![Eric K. Runge](https://www.daypitney.com/images/bio/rungeeric-web_image_12559.png)
Overview
Eric Runge provides counsel and representation to clients in the evolving electric industry at both the federal and state level. Over the course of his over thirty year energy practice, he has served clients in successfully addressing a broad array of legal, regulatory, commercial, project development, siting and policy matters. Eric’s energy practice includes extensive work before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and with state regulatory agencies, including the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board. In his energy practice, Eric provides sound advice and strong advocacy, together with a commitment to achieving his clients’ objectives efficiently and effectively. He has a current focus on client matters related to electric transmission, generator interconnection, offshore wind and other renewable clean energy resource development, energy storage issues and state siting of energy facilities.
Experience
Counsel to a major offshore wind developer for the development of a 2,400 MW offshore wind generation facility off the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island; serve as lead counsel on siting the related transmission connector projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and related environmental matters, interconnection with the regional transmission system, all FERC matters, and ISO-NE rules; and represent the project before the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board
Serve as lead counsel for the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) on all transmission and reliability matters, including interconnection, transmission cost allocation, regional system planning, future grid, interregional transmission planning, transmission rates, resource adequacy and installed capacity requirements, and the intersection of these areas with the wholesale power markets; directly involved in the development and administration of the ISO-NE rules, and related regulatory litigation and rulemaking comments, in these areas on behalf of NEPOOL; and participated in the formation of ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) back in 1996 and has worked with ISO-NE staff and counsel closely since then, including being directly involved in the development and FERC approval of many of the ISO-NE rules
Counsel for the past 25 years to the group of financial supporters of and rights holder in a 2,000 MW HVDC interconnection between New England and Quebec, including incumbent transmission owners and municipal entities; provide counsel to the group on all contractual, regulatory and ISO-NE rules matters and serve as Secretary and conduct all governance processes for it; and recently helped with negotiations and a successful FERC settlement filing to revise and extend the financial support agreements, resulting in a 20-year extension of the revised agreements
Serve as interconnection counsel to a developer of a 1,200 MW public policy transmission project to deliver energy from renewable energy resources in Maine
Provide due diligence on multiple acquisitions of energy assets, particularly related to interconnection arrangements
Extensive experience as counsel regarding FERC-jurisdictional interconnection matters for numerous clients over the years, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects, providing valuable advice and advocacy to help resolve disputes and issues and guide clients through the interconnection process and also advising clients on issues related to state versus federal jurisdiction for interconnection of distributed energy and energy storage facilities
Helped successfully litigate a FERC complaint proceeding regarding a $222 million transmission-related affected system dispute between two large investor-owned utilities
Served as Massachusetts regulatory counsel on financings of large portfolios of solar energy projects
Served as FERC counsel to a 1,500 MW merchant transmission project being developed in New Mexico by a state authority in collaboration with a major investment banking firm
Provided counsel and representation of renewable energy sellers in proceedings before the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities' for approval of long-term power purchase agreements
Education and Credentials
Education
- Boston College Law School, J.D., 1992
- Amherst College, A.B., summa cum laude, 1982
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Affiliations
- New England-Canada Business Council, board of directors (past member)
- Energy Bar Association (EBA)
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Addresses Requests for Rehearing of Major Transmission Planning Rule , November 26, 2024
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues Two Major Final Rules on Transmission Planning and Siting , July 2, 2024
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Affirms Final Interconnection Rule , April 1, 2024
- Generator, Utility Challenges After FERC Connection Revamp , August 16, 2023
- Order No. 2023 Requires Major Reforms to Generator Interconnection , August 11, 2023
Events
- "FERC Order No. 2023: Impacts of Generator Interconnection Final Rule," Day Pitney, September 14, 2023
- Offshore Wind: Transmission and Interconnection Issues and Potential Solutions, March 3, 2022
- FERC Transmission and Interconnection ANOPR: Overview, Comments and Observations, December 6, 2021
News
- Day Pitney Energy Team Secures Important Regulatory Approvals for SouthCoast Wind, October 7, 2024
- Day Pitney's Renewable Energy Team Completed Two Major Transmission Siting Filings for Mayflower Wind Energy, June 3, 2022
- Day Pitney's Renewable Energy Team Advise Mayflower Wind Energy Through Regulatory Application Process for Transmission Connector Facility, December 8, 2021
In The Media
Publications
- Mass. Is A Shining Example for Solar Power, Law360, January 13, 2014
- New MA regulations offer sunny outlook for solar industry, Boston Business Journal, January 10, 2014
- Energy Attorneys Contribute Order 1000 Article to Financier Worldwide, Financier Worldwide, May 1, 2013
Media Mentions
- Energy Law Insights for 2024: Grid Evolution – Navigating FERC Order 1920, American Bar Association's Environmental Law Explored podcast, July 17, 2024
- Day Pitney's Renewable Energy Team Completed Two Major Transmission Siting Filings for Mayflower Wind Energy, Energy Central News, June 5, 2022
- U.S. Offshore Wind: Moving Power to the People, Engineering News-Record, April 13, 2022
- Massachusetts Climate Law One of Many State Environmental Actions, EHS Daily Advisor, April 22, 2021
Speaking Engagements
- Massachusetts Solar Development, April 19, 2017
- Speaker, "SREC-II: The Next Chapter of Solar in Massachusetts," Day Pitney Webinar, February 6, 2014, February 6, 2014
- 2015 Electricity 101, September 16, 2015
- Hughes v. Talen: What's Next For Energy in New England?, June 29, 2016
- Advancing Customer Choice, November 10, 2015
- Eric Runge and Sebastian Lombardi Speak at Northeast Energy and Commerce Association "Electricity 101", September 8, 2014