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Shari Shapiro

Member

: Cherry Hill
Suite 300, LibertyView
457 Haddonfield Road, P.O. Box 5459
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002-2220
P: (856) 910-5050
TF: (800) 989-0499
F: (856) 874-4608

Shari Shapiro

Shari Shapiro joined Cozen O'Connor's Energy, Environment & Public Utilities Practice Group in 2011, and she is also a member of the government relations team at the firm’s subsidiary, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies. She is also a LEED accredited professional.

Shari focuses her legal practice on renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building.

On the energy project side, Shari has represented developers of energy projects and financial institutions providing funding for energy projects. She has provided legal advice regarding power purchase agreements and engineering, procurement and construction contracts, interconnection with energy distribution companies and PJM, subsidy programs, rate recovery and project finance. Her experience includes natural gas fired power plants, combined heat and power plants and solar installations.

Shari has experience with development of energy efficient and green building projects. Shari has drafted provisions of loan agreements for energy efficiency building renovations, advised on subsidy programs, and drafted construction and architecture contracts.

Through Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, Shari advocates for clients on policy issues related to energy and energy efficiency with decision-makers in all branches of local, state, and federal government.

In 2012, Shari was the legislative liaison for the Coalition for an Energy Efficient Philadelphia, and she helped the Coalition successfully advocate for a commercial energy disclosure law in Philadelphia. In 2011, Shari was named by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to the eight-member advisory panel providing input into the clean energy component of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan. Also in 2011, on behalf of the Department of Energy, Shari led a study on energy efficiency policy in Pennsylvania and New Jersey on behalf of the Department of Energy through the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub.

Shari is an adjunct professor with the Drexel University Master’s in Public Policy Program, teaching a course on Sustainability Policy.

Shari was named a 2009 “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by the Legal Intelligencer.

Negotiated the financing for a two megawatt solar installation on an industrial facility in New Jersey.

Ongoing representation of major utilities in petitions before regional boards of public utilities.

Represented Energenic-US, LLC (a partially owned subsidiary of South Jersey Industries) in all aspects of the development and financing of a combined heating, cooling, and power (CHCP) system on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. The CHCP system will provide approximately 5.4 megawatts of natural gas-fired electric generation, chilled water, and steam for heat. The project was one of the first Public-Private Partnership projects under the 2009 New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act.

Represented a regional bank in providing $1 million in providing loan financing to a solar project developer to acquire projects in New Jersey.

Represented a major investment bank in negotiating a power purchase agreement and associated real estate agreements for a solar project on its office buildings in New Jersey.

Represented a major investment bank in negotiating solar leases for solar projects on its properties in California.

Represented a New Jersey manufacturer in all aspects of developing a two megawatt solar project on its industrial facility, including the engineering, procurement and construction agreement, loan financing from a major national bank, documentation associated with assigning the 1603 grant in lieu of tax credits and ongoing advising and negotiation related to the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits generated by the project.

Represented a military housing company in developing a solar project on a military base in New Jersey, including negotiating a power purchase agreement and associated real estate agreements, and addressing issues with the utility providing grid-supplied power to the base.

Represented a financial services company in selling its interests in solar projects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Represented an energy company in the development of two natural gas-fired merchant generation plants (still under development) in Pennsylvania, with a capacity of 700-1000 megawatts per project.

Represented a major gas utility in petitioning the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for approval of a multi-million dollar energy efficiency program.

Developed financing plan for a residential developer to access public and private incentives for sustainable development projects.

Developed suite of contracts for an architecture firm providing sustainable project development services, including LEED consulting.

Represented a specialty chemical manufacturer in an environmental products trade secret case (Bro-Tech Corp. (USA) v. Thermax Inc., et al. (India)), assisting in the negotiation of a settlement on behalf of the client for $38 million.

Represented a Community Development Corporation in pursuing release of liability for contamination under Pennsylvania “Act II” land recycling program to allow development of a mixed income townhouse project.

Represented a property management firm in responding to action by EPA for alleged violations of Lead Paint Regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and preparing a plan for ongoing compliance with the Lead Paint Regulations.

Ongoing representation of a major international fashion retailer in drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements.

Represented several New York City residential, multi-family and high-rise developers in drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements.

Ongoing representation of an international manufacturer of energy efficient building products in policy and government relations matters at the state and Federal level.

Represented a coalition of business, technical and environmental entities in policy and government relations matters regarding adoption of building and energy codes in Pennsylvania.

