Joel L. Greene
Of Counsel
Mr. Greene has been in private practice in the Washington, D.C. area since 1974, assisting clients in energy regulatory matters, legal strategic planning, contract negotiations and advocacy before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Department of Transportation, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), state commissions, and the courts.
- P 202.371.9889
- F 202.292.4740
- jgreene@jsslaw.com
- Washington, D.C.
- Natural Gas Regulatory Matters
- PHMSA Regulatory Matters
- Legal Strategic Planning
- Contract Negotiations
- Trade Association law
J.D., National Law Center of the George Washington University (1974)
- with Honors
B.A., Franklin & Marshall College, Russian Studies (1969)
Biography
Mr. Greene has been in private practice in the Washington, D.C. area since 1974, assisting clients in energy regulatory matters, legal strategic planning, contract negotiations and advocacy before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Department of Transportation, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), state commissions, and the courts. His engagements on behalf of natural gas industrial end-users and LDCs span approximately 25 interstate pipelines and cover a diverse mix of regulatory issues.
Mr. Greene is very active in the energy industry, having served on the North American Energy Standards Board, Edison Electric Institute Order 636 Task Force, and as an officer of the Energy Bar Association. From 2003 – 2004, he served as chair of the International District Energy Association (IDEA), a 2,000-member international trade association formed in 1909. Mr. Greene remains the only attorney to hold that position in the over 100-year history of the association. In June 2005, Mr. Greene was awarded the organization’s highest honor.
Admissions
Admitted to Practice
- District of Columbia (1974)
Court Admission
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1982)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1982)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (1974)
Representative Experience
- Represents individual and ad hoc groups of major energy end-users on numerous interstate pipelines across the U.S. involving natural gas certificate, rate, tariff and FERC-initiated Section 5 investigatory rate proceedings. In 2014 – 2016 achieved two beneficial settlements of pipeline Section 5 proceedings in the Midwest and Southwest and settlement of a pipeline’s general rate case serving the Florida market.
- Represents Salt River Project (SRP), one of the largest public power entities in the U.S., before the FERC related to interstate pipeline rate, contract, tariff and certificate issues affecting the transportation of natural gas to SRP’s electric generating facilities in Arizona.
- Successfully negotiated settlement of a major pipeline general rate case affecting the Southwest market, including a carve-out issue establishing new shipper tariff protections under pipeline flow-control conditions.
- Represents a major LDC in the Northeast before the FERC on rate, certificate, and tariff issues affecting its natural gas transportation and storage contracts on various interstate pipelines. Successfully negotiated settlement of two major pipeline general rate cases in 2019 on this client’s behalf.
- Represents one of the largest producers of nitrogen in the world before the FERC on contract and natural gas regulatory matters affecting their manufacturing plants in the Southeast.
- Represents one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of two-inch and smaller natural gas transportation service line fittings before the U.S. Department of Transportation, FERC, and state commissions to protect the integrity of its products and foster public safety.
- Assists a large manufacturing company that sells excess electric power under market-based rates with its EQR compliance before FERC.
- Since 2005 has served as General Counsel to the IDEA, advising the President/CEO, Executive Committee and Board of Directors on corporate legal issues affecting the Association. Members throughout the United States and in 25 countries are involved in all aspects of providing centralized district heating, district cooling and cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power or CHP) services.
- Successfully negotiated residential landowner claims in New York against FERC certificated, interstate pipeline construction-related damages to private property.
