Related Information For Charles Sensiba

Areas of Practice

Education

J.D., University of Colorado, 1999
B.S., cum laude, University of Utah, 1995

Bar and Court Admissions

Colorado
District of Columbia
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Charles R. Sensiba

Member
TEL: 202.298.1801
FAX: 202.338.2416

1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW
Seventh Floor
Washington DC 20007

crs@vnf.com
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Charles Sensiba represents public utility districts, state governmental entities, investor-owned utilities, water districts, independent power producers, and other entities on the full spectrum of licensing and environmental issues associated with hydroelectric power development. With broad experience in matters under the Federal Power Act (FPA), National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act, Mr. Sensiba represents clients before FERC and other administrative agencies, Congress, and the U.S. courts of appeal.

Mr. Sensiba’s recent representative matters include:

Representing a large coalition of hydroelectric licensees in administrative proceedings at FERC and subsequent appellate litigation concerning FERC’s annual charges program, which yielded more than $20 million in refunds and cost savings following the court’s ruling in City of Idaho Falls v. FERC, 629 F.3d 222 (D.C. Cir. 2011).
Providing legal and strategic counsel to project developers and licensees in several major FERC hydroelectric licensing and relicensing proceedings.
Negotiating multi-party settlement agreements in licensing and relicensing proceedings.
Counseling prospective hydroelectric project developers on jurisdictional requirements of the FPA.
Advising hydroelectric licensees in compliance issues and successfully representing licensees in compliance matters before FERC.
Representing licensees in a major hydroelectric rulemaking proceeding.

Mr. Sensiba is a regular speaker at hydroelectric industry conferences and has written extensively on legal and policy issues facing the hydroelectric industry. Recently, he was selected to author the chapter on hydroelectricity in the American Bar Association’s book, The Law of Clean Energy: Efficiency and Renewables (2011). A comprehensive list of his publications can be found here. An active leader in the hydroelectric industry, Mr. Sensiba currently serves as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Hydro Committee in the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, as well as Vice Chair of the National Hydropower Association’s Regulatory Affairs Committee.

Professional and Civic Affiliations

American Bar Association
Energy Bar Association
National Hydropower Association
Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition

Publications

“Hydropower,” The Law of Clean Energy: Efficiency and Renewables (2011)

“US Department of Energy, the Interior, and the Army Assessing & Promoting Federal Hydropower Development,” The Water Report (2010)

“Hydropower: A Renewable We Can Believe In,” Trends (2010)

“Hydro Power,” Environment, Energy, and Resources Law, The Year in Review 2009 (2010)

“Balancing Resource Protection & Economic Development: An Early Assessment of Emerging Water Policies in the Obama Administration,” The Water Report (2009)

“The FERC-MMS Memorandum of Understanding for Hydrokinetic and Renewable Energy Projects on the OCS: Unanswered Questions for the Future of Energy Development,” Waterpower XVI (2009)

“Eleventh Circuit Upholds EPA Interpretation of Clean Water Act as Exempting Water Transfers from NPDES Requirements,” The Water Report (2009)

“Hydroelectric Regulation,” Energy Law and Transaction (2009)

“Hydroelectric Regulation Under the Federal Power Act,” Waters and Water Rights (2009)

“Hydro Power,” Environment, Energy, and Resources Law, The Year in Review 2008 (2009)

“Water Transfers & the CWA,” The Water Report (2009)

Articles

Speaking Engagements

National Hydropower Association Alaska Regional Meeting, August 30, 2011
Webinar: New MOU for Hydropower on Federal Lands, May 13, 2010
National Hydropower Association Annual Conference 2010, April 28, 2010
Waterpower XVI, July 27, 2009
National Hydropower Association Annual Conference 2008, April 13, 2008
California Hydroelectric Projects Conference, May 10, 2007, The Seminar Group