Michael C. Powell

For more than a decade, Michael Powell has been named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in two practice areas - Environmental Law and Administrative Law - according to a national poll of lawyers performed by Woodward-White. He has also been named a "Maryland Super Lawyer" in each of the annual polls conducted by Law & Politics Magazine - one of only three lawyers selected in the field of Environmental Law. Baltimore Magazine designated Michael as one of the "Top Lawyers in Maryland" in its poll of lawyers and business interests. He has the highest possible rating in Martindale-Hubbell (established by peer review) and was a founding member, and the first elected chairman, of the Environmental Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. Michael was recognized for his dedication to the practice of law and to his community with the 2009 Leadership in the Law award, presented by the Maryland Daily Record.

Michael chairs the Firm's Environmental and Energy Law Practice Group and his practice covers environmental law, energy law and governmental relations. His environmental practice focuses on navigating the environmental permit process, the defense of environmental claims, climate change issues, and the remediation of contaminated property. His energy practice includes frequent appearances before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the representation of energy customers and suppliers in regulatory and legislative proceedings and permits for energy projects. His lobbying efforts are typically on behalf of energy suppliers, customers, industrial interests and developers.

Prior to joining Gordon Feinblatt, Michael served as Principal Counsel to the Maryland Department of the Environment (the chief environmental attorney for the State and the principal advisor to the Attorney General on environmental issues). He also previously served as an Assistant Attorney General advising the State, at various times, on issues involving hazardous wastes, water pollution, solid wastes, radiation control and other environmental and regulatory issues.

Michael's Environmental work has included defending companies from governmental and third party environmental claims, advice on climate change regulations and legislation, negotiating remediation agreements (including Brownfields applications) on contaminated properties, advising companies of climate change developments and negotiating the terms of environmental permits. Projects on which Michael has worked include residential and commercial developments, natural gas and petroleum pipeline projects, the evaluation and permitting of LNG sites, co-generation projects, a hazardous waste incinerator, waste-to-energy plants, an infectious waste incinerator, waterway construction permits for developers and for municipal water supply facilities, wetlands permits for developers, energy companies and mining operations, critical area approvals for developers, water appropriation and water discharge permits, rubblefill and other solid waste permits, permits to construct and operate air emission sources (including Title V permits and CPCN permits for energy projects) and work on air and water discharge permits for industrial and energy clients.

Michael's Energy work has included advice on permits and regulatory proposals for energy suppliers, participation in rate proceedings for large energy customers and for energy producers as well as the drafting and negotiation of energy contracts for suppliers, manufacturers, landlords and commercial interests. He currently represents the Maryland Energy Group (the largest trade association of large energy customers in Maryland), Mirant Mid-Atlantic – the wholesale supplier or over 40% of the energy generated in Maryland, Allegheny Energy and Energy Answers International in addition to other smaller energy suppliers and companies. Michael was also appointed by Governor O'Malley to serve as one of the inaugural members on the Strategic Energy Investment Fund Advisory Board which provides advice to the Maryland Energy Administration on the budgeting of funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions.

Described by The Baltimore Sun as a "high profile lobbyist representing builders and industrial interests," Michael's lobbying practice has included the representation of energy companies, energy customers, manufacturing interests and developers before the General Assembly. Michael has helped draft many of the most significant Maryland environmental and energy legislation including the Maryland Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009, the Maryland Electricity Restructuring Act, the Maryland Brownfields Act and statutes reforming the process for issuing environmental permits in Maryland. Michael is also a registered lobbyist for the Maryland Industrial and Technology Alliance, the largest Maryland trade association of manufacturers; the Maryland Energy Group, the largest Maryland trade association of energy customers; and several individual energy and manufacturing concerns.

Since joining Gordon Feinblatt, Michael has provided advice to Mirant Mid-Atlantic Inc., Honeywell, BP, FMC, Lockheed Martin, Energy Answers, AES, Lafarge, Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Pulte Homes, Toll Brothers, Allegheny Energy, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Florida Rock, American Sugar (Domino), the National Aquarium, Select Energy, Trigen Energy Corporation, the Maryland Industrial Group, The Maryland Industrial Technology Alliance, the American Chemistry Council, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Maryland Banker's Association and many others. Significant brownfield and remediation projects have included the redevelopment of Silver Spring (on behalf of Montgomery County), the remediation of a major asphalt refinery (on behalf of BP), the proposed Center for Marine Research (on behalf of the National Aquarium), the Carr-Lowery and Westport Power plants that are being redeveloped as Inner Harbor West (Turner Development), Silo Point (Pulte), Deep Harbor (Beazer), a plant expansion for Domino Sugar, Dundalk Marine Terminal, Race Street and Swann Park (for Honeywell) and dozens more.