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Sarah M. Keane
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Sarah M. Keane

Partner

  • Energy Transition and Climate Change|
  • Renewable Energy & Storage Project Transactions|
  • Climate Policy & Litigation|
Denver
303.825.7028
San Francisco
415.907.8704
skeane@kaplankirsch.com
  • Overview
  • Representative Experience
  • Resources and News
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Our energy and climate change practice is guided by personal passion to see rapid, thoughtful, and equitable change in the way our country generates and uses energy. When I take on a new matter, I dive in 100%, bringing political savvy, attention to detail, and responsiveness to each client team that I join. With a broad range of experience in power and climate, I am equally at home advocating before state regulators, working with public agencies to secure project approvals, or sitting at the negotiations table.

Sarah Keane dedicates her practice to the clean energy transition and climate change, in transactional, regulatory and litigation contexts.

Sarah advises a wide range of project developers, investors, and sponsors regarding all aspects of project development, as well as energy-specific M&A, with a particular focus on renewable energy, electric transmission, energy storage, hydrogen, carbon sequestration, electric vehicles and clean mobility, microgrids, and campus energy systems. She drafts and negotiates purchase and sale agreements, power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, and a variety of other project-related contracts. Collaborating closely with other members of the Firm, Sarah also assists energy and infrastructure project proponents in navigating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state counterparts, and in securing approvals under the full suite of local, state, and federal land use and environmental laws.

A leading advocate before state public utilities commissions (PUCs), air regulators, 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.

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

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Representing LADWP in multiple procurements and contract negotiations for new solar and storage facilities, including under both power purchase agreements as well as direct facility purchases.

Renewable Energy Project Developers. Assisted wind, solar, and storage project developers in California and throughout the West with securing project approvals and interconnection, negotiating with utility offtakers or purchasers, and complying with regulatory requirements.

Interstate Transmission Line. Secured approvals and contracts for a proposed interstate transmission line on behalf of an independent developer.

Rural Cooperative Utility. Assisted with power purchase agreement negotiations for generation, storage, and energy efficiency products.

Energy Efficiency Agreements. Advised an infrastructure platform regarding energy efficiency agreements with municipalities.

Hydrogen Electrolyzer Assets. Negotiated agreements for the development and sale of hydrogen electrolyzer assets on behalf of an independent power producer.

Solar Projects on Tribal Lands. Negotiated a design-build agreement for multiphase solar projects on Tribal property on behalf of a project developer.

Solar Energy Coalition. Secured a tri-party solar energy deal on behalf of a coalition of public entities.

Solar Project Developer. Represented a solar project developer in the membership interest sale of a portfolio of solar and solar-plus-storage projects. Assisted a 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 a power purchase agreement, license and loan agreement, and related documents for transactions involving the sale of distributed solar generation installed in multiple states.

Electric Distribution Infrastructure Funding. Representing a nonprofit organization in a California Public Utilities Commission proceeding to secure sufficient funding for electric distribution infrastructure build-out.

Community Choice Aggregator Utility. Negotiated a favorable settlement in a power purchase agreement dispute with a wind project developer.

Independent Power Producer. Advocating in state public utilities commission proceedings regarding utility electric resource plans.

Environmental Groups. Represented environmental groups in utility electric resource plan and transportation electrification plan proceedings before state public utilities commissions.

Transmission Developer. Represented a transmission developer in a California Public Utilities Commission proceeding regarding proposed projects.

Solar Project Owner. Secured a favorable settlement in a contract dispute with a utility offtaker.

California Energy and Water Asset Owner. Represented the asset owner in administrative litigation under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act.

Solar Project Permit Approval. Successfully defended challenges to federal permit approval for a solar project.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Regulations. Representing a national nonprofit organization in litigation defending Pennsylvania’s adoption of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative regulations.

Coalition of Local Governments. Appearing in multiple air quality proceedings regarding implementation of state climate laws.

Clean Vehicle Standards. Represented a coalition of environmental groups in state air quality rulemakings and related litigation concerning adoption of clean vehicle standards.

Resources and News

Awards and Recognition

Law Alerts

News

Presentations

Publications

  • Kaplan Kirsch Recognized in Chambers and Partners 2026 Editions

    Awards and Recognition | June 5, 2026
  • Kaplan Kirsch Recognized in Chambers and Partners 2025 Editions

    Awards and Recognition | June 6, 2025
  • Chambers USA Ranks Kaplan Kirsch among Nation’s Top Law Firms in 2024 Guide

    Awards and Recognition | June 6, 2024
  • Colorado Energy & Environmental Legislation – 2023 Year in Review

    Law Alerts | May 25, 2023
  • Colorado Energy & Environmental Legislation – 2026 Year in Review

    Law Alerts | June 21, 2026
  • Environmental Law Alert – Firm Represents Advocates in Rulemaking Leading to Significant Reductions in Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations in Colorado

    Law Alerts | February 24, 2026
  • Colorado Energy & Environmental Legislation – 2025 Year in Review

    Law Alerts | May 12, 2025
  • view all
  • Firm Helps Secure Favorable Result for Clients in Rulemaking to Support Colorado’s Air Quality Programs

    News | June 11, 2026
  • Colorado First in Nation to Adopt Federal Methane Controls for Existing Oil and Gas Sources

    News | February 26, 2025
  • Chambers USA Ranks Kaplan Kirsch among Nation’s Top Law Firms in 2024 Guide

    Awards and Recognition | June 6, 2024
  • Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission Unanimously Adopts Rule Requiring Direct Measurement of Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Operators

    News | July 21, 2023
  • view all
  • Firm Attorneys Present at ACI 2023 Legal Affairs Conference

    Presentations | May 23, 2023
  • Colorado's Climate Future

    Presentations | September 23, 2021
  • Colorado–Impacts of New Legislation and Regulation on Renewable Energy Markets

    Presentations | October 22, 2019
  • Sustainability and Renewable Energy

    Presentations | October 15, 2019
  • view all
  • Microgrids: Opportunities and Challenges for US Airports 

    Publications | October 31, 2021
  • Colorado Energy & Climate Legislation: 2021 Year in Review

    Publications | June 16, 2021
  • A Leader in Following: Colorado's Adoption of California Clean Car Standards

    Publications | June 21, 2019
  • Colorado Energy and Climate Legislation: 2019 Year in Review

    Publications | May 20, 2019
  • view all

Primary Sidebar

Practices

  • Air Quality
  • Climate Policy & Litigation
  • Environment
  • Innovative Technology & Project Delivery
  • Policy Strategies & Legislation
  • Project Development

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Order of the Coif, 2010
    • Certificate in Energy and Clean Technology Law
    • Certificate in Environmental Law
  • B.S., Physics, Stanford University, 2004

Bar & Court Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2017
  • California, 2010

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, California, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Central District, California, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, California, 2012

Organizations

  • Member, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (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)
  • Development Director, Energy Law Quarterly (2008 – 2009)

Honors

  • Chambers USA, Colorado, Environment – Up and Coming (2022–2023), Energy & Natural Resources - Band 2 (2024)
  • Denver Business Journal, Top Women in Energy, 2020

Sarah M. Keane's Projects

  • Colorado Clean Car Standards

    Colorado
projects that keep life moving®
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