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Sarah M. Keane
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Sarah M. Keane

Partner

  • Energy and Climate Change|
  • Energy 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

Energy Projects and Transactions

  • Assisting multiple wind, solar, and storage project developers throughout the West in securing project approvals and interconnection, negotiating with utility offtakers or purchasers, and complying with regulatory requirements
  • Securing approvals and contracts for proposed interstate transmission line on behalf of independent developer
  • Representing company piloting novel carbon sequestration projects to ensure environmental compliance and position for securing carbon credits
  • Helping rural cooperative utility in power purchase agreement negotiations for generation, storage, and energy efficiency products
  • Assisting infrastructure platform regarding energy efficiency agreements with municipalities
  • Negotiated agreements for the development and sale of hydrogen electrolyzer assets on behalf of independent power producer
  • Negotiated design-build agreement for multi-phase solar projects on Tribal property on behalf of project developer
  • Secured tri-party solar energy deal on behalf of municipality
  • Negotiated sale of natural gas peaker plant to utility purchaser and secured state regulatory approval
  • Represented solar project developer in membership interest sale of portfolio of solar and solar + storage projects
  • Assisted 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

Energy and Climate Regulatory Proceedings

  • Advocating on behalf of independent power producer in state PUC proceedings regarding utility electric resource plans
  • Represented environmental groups in utility electric resource plan and transportation electrification plan proceedings before state PUCs
  • Represented independent transmission developer in state PUC proceeding regarding proposed projects
  • Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of community choice aggregator utility in power purchase agreement dispute with wind project developer
  • Secured favorable settlement for solar project owner in contract dispute with utility off-taker
  • Litigated complaint proceeding on behalf of group of local citizens 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

Climate Change Policy & Litigation

  • Representing national non-profit organization in litigation to defend Pennsylvania’s adoption of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations
  • Appearing on behalf coalition of local governments in multiple air quality proceedings regarding implementation of state climate laws
  • Represented coalition of environmental groups in state air quality rulemakings regarding the adoption of clean vehicle standards and related litigation

Resources and News

Awards and Recognition

News

Presentations

Publications

  • Chambers USA Ranks Kaplan Kirsch among Nation’s Top Law Firms in 2024 Guide

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

    News | May 20, 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
  • Energy + Climate Change Law Alert – New Climate Action Plan Released

    Publications | May 31, 2019
  • view all

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Practices

  • Air Quality
  • Airport Electrification & Advanced Air Mobility
  • Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Projects
  • Climate Policy & Litigation
  • Electric Vehicles and Clean Transportation
  • Energy and Climate Change
  • Energy Project Permitting and Real Estate
  • Energy Project Transactions
  • Energy Regulatory Proceedings and Litigation
  • Environment
  • Innovative Technology and 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

  • Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), Member (2020–Present)
  • Board President, GRID Alternatives Colorado (2018–Present)
  • Advisory Board Chair, Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (2014–2018)
  • Development Director, UC Berkeley School of Law, 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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