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Specializing in the Intersection of Business &#038; Government

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Professional portrait of Orrie A. Walsvik

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Orrie focuses on helping clients in regulated spaces achieve project and policy goals, focusing specifically on energy and international trade. Whether dealing with new challenges like data center development and large electric loads, ever-changing tariffs on imported goods, or old challenges like electric rate design and energy generation development, Orrie brings a wholistic, fundamentally sound and creative approach to challenges.&nbsp; Clients appreciate Orrie’s ability to drive business results in multiple different forums, from federal appellate court to internal company oversight committees. A lifelong learner, Orrie built his result-oriented approach through a diverse legal and business career inside regulators like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), litigating at nonprofit advocacy groups, working in manufacturing facilities, and negotiating transaction terms at large corporations.

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Orrie has been involved in the energy, renewables, and trade spaces for nearly a decade in various roles, and clients has an ability to sort through the complex regulatory, technical, and legal issues to find creative solutions to problems. &nbsp;He is an adept strategic advocate, who helps clients understand the practical effects of decisions, while always providing staunch legal analysis.

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Orrie is a leader in Wisconsin’s energy regulatory space and is constantly engaged with his industries and their communities. At the state level, he serves as the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Section of the Wisconsin State Bar, and as a Board Member of the Wisconsin Public Utilities Institute (WPUI). Nationally, he serves on the Board of the Energy Bar Association’s Electricity Steering Committee as the editor of a report which documents major federal changes in the electricity sector every year.

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Orrie has successfully advocated for regulatory approvals at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSCW) and FERC, including over 2000 MWs of Solar, Wind, and Storage projects in Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), Certificate of Authority (CA) and Buy/Sell Proceedings (BS), and defends those approvals in state court.&nbsp; Orrie has successfully driven tariff changes in rate proceedings and has secured various regulatory oversight approvals of transactions from regulators under the Federal Power Act (FPA) Section 203, the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), the Wisconsin Public Utilities Holding company Act (WUHCA) and other regulatory schemes. &nbsp;More recently, Orrie has advised clients on tariff design and implementation for large loads like data centers at both the state and regional transmission provider (RTO) level. Clients appreciate Orrie’s robust understanding of energy permitting schemes, and his ability to recommend and defend client actions from local, state, and federal opposition.

Orrie also provides clients with a strong knowledge of FERC procedure.&nbsp; He regularly engages with the stakeholder processes at Independent System Operators like the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) like Southwest Power Pool (SPP).&nbsp; He helps stakeholders prepare, negotiate and comment on FERC filings, including assisting in filing Complaints and appealing FERC Orders in Federal Court. &nbsp;

In the International Trade world, Orrie helps business analyze their internal compliance controls and optimize their import/export systems. He helps companies determine the impact of tariffs and assists with country of origin (COO) determinations, HTS Classification, transaction valuation, OFAC determinations, to name a few.&nbsp; Orrie works closely with the Michael Best Strategies lobbying team to help corporations find relief to specific tariff problems as well as general international trade issues. He built this experience in-house at a large manufacturing company during the first wave of tariffs as early as 2018.

Clients also appreciate Orrie’s experience in alternative fuels. Orrie began his career in energy as a process intern at a renewable natural gas (RNG) digestor and continued to work as an operator of a 30 MMGY Biodiesel facility and a 11 MMGY Glycerin production facility.&nbsp; He brings a hands-on approach to transactions and disputes in the renewable fuels world, including an understanding of various alternative fuel incentives like RECs, RINs, the LCFS, and other worldwide standards.

A longtime community advocate, Orrie has also defended pro bono clients from wrongful evictions, employment discrimination, and unlawful harassment at administrative, circuit, and appeals courts.

Orrie A. Walsvik

My Why

What powers my practice

Credentials

Engagement

Insights

DC Judge Vacates IRS Limitation on Wind, Solar Tax Credits, But Uncertainty for Developers Remains

FERC Approves Generator Interconnection Process in SPP

State Lawmakers Propose Bill to Incentivize Nuclear Energy in Wisconsin, With Potential Side Effects for Renewable Developers

My Why

What powers my practice

Credentials

Practices

Industries

Education

Admissions

Honors & Recognition

Engagement

Community

Insights

DC Judge Vacates IRS Limitation on Wind, Solar Tax Credits, But Uncertainty for Developers Remains

FERC Approves Generator Interconnection Process in SPP

State Lawmakers Propose Bill to Incentivize Nuclear Energy in Wisconsin, With Potential Side Effects for Renewable Developers

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