Sturgill Turner

James W. Gardner

James W. Gardner

 

James W. Gardner

OF COUNSEL

859.255.8581

Jim brings to Sturgill Turner more than two decades of energy law experience in both private practice and the public sector, and has been active nationally on clean energy issues. He served as Chair of NARUC’s Energy and Environment Committee and its Task Force on the Clean Power Plan. Along with fellow Sturgill Turner attorney Todd Osterloh, Jim filed the first applications requesting construction certificates for utility scale solar projects in Kentucky with the Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting, which have been approved and are in final negotiations. Jim and Todd represent the first and so far only large scale project to break ground in Kentucky.

Jim spent eight years on the Kentucky Public Service Commission, serving as Chairman from 2015-2016 and Vice-Chairman from 2008-2015. During his time with the PSC, Jim chaired hearings and public meetings involving such matters as rate increases, fuel adjustment cases, environmental plans and certificates of public convenience and necessity. He developed a keen interest in energy efficiency, demand-side management and clean energy sources, such as utility scale solar.

Areas of Practice

  • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Energy Resources and Environment Committee, Board of Directors, past Chairman

    Kentucky Public Service Commission Chairman (2015-2016)

    Kentucky Public Service Commission Vice-Chairman (2008-2015)

    Served as the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s Chief Executive Officer and acting Executive Director responsible for supervising 85 employees and a $17 Million budget.

    Led Kentucky Public Service Commission’s efforts to prepare a blueprint for the distribution co-op’s cybersecurity planning, which became a model for small utilities nationwide.

    Chaired approximately 50 hearings and public meetings involving such matters as rate increases, fuel adjustment cases, environmental plans and certificates of public convenience and necessity.

    Led the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s efforts to respond to the Clean Power Plan.

    Spearheaded the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s effort to require that jurisdictional utilities adopt cleaner energy sources such as approving the state’s first biomass facility, the first utility scale solar, landfill gas generation and urging the adoption of low cost wind.

    Required the dramatic increase in utility sponsored energy efficiency and demand-side management programs including industrial programs.

  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

    Best Lawyers in America® - Energy Law

    Leadership Kentucky (2017)

    United Way Helping Hands Award (Volunteer of the Year)

    NARUC Mary Kilmarx Award (2016)

  • Kentucky Bar Association

    Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Energy & Environmental Public Policy Council

    National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): Energy Resources and Environment Committee, Chairman; Executive Committee; Board of Directors; Investment Committee; Utilities of the Future, Conference Co-Chair

    National Regulatory Research Institute – Advisory Board; Audit Committee

    Electric Power Research Institute – Advisory Board; Energy Efficiency Smart Grid Public Advisory Group

    Gas Technology Institute – Public Interest Advisory Committee, Chairman

    Financial Research Institute Advisory Board, Chairman

    Organization of MISO States, Kentucky Representative

  • Presentations

    University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) School of Law, Energy Law: Electricity and Resources course | The Least Cost Mandate – Guest Lecturer (September 8, 2020)

    Utility Convening: Informing a Guide for Engaging Coal-Impacted Communities During Economic Transitions, hosted by the Keystone Policy Center & the Just Transition Fund in Washington D.C. — Speaker (June 4, 2019)

    Kentucky Bar Association Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section 2018 Environmental Law CLE | The Martin County Water Crisis & PSC Authority (April 27, 2018)

    Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum, Vancouver, BC, Canada |Opening a Dialogue on Renewable Thermal Energy: How Might the Future Look? – Speaker (May 18, 2017)

    National Governors Association Kentucky Retreat on Power Sector Modernization, Frankfort, KY | Considerations for Shaping Voluntary Alternative Energy Options Without Shifting Costs to Other Customers – Speaker (May 11, 2017)

    Bluegrass Forever Green Summit, Lexington, KY | Conversation with the Region on Energy Innovation – Luncheon Keynote Speaker (May 16, 2017)

  • University of Kentucky, J.D.

    Order of the Coif

    Kentucky Law Journal

    Georgetown College, B.A. summa cum laude

  • Jim has long been active in community leadership, serving as a representative on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, and as Chair and a member of the Fayette County School Board. He has also served the business community as President of the Bluegrass International Trade Association, and Counsel for the Kentucky World Trade Center. He is an active member of Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church.

 

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