newsletter, a Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation publication,

“California Update,” Volume XXVI, Number 3, 2009, Author

Environs Environmental Law and Policy Journal, "Bringing New Source Review

Back: The Supreme Court’s Surprise (And Disguised) Attack on Grandfathering Old

Coal Plants in Environmental Defense v. Duke Energy Corp.," 31 Environs 251,

Spring 2008, Author