Cliona Robb

Cliona Mary Robb, LEED® AP, is chair of the firm’s Sustainability: Energy and Green
Development practice group, and is a member of both the Energy and Telecommunications
groups. Her work is typically adverse to monopoly utilities. She represents municipal,
industrial, and commercial customers of electric, natural gas, and water utilities regarding rate, service and transmission line siting. She also works on renewable energy transactions involving solar power and wind power. Her work on behalf of providers includes representing competitive telecommunications providers, solar power providers, cable companies, and independent power producers. She is admitted to practice in Virginia.

Ms. Robb holds the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Accredited Professional (LEED® AP) designation. The LEED rating system is the national standard used to support and certify green building design, construction and operations. She was the first female attorney in Virginia to earn the certification.

In addition, Ms. Robb has been active in bar activities, serving as chair of the Virginia State Bar (VSB) Administrative Law Section, chair of the VSB Administrative Law Section National
Regulatory Conference, and editor of the VSB Administrative Law Section newsletter. She
currently serves on a VSB Disciplinary Committee for investigating legal ethics complaints.

Representative Local Government Matters
• Counsel for Virginia Energy Governmental Association (VEPGA), an association of local
governments in Virginia Power’s service territory, for contract negotiations with Virginia Power, and lead counsel for purchase of renewable energy certificates to assist in compliance with Clean Air Act requirements.
• Counsel for Northern Virginia Electric Customer Group, an association of local governments in Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative’s service territory, for contract negotiations with electric cooperative, and counsel for public utility commission proceeding impacting wholesale rates.

Representative Energy Services Matters
• Advising large energy users that seek to optimize opportunities in PJM and other load response programs.
• Negotiating for purchasers of green energy.
• Advising on major energy legislation considered by the Virginia General Assembly.
• Representing local governments and developers in public utility commission proceedings
involving siting of electric transmission lines.

Representative Power Producers Matters
• Negotiating purchase power contracts for independent power producers.
• Negotiating interconnection agreements for qualifying facilities.
• Representing waste-to-energy facility on avoided cost proceeding before public service
commission.

Representative Telecommunications and Cable Matters
• Negotiating cable franchise agreements.
• Advising on implementation of statewide cable franchising provisions.
• Seeking regulatory approvals for certificates to provide competitive telecommunications services.
• Advising on rulemaking proceedings at public utility commission.

Education
Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1992
Notes Editor, Alaska Law Review
Duke University, M.A., 1992
Princeton University, A.B., 1985
Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field Teams
Woodberry Forest School, 1981
Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field Teams

Recognitions
• Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design® Accredited Professional (LEED® AP) 2009
• Best Lawyers in America Energy Law, 2009-2010
• Women in Cable Telecommunications Inspire and Others Will Follow Award, 2007
• Women in Cable Telecommunications Pinnacle Award, 2006
• Qualified for Boston Marathon with time of 3:09

Publications/Presentations
• Author, “It Isn’t Easy Being Green,” Virginia State Bar Administrative Law News, March 2009
• Moderator, "How Regional Interests Outside Virginia Could Impact the Siting of Transmission Lines in Virginia," Commonwealth of Virginia Energy and Sustainability (COVES) Conference, Lexington, Virginia, 2007
• "Electric Reregulation: What Will It Really Mean?" Virginia Association of Planning
Commissions, Winter Conference, 2007
• "The Future of Electric Rates in Virginia," Hampton Roads Majors and Chairs Caucus, 2006
• "Electric Utilities: Finding a Balance Between Markets and Regulation," Commonwealth of
Virginia Energy and Sustainability (COVES) Conference, Lexington, Virginia, 2006
• Numerous energy and telecommunications related lectures and presentations at conferences and continuing legal education programs

Professional Affiliations
• Virginia State Bar Disciplinary System, Third District Committee, Section II, Secretary, 2008-2009 Administrative Law Section Board of Governors, former Chair; National Regulatory Conference Planning Committee, 2008-present
• Virginia Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT)
   Member, Board of Directors
   President, 2009
   Treasurer, 2005-2007
• Energy Bar Association
• Virginia Bar Association
   Administrative Law and Business Law Sections
• Richmond Bar Association
• Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association

Community Involvement
• Leadership Metro Richmond
   Chair, 2004 LMR Fall Conference Committee
   Class of 2003
• Friends Association for Children
   Board of Trustees, Member
• Refugee and Immigration Services of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond
   Community Service Board, Member
• St. Thomas More Society
   Executive Committee, Member
• Jane’s Group
   Founding member of book group established September 1992
• FIRST Lego League
   2008: Research Mentor, Demon Squirrels
   2007: Research Mentor, Demon Squirrels; Delaware State Champion’s Award, Second Place
   2007: Research Mentor, Blue Dragons Team (St. Michael’s Episcopal School); Virginia State
   Champions; FIRST Lego League World Festival Honorable Mention
   2006: Research Coach, Team Botzilla (St. Michael’s Episcopal School); advanced to Virginia
State Tournament