About me

Address: Washington, D.C.: Robert S. Strauss Tower, 2001 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1037

Areas of Focus: Projects & Energy Transition

Biography:
Stephen advises clients on a range of regulatory, commercial and transactional matters related to the U.S. power sector. He regularly counsels clients in matters related to federal and state regulatory policies, regulations and rules applicable to the electric and renewable power industries. He has extensive experience with FERC and the Federal Power Act (FPA), including obtaining authorization for the acquisition and disposition of securities in utilities and generation and transmission assets, tax equity and passive ownership interests, wholesale market design, enforcement and compliance, Regional Transmission Organizations/Independent System Operators (RTO/ISO) matters, and representation of utilities in contested proceedings before FERC.
Stephen also has experience with state regulatory matters, including:
- State net metering programs
- State renewable portfolio standards
- Interconnection issues
- Retail choice programs
- Solicitations for offshore wind and other renewable resources.
Stephen regularly negotiates commercial agreements on behalf of generation developers, storage operators and energy marketers. Among other things, he has advised clients on power purchase agreements, tolling agreements, agreements for the sale of renewable energy credits and non-wires alternative agreements.
Prior to entering private practice, Stephen was an attorney advisor in the Office of the General Counsel, Energy Markets at FERC, where he reviewed and analyzed filings submitted under Sections 205 and 206 of the FPA.

Representative Work:
- Represented Equinor in the negotiation of purchase and sales agreements and conditional grant agreements with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in support of the 1,260 MW Empire Wind 2 and the 1,230 MW Beacon Wind projects.
- Represented Equinor in the $1.1-billion sale of a 50% interest in two U.S. offshore wind development projects to BP, including formation of a partnership to develop and operate the Empire Wind project offshore New York and Beacon Wind project offshore Massachusetts, which together could generate up to 4.4 GW.
- Represented Tenaska Inc. in a complaint proceeding at FERC against Southwest Power Pool, challenging allocation of approximately $100 million in network upgrade costs to wind generation facility.
- Represented Convergent Energy and Power LP in the negotiation of settlement related to rates assessed by Southern California Edison for charging energy storage resources interconnected to SCE’s distribution system.
- Represented New England Power Generators Association in a complaint against ISO New England Inc. concerning the retention of resources needed for fuel security.

Credentials:
Education: J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2009 (cum laude); LL.B., University of Ottawa, Ontario, 2009 (cum laude); B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2005 (summa cum laude)
Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, 2013

Recognitions:
- Chambers Global, Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2024-2026.
- Chambers USA, Nationwide Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), 2021 and 2023-2026.
- The Legal 500 US , Energy Regulatory: Conventional Power, 2020-2021.
- IFLR , Rising Star, Energy and Natural Resources.

Affiliations:
- Chair, International Energy Law and Transactions Committee, Energy Bar Association, 2013–2014; Vice-Chair, 2012–2013

Insights:
- Texas Pauses Data Center Interconnections Pending Statewide Audit (August 7, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/texas-pauses-data-center-interconnections-pending-statewide-audit
- FERC Launches Section 206 Proceeding Targeting ISO-NE’s Treatment of Large Loads (July 8, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-launches-section-206-proceeding-targeting-iso-nes-treatment-of-large-loads
- US Supreme Court Set to Interpret Natural Gas Act Section 7 (July 7, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/us-supreme-court-set-to-interpret-natural-gas-act-section-7
- Slaughtering the Independent Agency? What Trump v. Slaughter Means for FERC (July 6, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/slaughtering-the-independent-agency-what-trump-v-slaughter-means-for-ferc
- FERC Launches Section 206 Proceeding Into CAISO’s Treatment of Large Loads (June 25, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-launches-section-206-proceeding-into-caisos-treatment-of-large-loads
- FERC Directs New York Independent System Operator to Revise Tariff to Expedite Data Center Development (June 24, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-directs-new-york-independent-system-operator-to-revise-tariff-to-expedite-data-center-development
- FERC Directs Midcontinent Independent System Operator to Revise Tariff to Expedite Data Center Development (June 23, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-directs-midcontinent-independent-system-operator-to-revise-tariff-to-expedite-data-center-development
- FERC Directs PJM Interconnection to Revise Tariff to Expedite Data Center Development (June 23, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-directs-pjm-interconnection-to-revise-tariff-to-expedite-data-center-development
- FERC Directs Southwest Power Pool to Revise Tariff to Expedite Data Center Development (June 22, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-directs-southwest-power-pool-to-revise-tariff-to-expedite-data-center-development
- FERC Issues Landmark Show Cause Orders on Large Load Interconnection (June 18, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/ferc-issues-landmark-show-cause-orders-on-large-load-interconnection
- Infocast PowerUp Data Centers – Infrastructure Special Invitation 2026 (July 18, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/infocast-powerup-data-centers-infrastructure-special-invitation-2026
- Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices  (June 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-usa-2026-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices