Drew Moratzka Named a National Law Journal Top 50 Energy & Environmental Trailblazer

Minneapolis, MN — Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that partner Andrew P. Moratzka has been selected by The National Law Journal for inclusion in the inaugural edition of its Energy & Environmental Trailblazers, a special supplement that honors the Top 50 legal professionals in the United States currently  “impacting the crucial intersection of energy production and the environment.” Moratzka’s Trailblazer profile follows below.

Pioneer Spirit
When Drew Moratzka was a third-year associate, one of the partners at the firm found out he had majored in math and economics and asked him to work on a utility rate case matter. "Since then my practice has grown around energy regulatory work and there have been changes in the law. It's a constantly shifting landscape.

Trails Blazed
Since the 1990s, the Minnesota statute that governs integrated resource planning has forced utilities to build into their respective models certain assumptions for social costs of various pollutants. At the end of 2013, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission decided to update these assumptions, specifically directing that parties examine the federal social cost of carbon and whether it should be adopted as a value for carbon dioxide. This will be the first contested case review of the federal social cost of carbon, which is a hot-button issue nationwide. Moratzka also is involved in drafting legislation as part of the e21 Initiative, which is working to shift utilities from a traditional cost-based model to a service-based one, where customers have more options and utilities are subject to performance metrics. He is also a leader in shaping the tariff for community solar gardens in Minnesota. "It's exciting because it's in ratepayers' economic interest to participate, which will spur significant solar growth in Minnesota."

Future Explorations
Moratzka predicts more engagement between customers and utilities. "We are seeing residential customers taking notice of their consumption in buying smart thermostats and subscribing to energy efficiency programs. I expect to see greater interest at the larger customer level. For example, more will anchor decisions on where they locate based on both rates and types of power generation."

Read Moratzka’s profile online here.

About Stoel Rives LLP:  Stoel Rives is a business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout the United States.  The firm has nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 12 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia.  Stoel Rives is a leader in corporate, energy, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment, land use and construction, litigation, natural resources, project development and real estate law.  For more information, visit www.stoel.com.