Gardner Participates in Coal Transition Discussion in D.C.

Sturgill Turner Utilities and Energy Attorney Jim Gardner spoke at an event regarding the energy transition in coal communities hosted by the Just Transition Fund and the Keystone Policy Center in Washington D.C. on June 3 and 4.

 The first day of the meeting was invitation-only for investor owned utilities to meet to talk about their role in transition as coal plants close. It focused on community engagement, financing transition, and needed legislation and policy. 

On the second day of the meeting, there was a panel in the morning with a representative from labor, an environmental group, two community groups, and Jim Gardner, as a former public utility regulator, discussing how utilities can engage in transition as coal-fired power plants close at a quickening rate due to a myriad of forces. This discussion posed the question, “what does just transition look like to you or what are the elements of a just transition?” 

Jim brings to Sturgill Turner more than two decades of utility law experience in both private practice and the public sector. Jim spent 8 years on the Kentucky Public Service Commission, serving as Chairman from 2015-2016 and Vice-Chairman from 2008-2015. During his time with the PSC, Jim chaired hearings and public meetings involving such matters as rate increases, fuel adjustment cases, environmental plans and certificates of public convenience and necessity. He has developed a keen interest in energy efficiency and clean energy sources, such as biomass, clean coal technologies, solar, landfill gas generation and low cost wind.