Laura G. Zagar

Offshore Wind Project in Central California

Serves as project counsel to Golden State Wind on its proposed offshore wind project off the Central Coast of California. It is poised to be one of the first floating offshore wind projects in the Pacific. The scope of representation includes counseling on federal, state, and local permitting; stakeholder engagement; interconnection; and federal and state policy matters. An area of focus is the intersection of offshore wind development and ocean conservation, as the project will be in the proximity of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

Restoration of the Klamath River

Provides counsel to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation on the removal of four dams along the Klamath River, one of the most ambitious river restoration projects in the United States. Once completed, the project will restore more than 400 miles of fisheries habitat along the California and Oregon border. Areas of focus included natural resource permitting, review under the California Environmental Quality and the National Environmental Policy Act, and Clean Water Act permitting. She also serves as counsel to defend the project against a collateral attack on the final Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order in federal district court.

Wind Project in Santa Barbara County

Counsel on the Strauss Project in obtaining all required environmental and land use permits for the first utility-scale wind project in Santa Barbara County. The project is one of the only suitable sites for a wind project along California’s coast and presents challenging endangered species and cultural resource issues. The project generates approximately 98 MW of renewable energy. Represented Strauss Wind, and its parent BayWa r.e. USA, in several state court litigations challenging the project’s environmental review under CEQA. Currently advising on Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act permitting and compliance.

Energy Storage Projects

Represent energy storage developer of number of energy storage facilities throughout Southern California, including the counties of San Diego and Los Angeles and the cities of Palm Springs, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Moorpark, among others. Areas of counsel include compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act, zoning, local land use approvals, Clean Water Act compliance, and Endangered Species Act permitting.

Solar and Battery Storage Project in Colusa County, California

Counsel on Janus Solar, of an 80 MW solar and 320MWh BESS project in Colusa County, California, with a focus on securing the necessary local land use approvals for the project.

Solar Project in Imperial County, California

Counsel on Salton Sea Solar, a large-scale solar project in Imperial County, California, on Bureau of Land Management lands. Area of advice include compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act and natural resource permitting.

Solar Project in San Bernardino County, California

Counsel on Stagecoach Solar, a large-scale solar project in San Bernardino County. The representation includes review under the California Environmental Quality Act, the Endangered Species Act, as well as analysis of water rights and other environmental compliance matters needed to construct and implement the project.

Offshore Wind Project in Central California

Represented developer of a proposed offshore wind project near Morro Bay, California, in the preparation for a competitive BOEM auction.

Wind Project on Tribal Lands

Represented the developer of Campo Wind, a proposed onshore wind project on a federal Indian reservation in San Diego County. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the lease between the developer and the tribe. The representation included review under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.

Offshore Wind Project in Hawaii

Serve as environmental and permitting counsel on a proposed 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, and will require additional approvals from NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as state and local agencies.

Eagle Conservation in Western United States

Counsel numerous clients on the development of eagle conservation plans and permitting under the Bald and Golden Eagle Projection Act in the western United States for onshore wind, hydropower, and water infrastructure projects.

District Systems for Large-Scale Mixed-Use Development

Provided comprehensive counsel to developer of one of the largest mixed-use developments in California related to an ambitious plan to implement a wide range of district systems to further net-zero and sustainability goals. The proposed district systems include microgrids, wastewater, water recycling, and telecommunications. Counsel also included natural resource permitting advice related to the proposed restoration of a river traversing the project site.

Clearway Energy, Inc.

Represented Clearway Energy, Inc., a leading publicly traded energy infrastructure investor, in related transactions in which it acquired equity interests in a 1,204 MW portfolio of renewable energy projects, including five geographically diversified wind, solar, and solar-plus-storage assets, and formed a joint venture with Hannon Armstrong, a leading climate-solutions investor, through which Clearway and Hannon will co-invest in the development of the portfolio, with Clearway acting as manager of the joint venture and the underlying renewable energy projects.

Seawater Air Conditioning Project in Hawaii

Provided counsel on a district seawater air conditioning project in Hawaii, which will provide chilled water to Honolulu seeking to reduce the electricity consumption used for air Provided counsel on a district seawater air conditioning project in Hawaii, which will provide chilled water to Honolulu seeking to reduce the electricity consumption used for air conditioning by up to 75%. The project was under the jurisdiction of federal, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA Fisheries.

Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project*

Represented Southern California Edison Company on a 173-mile, US$2 billion transmission line in Southern California, which provides up to 4,500-MW of transmission capacity for new renewable resources in the Tehachapi area. The project is the first major renewable transmission project in the United States, a portion of which is the first underground 500 kV transmission line in the nation. The project was under the jurisdiction of many state and federal agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission, the National Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Eldorado-Ivanpah Transmission Project*

Represented Southern California Edison Company on a 35-mile 220 kV transmission line in California and Nevada. The project crossed lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which required implementation of proactive environmental and safety programs encompassing environmental monitoring, training, inspection, and overall agency communication. This project was completed under an accelerated 18-month project schedule to meet a deadline for online generation testing of three new solar-generation facilities. The representation included approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Laura also assisted on the related proceeding before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

Red Bluff Substation*

Represented Southern California Edison on the development of the Red Bluff Substation, assisting in obtaining approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the CPUC proceedings, successfully obtained a decision that only a Permit to Construct, not the more complex Certificate of Public Necessity, was required under General Order 131‑D for the substation project.

Wind Project in California*

Counsel on Alta East, a 318 MW wind project in Kern County, California, which was under the jurisdiction of, among others, Kern County, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the first lethal take authorization for the California condor.

Wind Project in Eastern San Diego County*

Counsel on the Tule Wind, a 200 MW wind project in eastern San Diego County, crossing lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the California State Lands Commission, and San Diego County. Representation included advice on permitting under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

*Prior Experience

Water Storage Project in Northern California

Represents the Sites Project Authority, the joint powers authority tasked with developing the Sites Reservoir Project, a proposed 1.3- to 1.5-million-acre-foot offstream water storage project north of the San Francisco/San Joaquin Delta. The water storage project will increase the reliability of statewide water supplies for environmental, agricultural, and urban uses by maximizing the diversion and storage of excess storm event flows in the Sacramento River. The project will strengthen the state’s drought resilience, restore operational flexibility to California’s water supply system, and provide additional water to assist with seasonal flows to help improve water quality and enhance ecosystems. The representation includes California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act counseling, state and federal environmental permitting, and counsel on tribal issues.

Water Recycling and Groundwater Replenishment Project in California

Represent public agency in the development of a water recycling and groundwater replenishment project in the Monterey region, which will treat wastewater using state-of-the-art microfiltration and reverse osmosis technology for use in replenishing potable groundwater supplies and to supplement agricultural irrigation supplies. The representation includes review under the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Endangered Species Act, as well as analysis of water rights and other environmental compliance matters needed to construct and implement the project.

Water Infrastructure Projects in Southern Utah

Represent the Washington County Water Conservation District on federal environmental review and permitting issues for its Lake Powell Pipeline and a comprehensive water recycling program. Counsel includes advice on Federal Land Policy and Management Act and natural resource permitting, with a focus on strategies for compliance with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

Defense of the Dam Removal Project

Represent the Klamath River Renewal Corporation in the defense of the ongoing decommissioning of four dams along the Klamath River from local opposition in a collateral attack against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision that approved the decommissioning.

Defense of Water Infrastructure Project

Successfully defended the certification of the Environmental Impact Report prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act for the Sites Reservoir Project, a major water storage project north of Sacramento, which seeks to store water and prepare California for the impacts of climate change on its water supplies.

Defense of Housing Development in Hawaii

Defend the sufficiency of the environmental review of a housing development on Maui under the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act, which is modeled on the National Environmental Policy Act.

Defense of Onshore Wind Project

Represented Strauss Wind, and its parent BayWa r.e. USA, in several state court litigations seeking to stop the construction of the Project, including a litigation challenging the project’s environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act.

Defense of Waste Management Company

Defend waste management company in enforcement proceedings before the Regional Water Quality Control Board concerning alleged violations of a Cleanup and Abatement Order.

Appeal of California Public Utilities Commission Decision

Counsel on an appeal of a California Public Utilities Commission decision on behalf of telecommunications carrier.

Defense of Utility in California*

Defense of a utility in a California state court challenge to the utility’s use of its existing easement rights to construct a critical high-voltage transmission line.

Defense of Municipal Government*

Defense of a municipal government from a complex civil rights claims brought by a police officer's union related to collective bargaining and donning and doffing of uniforms.

*Prior Experience