National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Energy Resources and Environment Committee, Board of Directors, past Chairman

Kentucky Public Service Commission Chairman (2015-2016)

Kentucky Public Service Commission Vice-Chairman (2008-2015)

Served as the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s Chief Executive Officer and acting Executive Director responsible for supervising 85 employees and a $17 Million budget.

Led Kentucky Public Service Commission’s efforts to prepare a blueprint for the distribution co-op’s cybersecurity planning, which became a model for small utilities nationwide.

Chaired approximately 50 hearings and public meetings involving such matters as rate increases, fuel adjustment cases, environmental plans and certificates of public convenience and necessity.

Led the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s efforts to respond to the Clean Power Plan.

Spearheaded the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s effort to require that jurisdictional utilities adopt cleaner energy sources such as approving the state’s first biomass facility, the first utility scale solar, landfill gas generation and urging the adoption of low cost wind.

Required the dramatic increase in utility sponsored energy efficiency and demand-side management programs including industrial programs.

AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

Best Lawyers in America® - Energy Law, Utilities Law

Leadership Kentucky (2017)

United Way Helping Hands Award (Volunteer of the Year)

NARUC Mary Kilmarx Award (2016)

Kentucky Bar Association

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Energy & Environmental Public Policy Council

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): Energy Resources and Environment Committee, Chairman; Executive Committee; Board of Directors; Investment Committee; Utilities of the Future, Conference Co-Chair

National Regulatory Research Institute – Advisory Board; Audit Committee

Electric Power Research Institute – Advisory Board; Energy Efficiency Smart Grid Public Advisory Group

Gas Technology Institute – Public Interest Advisory Committee, Chairman

Financial Research Institute Advisory Board, Chairman

Organization of MISO States, Kentucky Representative

Presentations

University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) School of Law, Energy Law: Electricity and Resources course | The Least Cost Mandate – Guest Lecturer (September 8, 2020)

Utility Convening: Informing a Guide for Engaging Coal-Impacted Communities During Economic Transitions, hosted by the Keystone Policy Center & the Just Transition Fund in Washington D.C. — Speaker (June 4, 2019)

Kentucky Bar Association Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section 2018 Environmental Law CLE | The Martin County Water Crisis & PSC Authority (April 27, 2018)

Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum, Vancouver, BC, Canada |Opening a Dialogue on Renewable Thermal Energy: How Might the Future Look? – Speaker (May 18, 2017)

National Governors Association Kentucky Retreat on Power Sector Modernization, Frankfort, KY | Considerations for Shaping Voluntary Alternative Energy Options Without Shifting Costs to Other Customers – Speaker (May 11, 2017)

Bluegrass Forever Green Summit, Lexington, KY | Conversation with the Region on Energy Innovation – Luncheon Keynote Speaker (May 16, 2017)

University of Kentucky, J.D.

Order of the Coif

Kentucky Law Journal

Georgetown College, B.A. summa cum laude

Jim has long been active in community leadership, serving as a representative on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, and as Chair and a member of the Fayette County School Board. He has also served the business community as President of the Bluegrass International Trade Association, and Counsel for the Kentucky World Trade Center. He is an active member of Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church.