Riley A. Conlin

Riley advises clients in the energy sector on siting, routing, permitting and other regulatory matters involving electric transmission, generation, energy storage, pipelines and utility infrastructure. He represents clients before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, state agencies, local governments and other administrative tribunals on complex energy and infrastructure projects in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest.

Riley is a seasoned energy lawyer who brings a comprehensive understanding of the industry to his clients as a result of his years of experience representing a multitude of clients in energy-related matters, including utilities, developers and large industrial customers in complex energy regulatory proceedings. His wide-ranging experience includes energy permitting, utility rate cases, resource planning and other complex administrative proceedings.

Most recently, Riley worked in-house at a well-known regional electric and gas utility. Riley has appeared regularly before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, where he is known for simplifying complex legal and factual frameworks to achieve favorable results for his clients. His firsthand insight into how utilities, regulators, customers, and other stakeholders evaluate, process, and resolve complex energy matters coupled with his practical understanding of the business, operational, and policy considerations that shape utility decision-making, infrastructure investment, and project development offers a valuable and rare perspective that positions him to address energy-related matters of all scales.

Drawing on both in-house and private practice experience, Riley helps clients navigate the intersection of legal, regulatory, business and policy considerations that shape energy infrastructure development. His experience includes utility rate proceedings, resource planning matters, cost recovery dockets, transmission approvals and major energy infrastructure projects throughout the Midwest.

• Counsels clients on utility regulatory strategy, compliance, infrastructure investment, customer programs and stakeholder issues affecting electric and natural gas utilities.
• Advises on matters involving generation resources, power purchase agreements, resource acquisition proceedings, electric service agreements, municipalization and clean energy legislation.
• Represents clients in utility rate, resource planning, procurement, cost recovery, tariff and related proceedings involving electric and natural gas utilities.
• Represents clients in contested case proceedings, including matters involving discovery, evidentiary hearings, settlements and advocacy before administrative law judges and regulatory agencies.
• Advises utilities and other developers on permitting and approvals for major transmission infrastructure projects.
• Assists clients with routing, siting and project approvals for large-scale transmission facilities.
• Represents developers and owners of wind, solar and battery energy storage facilities in permitting, development and regulatory matters.
• Advises clients on permitting and approval matters involving carbon capture, pipeline and renewable natural gas infrastructure.
• Assists clients in navigating evolving regulatory frameworks affecting emerging energy technologies and infrastructure development.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2016
• University of Puget Sound, B.A., 2012

Admissions

• Minnesota
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Professional Activities

• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2024
• Minnesota State Bar Association – Public Utilities Section Council, Member, 2019-2023; Chair, 2023-2024