Bio

Jeff Harris is a Partner in Ellison Schneider Harris & Donlan. Jeff’s practice focuses on power plant siting, environmental permitting and compliance as well as energy policy, regulation, and legislation. Jeff excels in developing and implementing permitting strategies for successfully licensing and constructing complex, multi-jurisdictional projects. He represents renewable and conventional energy projects in site approval proceedings before the California Energy Commission, federal agencies, and local governments. Education: J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1993, M.A., Penn State University, 1986, B.A. , University of California, Davis, 1984. Jeff helped successfully license the largest solar thermal power plant in the California desert, numerous peaking power plants in rural and urban settings; high-voltage transmission lines through agricultural lands, open space and established communities; and the state’s most high-profile natural gas power plant in the south San Jose area. Jeff has extensive experience in helping clients manage and navigate compliance issues arising from California’s extensive and complex environmental and energy regulatory regimes, including greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon management obligations. He has a proven record of helping defend clients from potential enforcement actions. Prior to entering private practice, Jeff worked for the United States House of Representatives. He was Associate Staff to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, responsible for funding all federal energy and water projects. Concurrently, Jeff served as Legislative Counsel to Congressman Vic Fazio (Ret.) on energy, water, federal lands, and endangered species issues and served as the Congressman’s liaison with executive branch agencies and the federal judiciary. This extensive political experience provides Jeff with a unique understanding of the legal, political, and regulatory interplay of California law and policy, in general, and California energy and water policies, in particular.