Laura Smith Morton
- Washington, D.C.
Laura advises clients at all stages of major energy infrastructure project development and on navigating federal government funding requirements.
Laura Morton counsels energy companies and utilities pursuing the development of major infrastructure projects, with a focus on federal environmental review, permitting, oceans, and natural resources. Laura’s clients seek her advice based on her deep regulatory knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of federal agency policy following her almost decade of government service. She also leverages her federal agency experience to counsel utilities and innovative clean energy technology and manufacturing companies on compliance requirements for multi-million-dollar funding awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and financing from the DOE’s Loan Programs Office under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Laura previously served as the senior director for offshore wind at American Clean Power (ACP), the leading renewable energy industry trade association in the United States. Her portfolio covered the leasing and permitting process and multiple-use compatibility in the ocean environment. Prior to joining ACP, Laura served as acting deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where she worked on a range of issues spanning water resources and data, fisheries, and offshore energy.
Laura’s prior experience also includes serving as senior advisor in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Energy and deputy associate director for energy and climate change at the White House Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ). Her work at DOE and CEQ included leading interagency task forces to improve federal permitting and review of large infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on complex multistate electric transmission lines, and serving on offshore energy interagency task forces and the National Ocean Council. Laura co-authored the 2015 Quadrennial Energy Review and conducted merit reviews of applications for DOE funding of renewable energy projects.
Laura serves as an adjunct professorial lecturer in law at George Washington University School of Law, teaching a seminar on offshore wind development, and frequently speaks on offshore wind topics at leading industry conferences. Based on her breadth of knowledge of the oceans and energy development and commitment to science, Laura was appointed in 2024 to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994
- London School of Economics and Political Science, M.Sc., European Studies, 1989
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., International Studies, Highest Honors; Morehead Scholar, 1988
Bar and Court Admissions
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District of Columbia
Related Employment
- American Clean Power Association, Senior Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Offshore, 2019-2021
- Independent Consultant, 2017-2019
- U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Administrator, 2015-2017
- U.S. Department of Energy, 2014-2015
Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, Senior Advisor to the Director
- Executive Office of the President, 2012-2014
Office of Management and Budget, Policy Advisor
Council on Environmental Quality, Deputy Associate Director for Energy and Climate Change
- U.S. Department of Energy, 2010-2012
Office of the Secretary; Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Senior Advisor, Renewable Energy and Transmission
- Fulbright & Jaworski, Senior Counsel, 2000-2010
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Senior Litigation and Appellate Counsel, 1995-2000
Clerkships
- Hon. Susan H. Black, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Professional Recognition
Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law, 2022-2024
Secretary's Achievement Award, Issued by Secretary of Energy, September 2016
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Professorial Lecturer at Law, George Washington University School of Law (adjunct faculty)
- Ocean Studies Board, National Academies of Science, Member
- The Ventus Awards, Business Network for Offshore Wind, Judge, 2022, 2023
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Energy and Infrastructure Projects
Offshore Wind Project in California
Serve as environmental and permitting counsel on a proposed offshore wind project in central California. Provide policy advice and counsel on approvals required from all federal agencies, potential ramifications of the proposed designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, and opportunities for stakeholder and tribal engagement, and advocacy before federal agencies.
Offshore Wind Project in the New York Bight
Serve as environmental and permitting counsel on a proposed offshore wind project in the New York Bight. Provide policy advice and counsel on approvals required from all federal agencies and opportunities for stakeholder and tribal engagement, and advocacy before federal agencies.
Offshore Wind Project in Hawaii
Serve as environmental and permitting counsel on a proposed 400 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project in Hawaii, which will assist Hawaii in achieving its 100% renewable energy mandate. The project is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and will require additional approvals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as state and local agencies.
Offshore Wind Project in California
Represented the developer of a proposed offshore wind project near Morro Bay, CA, providing counsel on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) leasing process and recognition of the value of stakeholder agreements in support of offshore wind development, and on the potential ramifications of the proposed designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
Offshore Wind Developer
Provide regulatory and policy counsel to a leading international developer of deep-water wind energy facilities, including pioneering wind and transmission developments in United States mainland and territorial waters.
Offshore Wind
Provide regulatory and policy counsel to leading non-governmental organization regarding measures to improve the environmental review and authorization of wind and transmission developments in U.S. waters.
Offshore Wind Project in Delaware*
Represented an offshore wind developer seeking to construct a project in federal waters offshore Delaware.
Transmission Developer
Represent independent transmission developer on federal regulatory issues related to offshore wind project development.
Mid-Atlantic Transmission
Advise a transmission owner and developer on federal regulatory issues related to the PJM Interconnection/New Jersey Board of Public Utilities solicitations for transmission to support the development of offshore wind energy on the Atlantic Coast.
Federal Environmental and Land Use Permitting and Compliance
Serve as counsel to energy companies on land use, permitting, environmental, consultation, and regulatory issues, with a focus on federal lands. Work with clients to review National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and other reports for legal sufficiency and to build a strong administrative record.
*Prior Experience
Corporate Carbon-Free Energy Procurement and Policy
Represent corporate offtakers in the negotiation of power purchase and sale agreements (both physical and virtual) for solar, wind, and other carbon-free energy resources in power markets around the United States, as well as innovative transactions related to synthetic community solar.
Federal Grants and Loans
Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits and U.S. Department of Energy Funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
- Provide strategic advice to companies assessing various funding opportunities emerging from the IRA and IIJA, including DOE clean energy and manufacturing grants, financing from DOE’s Loan Program Office (LPO) under Title 17, and tax credits offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- Assist clean energy companies in obtaining and performing grants and cooperative agreements, including ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and preparation of mandatory Community Benefit Plans.
- Assist clients in obtaining financing from DOE’s Loan Program Office, including preparing applications, conducting due diligence, and negotiating terms and conditions.
Litigation and Administrative Proceedings
Lead Joint Defense Counsel—False Claims Act Litigation*
Joint defense counsel for more than 300 natural gas transmission companies and other purchasers, gatherers, and transporters of gas in complex nationwide multidistrict multibillion-dollar False Claims Act (FCA) litigation alleging underpayment of royalties on federal and tribal lands due to natural gas mismeasurement. In re: Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, 562 F.3d 1032 (10th Cir. 2009); In Re: Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, 467 F.Supp.2d 1117 (D. Wy 2008).
Litigation Counsel in Federal Court and Before Federal Agencies*
Represented energy companies in federal court litigation and before agencies on issues regarding ownership of mineral rights, royalty disputes, and compliance with federal statutes.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial and Appellate Counsel*
Defended the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) against habeas corpus petitions and petitions for review brought by individuals and large classes of immigrant plaintiffs. Briefed and argued dozens of cases in both district and circuit court, leading to multiple favorable published decisions.
*Prior Experience
Compliance and Enforcement
Represented major multinational corporations in criminal matters, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), congressional, and grand jury investigations. Conducted internal investigations and developed compliance recommendations.
*Prior Experience