Ongoing representation of a charitable foundation regarding Federal policy for alternative fuel vehicles.

Representation of the Coalition for an Energy Efficient Philadelphia leading to the adoption of the Philadelphia Building Energy Disclosure law in 2012.

Publications

Senator Charles McIlhinney Plans to Introduce Bill to Reform Pennsylvania's Building Code Adoption Process [Energy, Environmental and Utilities Alert]

April 16, 2013

Senator Charles McIlhinney (R-10) has circulated a memo indicating that he plans on submitting a bill to address various issues with the Pennsylvania building code review process, and to provide additional time and resources to allow the Review and Advisory Committee to do its work more effectively.

Fiscal Cliff Act Impacts on Energy Efficiency Credits [Real Estate Alert]

January 07, 2013

Besides extending the lower tax rates for millions of Americans, as well as avoiding across the board federal budget cuts, the eleventh-hour legislative compromise reinstated two business and personal tax credits applicable to energy efficiency residences and appliances. Contractors or developers of homes or low-rise multi-family projects, as well as individuals considering energy efficient renovations or appliance purchases, should consider the availability of these tax credits.

'Fiscal Cliff' Bill Also Extends Tax Credits for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Vehicles [Energy, Environmental and Utilities Alert!]

January 03, 2013

On January 1, 2013, the U.S. Congress passed last minute legislation known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the Act) to avoid an automatic increase in income taxes for millions of Americans and draconian cuts to the budget of the federal government that many feared would plunge the nation's economy back into recession. Also included in this eleventh-hour legislative compromise were extensions of various tax credits related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles.

PUC Grants Motion for Reconsideration of its Order Extending The Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program [Energy, Environmental and Utilities Alert]

September 04, 2012

PUC Grants Motion for Reconsideration of its Order Extending The Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program - Energy, Environmental and Utilities Alert - On August 3, 2012, pursuant to Act 129 of 2008 (Act 129), the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued an order extending mandatory electricity consumption
reduction targets in the commonwealth into a second phase (the Implementation Order). On August 20, Met- Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power (collectively,the First Energy Utilities) and PPL Electric filed Petitions for Reconsideration of the Implementation Order.

Boosting Building Energy Efficiency through Energy Codes and Energy Use Disclosure Laws [Energy Policy Alert]

May 31, 2012

Boosting Building Energy Efficiency through Energy Codes and Energy Use Disclosure Laws - Energy Policy Alert - Recent studies have shown that investment in building energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce energy use. McKinsey Consulting estimates that
the United States has the potential to reduce annual nontransportation energy consumption by “roughly twentythree (23%) percent … eliminating more than $1.2 trillion in waste — well beyond the $520 billion upfront investment that would be required.”

Energy Alchemy: Turning Building Energy Use into a Profit Center [Real Estate Alert!]

June 01, 2011

Energy Alchemy: Turning Building Energy Use into a Profit Center - Real Estate Alert! - This Alert describes various strategies that a building owner or manager might employ to reduce energy costs or even transform them into building revenues. Co-Author Shapiro is both an attorney and a LEED Accredited Professional, and maintains a blog on green building legal issues at www.greenbuildinglawblog.com.

Practice Areas

Energy, Environmental & Public Utilities

Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies - Government Relations

Industry Sectors

Energy & Utilities

Marcellus Shale

Real Estate & Construction

Renewable Energy

Building Energy Efficiency - Seeking Strategies that Work Conference	Newtown Square, PA	05/08/2013
Satellite Quorom presents: Coffee & Counsel	Philadelphia, PA	04/18/2013
DVGBC PA / NJ Sustainability Symposium 2013	Philadelphia, PA	03/12/2013
An Overview of the 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC)	East Norriton, PA	02/26/2013
PV America East	Philadelphia, PA	02/05/2013
Developing Issues in Green Building: 2012 LEED Standards and Certification, Contracts, Financing and Risk Management	Telephone Seminar	02/28/2012
Invitation to Briefing from the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster and DVGBC	Philadelphia, PA	09/26/2011
ABA Section of State and Local Law: 2011 Spring Meeting	Portland, OR	05/12/2011
Best of Greenbuild, Sustainable Design Competition	Philadelphia, PA	04/28/2011
PSATS' 89th Annual Educational Conference & Trade Show	Hershey, PA	04/17/2011
2011 14th Annual Environmental Advisory Council Conference	Villanova, PA	04/09/2011
Building Green: Law and Practice	New York, NY	04/06/2011