Ruben is a highly accomplished energy professional with extensive experience in the Western USA, also known as the Western Interconnection or WECC. With a decade of experience as a lead enforcement and infrastructure lawyer for WECC, the federal government's regulator of nearly 1,000 generation, storage, and transmission owners and operators in the West, Ruben has developed a deep understanding of best practices covering utility-scale generation and storage, transmission line development, and NERC Reliability Standards compliance.

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As a project development lawyer, Ruben specializes in assisting clients with building energy infrastructure in the Western USA. His expertise lies in navigating complex energy and regulatory challenges, creating innovative development strategies, and assembling multi-disciplinary teams of subject matter experts to de-risk projects and drive their completion in the West's dynamic energy sector.

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Ruben's clients include:

• merchant transmission line developers and owners

• small and medium generation and storage developers

• Independent Power Producers (IPPs)

• energy infrastructure-focused capital funds

• data center developers

• large residential solar+battery companies, including VPPs

• clients building microgrids, virtual power plants, and other behind-the-meter solutions

• EnergyTech, RegTech and ClimateTech startups, and

• International and state regulatory agencies

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During his career, Ruben has managed BigLaw outside counsel like Crowell & Moring, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Dentons, and Jones Day. Additionally, Ruben has collaborated with or worked as contract counsel for Polsinelli, Dentons, and Eversheds Sutherland, further showcasing his versatility and ability to deliver results across various legal platforms.His experience working with these prestigious firms has honed his skills in navigating complex legal and regulatory landscapes, while providing strategic guidance to clients in the energy sector.

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With a keen eye for business development and a knack for navigating complex regulatory environments, Ruben excels in fostering collaborative efforts among diverse project teams to enhance project viability and profitability. His hands-on experience across all phases of project development, including financial investment decision, pre-NTP, post-NTP, COD stages, and lifecycle O&M, positions him as an asset to clients seeking practical, efficient, and impactful solutions to advance their high-yield projects.

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Ruben brings back-office and subject matter expert support to each project he works on, tailoring his team to meet the unique needs of his clients. By leveraging his extensive network of electrical engineers, permitting experts, development consultants, and other specialized professionals, he assembles a bespoke team for every project. This approach functions much like an outsourced development company, allowing his clients to benefit from a streamlined and efficient process without the burden of maintaining in-house expertise. Ruben’s ability to mobilize and coordinate these resources ensures faster project timelines, reduced development risks, and greater adaptability to the dynamic challenges of the energy sector, ultimately delivering exceptional value to his clients.