Practice Areas: Energy and Natural Resources, Energy-Related Public Policy, Clean Technology Patton Boggs LLP Denver, CO 303.894.6131 [email protected]www.pattonboggs.com
Eric Drummond has practiced administrative law and complex administrative litigation for two decades, focusing his practice in alternative energy issues, electric utility and telecommunications law. Before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Drummond served as chair of the Alternative Energy and CleanTech practice for a regional, Denver-based firm, where he represented electric transmission developers, Smart Grid, solar, biofuel, wind and energy efficiency companies, as well as major financial institutions.
While serving as the mayor of Manitou Springs, Colorado, Mr. Drummond participated in large-scale initiatives developed by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office to implement sustainable energy strategies. As part of an effort to measure the City of Manitou Springs’s carbon footprint, Mr. Drummond actively supported a greenhouse gas emission reduction program and played a key role in ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and Cities for Climate Protection campaigns. Leveraging his roles as chair of the Economic Development Council and mayor, Mr. Drummond successfully promoted an environment of economic development that led to a record amount of private investment in Manitou Springs.
Mr. Drummond’s electric utility experience includes the representation of one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utility holding companies, which involved multistate and multijurisdictional transactions and regulatory proceedings as well as representing the largest electric transmission and distribution utility in Texas. He has also represented cities, other governmental entities and private land owners in major electric utility rate cases and electric transmission siting cases.
Mr. Drummond is familiar with the issues facing commercial and investment bankers in evaluating the financing of various alternative energy and cleantech projects. In this regard, Mr. Drummond has substantial experience with solar development, having represented the Department of Energy in the development of the largest utility scale High Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic generation plant globally as well as representing commercial scale distributive solar projects.
Experienced in telecommunications law, Mr. Drummond has been involved in interconnection agreements and wireless communication issues, and has participated in the relocation of microwave operators from electromagnetic spectrum allocated to CMRS providers. In addition, he has worked closely with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice on state and federal matters related to Section 271 Relief under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Mr. Drummond understands that the increasing complexity of the global marketplace requires clients to perform at a higher strategic and competitive level. Clients recognize that their business requires more sophisticated capabilities, deeper relationships and a more robust and comprehensive approach to markets in order to increase business value. Mr. Drummond provides experienced and effective business advice to both entrepreneurs and established enterprises in the energy sector, allowing clients to capitalize on business opportunities.
Drummond has also represented leading Smart Grid, distributive energy services, solar and biofuel-related companies and assisted various start-up cleantech enterprises, including those involved with electric drive vehicles, solar and alternative energy parks and waste-to-energy projects, as well as companies seeking to market the commercially viable use of hydrogen technology. Furthermore, he has represented the U.S. subsidiaries of a global 15 bank in evaluating the financing of renewable energy and cleantech projects; the federal government in developing the world’s largest concentrating solar photovoltaic project and the first-of-its-kind municipal solid waste to fuel ethanol project; waste-to-energy projects, including an electric cooperative providing power to 17 Colorado cities involving a 3 MW landfill methane gas recovery system; and the first-of-its-kind abandoned coal mine methane gas recovery system and carbon offset verification program. Representation included the drafting of power purchase and interconnection agreements, utility-scale hydroelectric projects, wind developers and landowners in large-scale wind generation projects, and he has represented the largest U.S. wireless company as one of five regional outside members of counsel.
He serves on several boards, has published countless papers and has served as an expert lecturer.