Lisa Cottle advises project developers and owners on the full life cycle of electricity generation, storage and transmission projects. She negotiates power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other offtake agreements and supports clients in navigating interconnection processes. She represents developers in obtaining approvals to build new transmission projects and advises clients of all types on state energy regulatory matters. Clients rely on her to help align revenue structures and permitting pathways to move projects from competitive solicitation through contracting, financing, construction and operation.
Recognized by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 as a leading energy lawyer, Lisa represents energy project and data center developers, utilities, community choice aggregators, publicly owned utilities and large commercial and industrial energy consumers in renewable, storage and conventional generation projects. Her PPA experience includes energy and resource adequacy agreements. She represents energy sellers, off-takers and customers in wholesale and retail transactions.
Lisa has particular depth in transmission siting and complex CPUC proceedings. She has represented transmission utilities in securing certificates of public convenience and necessity and permits to construct for transmission projects, substations, and other upgrades, including projects awarded through CAISO competitive solicitations. She also has represented clients in wildfire mitigation compliance and utility change-of-ownership approvals before the CPUC.
Representing developers in writ proceedings challenging CPUC approval decisions, Lisa has successfully defended new energy projects against efforts to overturn executed PPAs. She handles generation and storage engagements spanning CEC licensing, CPUC approval and long-term procurement proceedings, implementation of California’s renewables portfolio standard and compliance matters under California Assembly Bill 32.
