Eric is a leading energy and natural resources attorney in the Pacific Northwest.
He assists renewable and traditional energy companies, as well as major energy consumers, to navigate the complex legal and regulatory systems governing the nation’s energy industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Eric has successfully represented clients in litigation and regulatory matters, ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to proceedings before federal and state agencies. Before entering private practice, Eric served as Assistant General Counsel at Snohomish County (WA) Public Utility District, one of the largest publicly-owned utilities in the U.S., and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Eric’s litigation experience includes successfully representing Snohomish County Public Utility District in a series of lawsuits arising from the Enron crisis involving action at every level of the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as administrative litigation resulting in an order requiring Enron to disgorge more than $1 billion. He has also litigated dozens of matters in the federal and state courts. These include federal court challenges to the landmark federal orders restructuring regulation of the electricity, natural gas, and oil pipeline industries in the U.S. and critical regulatory and Constitutional issues in the Washington courts, including several matters before the Washington Supreme Court.
Eric guides clients through transactions involving renewable and traditional energy facilities, energy and derivatives trades, environmental concerns, engineering and construction services, early-stage and traditional financing, risk management, and government grants and tax incentives. He assists clients with energy and infrastructure transactions throughout Washington, including wind generation, hydroelectric, and renewable energy projects as well as the contracts governing sales of power and transmission from the Northwest’s huge federal hydroelectric and transmission systems. He has put together transactions involving financing, engineering services, construction of buildings and similar facilities, and energy and commodity trades.
Eric also assisted with landmark litigation in both the state and federal courts as well as successfully litigated claims involving liability for hazardous waste contamination and assisted developers to reclaim and redevelop brownfields sites.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Eric L. Christensen
- Biden Administration Proposes Major Investments In Energy As Part of Infrastructure Proposal - (Posted On Friday, April 02, 2021)
- FERC Determines That It Should Consider Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Environmental Analyses of Natural Gas Pipelines - (Posted On Friday, March 26, 2021)
- FERC Adopts Final Rule Formalizing One-Year Deadline for States To Issue Clean Water Act Certifications; Second Circuit Affirms FERC’s Approach - (Posted On Wednesday, March 24, 2021)
- Idaho Congressman Proposes “Salmon and Energy Concept” To Breach Lower Snake River Dams - (Posted On Wednesday, February 10, 2021)
- D.C. Circuit Vacates Trump ACE Rule: What’s Next for Power Plant CO2 Regulation? - (Posted On Thursday, February 04, 2021)
- Seattle Bans Natural Gas in New Buildings - (Posted On Thursday, February 04, 2021)
- Treasury Department Finalizes Regulations to Govern 45Q Tax Credits for Carbon Capture and Sequestration - (Posted On Wednesday, January 27, 2021)
- Hitching a Ride on the Omnibus: COVID Relief and Appropriations Act Includes Major Climate Change and Energy Provisions - (Posted On Wednesday, December 30, 2020)
- Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Issues Policy Statement on Renewable Natural Gas - (Posted On Tuesday, December 22, 2020)
- Seattle Expands Energy Efficiency as a Service Program - (Posted On Thursday, December 17, 2020)
The National Law Review names Beveridge & Diamond a Go-To Thought Leader in the field of environmental law for the year 2022. Authors Eric L. Christensen, Brook J. Detterman, David M. Friedland, Jennifer J. Leech, and Zachary B. Pilchen authored the article "Key Takeaways from U.S. Supreme Court Decision in West Virginia v. EPA," detailing the considerable importance of this landmark SCOTUS ruling for environmental and administrative law. Their thought leadership saw significant readership throughout the year, demonstrating the high quality and timeliness of their work.