JEFF DENNIS

Jeff Dennis is a nationally recognized expert in energy and climate policy and law with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Throughout his career, Jeff has developed and led the execution of effective regulatory, legislative, and legal strategies to improve competition in wholesale electricity markets, lower costs and improve market access for customers and suppliers of energy, and drive the deployment of critical grid infrastructure. He brings a deep understanding of the electricity industry across the country to his work.

At CO2EFFICIENT, Jeff serves as Executive Director of the Electricity Customer Alliance, a coalition of large electricity customers dedicated to advancing customer-centric solutions to modernize the grid, support digital infrastructure and manufacturing, and grow the economy. He is also Senior Counsel to the firm. Jeff helps clients find opportunities and address challenges at the intersection of federal and state regulation of the electricity sector, navigate the complexities of wholesale electricity market rules and governance processes, and develop strategies to accelerate the planning, permitting, and development of electric transmission infrastructure.

Jeff has held senior positions in the federal government at both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Prior to joining CO2EFFICIENT, he was the first Deputy Director for Transmission in DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, where he spearheaded all of DOE’s transmission deployment initiatives and led the implementation of bipartisan, first-of-their kind, public-private partnerships that facilitated over $8 billion in private sector transmission investment. Jeff also led the design and implementation of new policies to streamline and reduce the lengthy federal permitting process for new transmission projects. During his over 10 years at FERC, Jeff served in a variety of positions, including Director of Policy Development, Legal Advisor to a Commissioner, and Appellate Attorney. In these roles, he led the development of landmark FERC orders and rulemakings that laid the foundation for today’s competitive wholesale electricity market structures and governance, reformed regional transmission planning and cost allocation, and addressed emerging electricity reliability challenges. He also defended FERC in the courts, arguing nearly a dozen cases in federal courts.

Outside of government, Jeff was General Counsel and Managing Director at Advanced Energy Economy (now Advanced Energy United), where he grew the organization’s wholesale markets education and advocacy program and frequently appeared before Congress, FERC, state legislatures, and state public utility commissions. He has also been a lawyer in private practice, representing large electricity customers, power generators, advanced energy developers, utilities, and investors in proceedings before FERC, state public utility commissions, and in the courts.

Jeff received his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, graduating third in his class, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Marymount University, graduating summa cum laude. He recently served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), and is a frequent speaker and author on topics in energy law and policy.