Sarah Keane dedicates her practice to all aspects of the clean energy transition, in transactional, regulatory and litigation contexts.  

Sarah advises a wide range of project developers, investors, and sponsors regarding asset development, purchase, and sale, with a particular focus on renewable energy, energy storage, electric vehicles and clean mobility, microgrids, campus energy systems, and transmission projects. She drafts and negotiates purchase and sale agreements, power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, and other project-related contracts. 

A leading advocate before public utilities commissions and other agencies, Sarah also represents energy project owners, environmental organizations, local government interests, and other parties in a variety of energy regulatory and climate change policy proceedings.

Collaborating closely with other members of the Firm, Sarah assists project proponents to secure approvals under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), state counterpart laws, and the full suite of local, state, and federal land use requirements. 

Sarah currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for GRID Alternatives Colorado, a unique and remarkable non-profit organization that brings clean energy and mobility solutions to low-income households and disadvantaged communities. She was previously an attorney at two large international law firms. 

Representative Experience

• Representing independent power producer in development and sale of hydrogen electrolyzer assets
• Representing project developer in design-build agreement for multi-phase solar projects on Tribal property
• Representing rural cooperative utility in power purchase agreement negotiations for generation, storage, and energy efficiency products 
• Representing infrastructure platform regarding energy efficiency agreements with municipalities 
• Representing independent transmission developer in securing approvals and contracts for proposed interstate transmission line 
• Representing various solar and storage developers in securing land use approvals for utility-scale projects 
• Represented independent power producer in sale of power plant to utility purchaser
• Represented solar project developer in membership interest sale of portfolio of solar and solar + storage projects 
• Represented municipal utility in multiple transactions and stakeholder proceedings regarding solar project development and interconnection
• Coordinated complex environmental, permitting, and interconnection due diligence for multiple investments in project portfolios involving solar, hydropower, wind, geothermal, and natural gas facilities
• Drafted power purchase agreement, license and loan agreement, and related documents for transactions involving sale of distributed solar generation installed in multiple states

• Representing independent transmission developer in state public utilities commission (PUC) proceeding regarding proposed projects
• Representing independent power producer in state PUC proceedings regarding utility electric resource plans 
• Representing environmental groups in utility electric resource plan and transportation electrification plan proceedings before state PUCs
• Representing coalition of local governments in air quality proceedings regarding implementation of climate laws
• Representing environmental groups in state air quality rulemakings regarding the adoption of clean vehicle standards and related litigation

• Representing solar project owner in contract dispute with utility off-taker
• Represented community choice aggregator utility in power purchase agreement dispute with wind project developer; negotiated favorable settlement for utility 
• Represented group of citizens in complaint proceeding against local utility regarding rate restructuring, resulting in favorable settlement
• Represented energy and water asset owner in administrative litigation under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act
• Successfully defended challenges brought against federal permit approval for a solar project

Professional and Civic Activities

• Denver Business Journal 2020 Top Women in Energy
• Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy, Member (2020-Present)
• Board President, GRID Alternatives Colorado (2018–Present)
• Advisory Board Chair, Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (2014–2018)
• Election Protection Steering Committee Member, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (2012–2016)
• University of California, Berkeley Law, Energy and Cleantech Law Certificate and Environmental Law Certificate (2010)
• Development Director, Energy Law Quarterly (2008–2009)