Media and Presentations
Articles
- “FERC Issues Order to Improve Gas-Electric Coordination,” Co-Author, District Energy Magazine (August 2015)
- “Conversion to Natural Gas: Navigating the legal hurdles,” Co-Author, District Energy Magazine (January 30, 2013)
- “Collection of Attorneys’ Fees Under Energy Statutes,” Co-Author, Energy Law and Transactions, Chapter 142 (2001)
- “Public Law 95-621, Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 Legislative History,” Editor (1979)
Blogs
- “Fourth Circuit Vacates National Park Service Right-of-Way Permit for Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project” Co-Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (August 8, 2018)
- “FERC Initiates Review of Its Long-Standing Pipeline Certificate Policy Statement,” Co-Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (April 23, 2018)
- “DOE Requires FERC to Consider Rule Promoting Grid Resiliency by Providing Coal and Nuclear Plant Subsidies,” Co-Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (October 6, 2017)
- “FERC Sets Agenda for Technical Conference on Natural Gas Index Liquidity and Transparency,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (June 29, 2017)
- “FERC Weighs Tax Policy Changes in Wake of Ruling in United Airlines, Inc. v. FERC,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (May 4, 2017)
- “FERC Refines Pipeline Cost-Allocation Policies in Order on Remand,” Co-Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 21, 2016)
- “FERC Reacts to First Pipeline Modernization Tracker Proposal under New Policy,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (December 2, 2015)
- “FERC Approves Gas Modernization Policy,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (May 20, 2015)
- “FERC Receives Reply Comments on its Proposed Policy on Cost Recovery for Modernization of Natural Gas Facilities,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 16, 2015)
- “FERC Receives Initial Comments on its Proposed Policy on Cost Recovery for Modernization of Natural Gas Facilities,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (February 17, 2015)
- “OMB Approves PHMSA Changes to Incident and Annual Report for Gas Pipeline Operators; PHMSA Plans to Initiate Rulemaking to Implement Further Changes,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (December 18, 2014)
- “FERC Proposes Policy on Cost Recovery for Modernization of Natural Gas Facilities,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (November 24, 2014)
- “FERC Determines Compliance With Capacity Release Order to Show Cause,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (October 21, 2014)
- “FERC Requests Industry Input on Gas-Electric Coordination and Initiates a Paper Hearing on Electric Scheduling,” Co-Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (April 2, 2014)
- “FERC Issues Show Cause Order to Interstate Pipelines to Comply with Capacity Release Regulations,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 21, 2014)
- “FERC Revises the EQR Data Dictionary and Announces a Technical Conference,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 10, 2014)
- “FERC Sets New Deadlines for the Web-Based Filing of Electronic Quarterly Reports,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (February 28, 2014)
- “Senate Energy Inquires Into Nature of FERC’s Section 5 Natural Gas Act (NGA) Investigations,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 19, 2013)
- “FERC Institutes Two More Investigations into Possible Pipeline Over-Recoveries of Cost of Service,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (November 20, 2012)
- “US House and Senate Consider Companion Bills to Reduce Cost of Financing Renewable Energy Resources,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (October 4, 2012)
- “Bureau of Reclamation Supplemental Report Identifies Conduits with Hydropower Potential,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (May 2, 2012)
- “FERC Clarifies Treatment of Pipeline’s Discount-Type Adjustments for Negotiated Rates,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (March 19, 2012)
Presentations
- “Case Study of Trigen St. Louis’ Natural Gas Bypass,” Panelist, 11th Annual College/University Conference, International District Energy Association (February 1998)
- “Sovereignty, The Only Natural Gas Supply Strategy That Makes Sense,” Annual Meeting, International District Energy Association (June 1995)
Memberships
North American Energy Standards Board
- Member, Intraday Nominations Task Force
International District Energy Association (IDEA)
- Chair, Board of Directors (2003 – 2004)
- First Vice Chair, Board of Directors (2002 – 2003)
- Executive Committee, Board of Directors (2001 – 2002)
- Member, Board of Directors (1999 – 2000)
Energy Bar Association
Jennings Strouss Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Former Chair
Community Involvement
Kol Shalom, Rockville, MD
- President (2016 – 2018)
- Executive Committee (2018 – 2020)
Honors and Awards
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™, Martindale-Hubbell
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Energy Law (2010 – 2023)
- Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, Energy & Natural Resources (2012 – 2022)
- IDEA, “Norman R. Taylor” Award (June 2005)