Anne E. Mudge

Multiple deadlines loomed this past year for proposed wind projects hoping to qualify for federal tax credits that were set to expire, and Mudge had a daunting task working to clinch environmental and land use permits from myriad, often slow-moving government agencies.

She was lead permitting counsel for each of the eight multimillion-dollar wind projects on which she worked.

Their financial viability depended on getting the so-called "Production Tax Credit," and she needed permit approvals from 15 or more federal, state and local agencies before they could qualify. All eight made their deadlines and are now under construction.

"Each of the projects had hundreds of moving parts," said Mudge, co-chairwoman of the renewable energy and climate change practice group at Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP.

She helped wind developer Pattern Energy Group on its $250 million Ocotillo Express Wind Energy Facility in Imperial County, and it got approval to start project construction with just a week to spare under the tax credit deadline. Part of her work involved negotiating with government agencies to alter the project to lessen impacts on birds that can be killed by the turbines' spinning blades.

"It was down to the wire," said Mudge who spends the majority of her time advising wind and solar power developers on permitting issues in California.

The 212-megawatt Ocotillo project and numerous others were dependent on the Production Tax Credit, which has now expired. Despite heavy lobbying from the wind industry, Congress has not voted to renew it.

Mudge has kept busy regardless, recently helping greenlight projects across the state, including the largest wind farm in the country, Terra Gen Power LLC's 1,020-megawatt Alta Wind Center in the Tehachapi Mountains.

Other major wind projects include enXco Development Inc.'s $300 million Shiloh IV Wind Energy Project in Solano County and solar facilities, including an 88-megawatt facility built by Recurrent Energy LLC near Sacramento.

For Mudge, the most gratifying part of her job is seeing the renewable energy projects built and knowing they are doing environmental good.

"Once they're in the ground, the energy they create is emissions-free," she said. "I find that very exciting work."

- FIONA SMITH