Susan S. Geiger

by wpengine | September 14, 2016 12:01 am

Susan’s practice primarily focuses on regulatory and legislative matters affecting the energy and telecommunications industries. She frequently advocates before the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and represents energy projects before the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee where she succeeded in obtaining certificates of site and facility for three commercial-scale wind energy projects and New Hampshire’s largest solar energy project. Susan has represented hydroelectric and solar companies, a compressed natural gas company, electric, gas and steam utilities, telecommunications companies, and an interstate natural gas pipeline.  She recently assisted the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and Department of Environmental Services in facilitating and drafting an agreement among seven municipal and private entities for the development of infrastructure to deliver safe and reliable drinking water from Manchester to several locations in Southern New Hampshire. During her tenure as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Civil Bureau, Susan represented the Department of Administrative Services and frequently advised other state agencies, boards, and commissions on the state procurement and contract processes.

Past Experience

• Public Utilities Commissioner, State of New Hampshire
• Member, New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee
• Senior Assistant Attorney General, New Hampshire Department of Justice
• Chief of Staff, New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office
• Legal and Legislative Consultant, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Notable cases

• Lempster Wind (2007), Granite Reliable Power (2009), and Groton Wind (2011) – Obtained Certificates of Site and Facility from the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee for the 3 commercial-scale wind energy projects that are currently operating in New Hampshire
• Technology Exclusive, Inc. v. NH Racing and Charitable Gaming Commission (2012) – Obtained a writ of mandamus from the New Hampshire Superior Court to compel a state agency to promulgate rules to implement a new statute that would enable client to operate electronic lucky 7 ticket dispensers in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld the lower Court’s mandamus order

Personal Qualities

Susan enjoys assisting clients in finding practical, cost-effective solutions to complicated legal and regulatory issues.

Professional and Community Involvement

Professional Involvement

• Clean Energy New Hampshire – Past Board and Executive Committee Member
• NH Bar Association – Environmental and Natural Resources Section Member
• NH Board of Bar Examiners – Past Member

Community Involvement

• Board of Trustees, The Friends Program
• Past Board Member, Capital Region Food Program

Honors & Distinctions

• Cited in The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law, since 2007
• Selected by The Best Lawyers in America as Concord, NH “Lawyer of the Year” for Energy Law (2016, 2020, 2023)
• Iberdrola Renewables’ Outside Counsel of the Year Award (2015)
• NH Business and Industry Association’s “Above and Beyond Award” (2009)

Publications

• Active Author for Orr & Reno Energy/Environmental Blog[1]
• Solar Power Electrifies Businesses Around NH[2] – New Hampshire Business Review (June 16, 2023)
• New Hampshire’s Energy Efficiency Plan[3] – New Hampshire Business Review (September 29, 2017)
• Rules and Staff Expand in Siting of NH Energy Facilities – New Hampshire Bar News, Vol. 27, No. 4, (Sept. 21, 2016)
• A Look At The Regulatory Process Large-Scale Wind Projects[4]  – New Hampshire Business Review article (2012)

Speaking Engagements

• NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs (June 2018) – Overview of NH Electricity Industry
• NH Energy Summit (Oct. 2016) – Siting Factors Contributing to Increasing Transmission Costs
• BIA Energy Conference (Dec. 2015) – NH Site Evaluation Committee – Statutory Changes
• BIA Energy Conference (Dec. 2014) – Legislation Changes Impacting Site Evaluation Committee
• Suffolk University Law School Energy Conference (April 2014) – “Similarities and Differences in Siting Wind and Transmission Projects”

Source URL: https://orr-reno.com/our-people/susan-s-geiger/

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