Overview
William DeGrandis is a partner in the Corporate practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. He has over 30 years experience in the energy regulatory and transactions area and has represented clients before both state and federal regulatory commissions in power supply, transmission, merchant plant, merger, ratemaking, cogeneration, hydroelectric, utility holding company and related matters. He is actively involved in advising clients on regulatory and transactional matters relating to restructuring and open access transmission matters, including Regional Transmission Organization and Exempt Wholesale Generator issues. He has negotiated electric power purchase/sale, interchange, transmission, energy swap, operating, and project development agreements. He has represented renewable energy clients with regard to interconnection, transmission, power sale, and other related arrangements.
He has represented renewable energy (including solar, wind, hydro and biomass) clients with regard to interconnection, transmission, power sale, and other related arrangements.
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2024
- The Legal 500 USA, Energy Regulation: Conventional Power (2021-2022)
- The Legal 500 USA, Project Finance (2022)
- Named by Chambers USA as an outstanding energy attorney
Education
- University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1980
- Pennsylvania State University, B.A., 1977
Representations
- Represent York Haven Power Company in its relicensing application before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and assist with related negotiation with resource agencies
- Represented Oglethorpe Power Corporation on contractual, licensing and compliance issues for the 800 MW Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydro Unit in Georgia
- Yahoo! and Facebook in negotiation of electric power purchase agreements for new data centers in New York (Yahoo!) and in Oregon and North Carolina (Facebook)
- Negotiated “Green” power purchase arrangements for supply of the “Green” power for Boeing’s new Dreamliner Aircraft Assembly Plant in South Carolina. Boeing will purchase power from an on-site solar facility and from other green power resources for its electric power requirements.
- Secured a cutting-edge Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) approval for a sale/buyback transaction for Idaho Wind Partners I that will enable a 185 MW wind farm in Idaho to sell its electricity to a local utility and to sell its Renewable Energy Credits into California. FERC confirmed that a sell/buyback structure will not violate its market manipulation rules and the facility would maintain its benefits as a Qualifying Facility under PURPA
- Served as regulatory co-counsel to MX Energy in its merger with Constellation Energy Group
- Counsel to Korea East-West Power (“EWP”) and led the FERC/energy regulatory team with regard to EWP’s purchase of certain biomass facilities from Marubeni and played a similar role in EWP’s acquisition of an interest in the Jamaica Public Utility System
- Led the FERC energy regulatory team in connection with the $1.477 billion sale by ConEd Development of certain merchant generation plants to IFM (and its newly created U.S. subsidiary), and secured FERC approval of the sale
- Led the FERC energy regulatory team with regard to KeyBank’s financing of two merchant one facilities within the PJM system
Engagement & Publications
- “Power Considerations in Siting Data Centers,” Data Center Knowledge (February 8, 2011)
- “Administration to Face Electric Transmission Challenges,” Electric Light & Power (March/April 2009)
- Moderator of the panel on Interconnection and Transmission Issues Facing Wind Projects, Infocast Wind Summit (February 2011) (San Diego, CA)
Involvement
- Member of the Infrastructure and Energy Group at Paul Hastings
- Member of the District of Columbia and American Bar Associations, and is a member of the Energy/Natural Resources and Public Utility Sections, respectively
- Member of the Board of Directors of EBA and chairman of the EBA Pro Bono Committee
- Energy Bar Association, Board of Directors (Spring 2008 – Spring 2011)
- Energy Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee (Board level committee) — Member (2009 – present); Chair (2010 – present)
- Energy Bar Association, Electricity Regulation Committee (former chairman and Member)