Thomas J. Braun

Clients rely on Thomas Braun for his broad experience in matters involving environmental and energy issues at the federal, state, and local levels. Thomas works strategically and finds creative solutions to matters involving:

Management, remediation, and redevelopment of contaminated properties (brownfields).

• Thomas manages a multinational packaged foods company’s portfolio of historic environmental contamination at sites across the United States, including through enrollment in, and navigation of, state voluntary remediation programs.

Siting, permitting, and development of large commercial facilities.

• Thomas recently represented SoCore Energy in gaining approval for its potential acquisition of equity interests in 22 community solar garden development projects in Minnesota, subject to certain conditions, which upon completion will produce up to 140 megawatts of renewable energy. The projects are being acquired as part of bankruptcy proceedings for renewable energy company SunEdison.

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2012, magna cum laude

University of Minnesota, B.A., Political Science and History, 2009, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Minnesota

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

• Thomas has a wealth of experience in navigating state and local land use regulations that impact the development of energy projects. Thomas recently represented SoCore Energy in gaining approval for its potential acquisition of equity interests in 22 community solar garden development projects in Minnesota, subject to certain conditions, which upon completion will produce up to 140 megawatts of renewable energy. The projects are being acquired as part of bankruptcy proceedings for renewable energy company SunEdison.
• He also helps clients resolve property contamination issues. Thomas is currently assisting a multinational packaged foods company address historic environmental contamination at sites across the United States, including through enrollment in, and navigation of, state voluntary remediation programs.
• Thomas routinely provides strategic counsel to clients in transactions in which environmental issues play a role, including by conducting due diligence and preparing representations and warranties and indemnification provisions that protects a client’s interests.
• Thomas also assists clients in resolving enforcement actions brought by governmental regulators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. As part of his effective and efficient work, Thomas will help clients resolve current enforcement actions and develop new, or modify existing, plans and policies to avoid future enforcement actions.
• Thomas also represents clients in proceedings at public utilities commissions across the United States in matters involving certificates of need, permits, and extensions of the same for wind project developers, as well as services agreements for distributed generation projects.
• Assisted the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Board in acquiring a privately owned refuse-derived fuel facility in Newport, MN, including assistance in negotiating offtake and operational agreements and addressing permitting and other transactional issues.
• Assisted international waste-to-energy project developer prepare and submit response to RFP for integrated waste management project in U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Counseled non-metallic industrial minerals producer on regulatory issues related to local regulation of silica sand mining.
• Counseled a national bank corporation and its subsidiary on tax equity investor liability under CERCLA and the Model Toxics Control Act relating to a proposed landfill-to-energy facility.
• Member of a team representing a renewable energy developer in a $250 million contract dispute with a national utility company.

Insights & Presentations

• “PFAs use places firms ‘in the target for the EPA,’ attorney says” (quoted), Minnesota Lawyer, May 6, 2024
• “Are Farmers Protected From PFAS?” (quoted), Brownfield Ag News, April 24, 2024
• “EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances Under CERCLA” (co-author), Stoel Rives LLP, April 23, 2024
• “New Minnesota Law Expands Discharge Notification Obligations for Publicly Owned Treatment Works,” Central States Water, Fall 2023
• “What Minnesota’s ban on ‘forever chemicals’ means for manufacturers” (quoted), Manufacturing Dive, August 17, 2023
• “State at ‘forefront’ in curbing PFAS” (quoted), Minnesota Lawyer, June 14, 2023
• “Permitting and Land Use” (co-author), Chapter 6 of The Law of Solar Energy: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Sixth Edition, 2022
• “Siting and Permitting Wind Projects” (co-author), Chapter 3 of The Law of Wind: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Ninth Edition, 2022
• “Minnesota is primed to turn a page on the conflict between solar growth and farmland preservation” (co-author), pv magazine, May 14, 2021
• “Three Key Energy Land Use Issues to Watch in 2021,” Bloomberg Law Environment and Energy Report, December 18, 2020
• Presenter, “Solar Dealmaking 101: Finance, Due Diligence, PPAs, RFPs,” Minnesota Brightfields 2020, Minneapolis, Minn., February 20, 2020
• “Balancing solar development and preservation of agricultural lands in the Midwest” (co-author), pv magazine, August 27, 2019
• “Legal Considerations Around Brownfield Remediation” (quoted), Waste360, August 13, 2019
• Presenter, “Basic Environmental Issues in Business Transactions,” 2019 Minnesota Environmental Institute, Minneapolis, Minn., April 11, 2019
• “Environmental Transactions and Brownfields” (co-author), 2018 ABA Environment, Energy, and Resources Law: The Year in Review
• Presenter, “Vapor Intrusion: Understanding and Managing the Risk,” Stoel Rives LLP and Bay West LLC presentation, Duluth, Minn., April 11, 2017
• Presenter, “Zoning and Permitting Challenges for Community Solar Gardens,” MSBA CLE, Minneapolis, Minn., October 18, 2016
• “Brownfields Law and Practice: Minnesota” (co-author), 2014

• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Minneapolis, 2025
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law), 2023–present
• Included in Minneapolis/Saint Paul Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” 2023
• Charles N. Nauen Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental and Energy Law, University of Minnesota Law School

Professional

• Minnesota State Bar Association’s Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section, Section Council
• ABA Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee Newsletter, Contributor
• American Bar Association, Member
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
• Federal Bar Association, Member
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Member

Civic

• Great River Greening
• Minneapolis Club
• Minneapolis Storm Youth Hockey
• Linden Hills Neighborhood Council