Jessica C. Friedman

Jessica Friedman represents independent power producers, electric power marketers, and equity and debt investors in power projects in transactional and regulatory matters involving the Federal Power Act, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Ms. Friedman also represents merchant transmission developers in federal energy regulatory matters. 

On the generation side, Ms. Friedman regularly assists clients with federal issues related to the development and acquisition of conventional and renewable electric generation facilities and the operation of those facilities.  Ms. Friedman counsels clients on interconnection and transmission service matters, market-based rates, participation in ISOs/RTOs, and compliance audits, investigations, and other proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  She also represents clients on issues related to the purchase and sale of electric power and related products and thermal energy.

On the merchant transmission side, Ms. Friedman assists developers with strategic decisions related to ownership and tariff structures, rates, and allocation of capacity.

Representative Matters

• Represents major wind developers in negotiations over interconnection service issues in various RTOs (e.g., PJM, MISO, and SPP) and the Pacific Northwest
• Represents a merchant transmission developer on a proposed multi-state dual 500 kV project that will link over 3,000 MW of renewable resources with markets
• Represents a developer of offshore wind projects on transmission and interconnection matters
• Represented an independent power producer in its $1.4 billion sale of a portfolio of 20 renewable generation projects to a private equity fund
• Represented a global investment firm in a $2.6 billion divestiture of a major wind developer to a foreign utility company
• Represented an independent power producer with a portfolio of qualifying facilities, exempt wholesale generators, and a power marketer in its acquisition by a global investment firm and in a subsequent divestiture of a partial ownership interest in its projects to a private equity fund
• Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition and later disposition of a portfolio of 16 qualifying facilities and exempt wholesale generators with market-based rate authority
• Represented a major wind energy developer in several tax equity transactions, each involving the transfer of certain upstream ownership interests in operating wind projects

In addition, Ms. Friedman represents clients on general compliance matters related to the qualifying facility status, exempt wholesale generator status, and market-based rate authority of power projects.

Professional Background

As part of Ms. Friedman’s legal career, she has served as an Assistant County Attorney in Fairfax County, a suburb of Washington DC, where she acquired significant civil litigation experience while handling child abuse and neglect cases.

Government Service

Assistant County Attorney, Fairfax County (VA) Attorney’s Office, 2001-2003

Family and Child Social Worker, Fairfax County (VA) Department of Family Services, 1992-1997

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Energy Bar Association

News

• Van Ness Feldman Elects Four New Members