J. Curtis Rich

Member

Curt Rich heads Van Ness Feldman’s Public Policy practice group. He represents companies, trade associations and local governments before Congress and federal agencies on issues related to tax policy, energy, the environment, natural resources and appropriations.  As Legislative Counsel to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) from 1996 to 1999, Curt represented the nearly 1,000 distribution and generation electric cooperatives that operate in 46 states. As Legislative Counsel to U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), he advised the Senator on a wide range of policy issues including energy, natural resource, environment, economic development and transportation.

His experience at the firm includes:

• Regularly working with both the Senate and House tax committees on a wide variety of energy, natural resource, and environmental tax policy issues.
• Representing renewable fuel feedstock, production and distribution interests on energy, energy tax and environmental policy matters.
• Pursuing improvements to the renewable production tax credit on behalf of a coalition of utilities
• Representing rural electric cooperatives in their efforts to develop federal renewable energy incentive programs.
• On behalf of project developers, working with Congress to develop policies that support large-scale energy infrastructure development projects, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, natural gas pipelines, electric transmission facilities, and electricity generation projects.
• Securing federal regulatory relief for several hydroelectric developers and secured federal incentives for further hydroelectricity development.
• Representing an agricultural trade association on agricultural policy issues including federal tax, transportation, and environmental policy issues.
• Securing legislative tax relief for Working with Congress and the Executive Branch to seek earmarked funding and grants through the budget appropriation and authorization process for hospitals, cities, trade associations, and companies.
• Working with Native American Tribes to seek federal policies that address tribal economic development issues.
• Representing trade associations, cities, and individuals in legislatively navigating the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and other environmental statutes.
• Experience in several Senate, House, and Presidential campaigns on policy development and fundraising efforts.

Government Service

• Natural Resources and Energy Counsel, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), U.S. Senate, 1992-1996

Articles

• Energy's Next Step
• Clean tech depends on federal policy

Speaking Engagements

• Investing in Alternative Energy: The Environment & Developing Opportunities, June 4, 2008
• 2008 National Forest Landowners Conference, April 8, 2008
• First Annual New Mexico Biodiesel Policy Summit, March 27, 2008
• Cleantech Forum XVI, February 25, 2008
• Beyond Corn - Oklahoma Positions Other Alternative Fuel Sources, October 16, 2007

News

• VNF's Curt Rich Provides Insight on Ethanol as an Energy Resource
• VNF Clients Announce Plans to Produce 100 Million Gallons of Biodiesel
• VNF's Curt Rich and Ben McMakin Offer Insights on Clean Tech and Federal Policy
• VNF's Curt Rich Offers Insight on Biofuels
• Seven Van Ness Feldman Attorneys Named Best Lawyers, in 2007
• Van Ness Feldman Helps Celunol Corporation* Open First Demonstration-Scale Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in the U.S.