Jacob E. Aronson

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, PERMITTING, AND ENTITLEMENTS

Clean Energy Projects. Represent multiple developers of utility-scale clean energy projects (solar, wind, and battery storage) located on private and federal lands in California, advising on compliance with NEPA, CEQA, federal and California Endangered Species Acts, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean Water Act, and other environmental laws, as well as applications for right-of-way grants on federal lands. Two such projects currently have applications pending with the California Energy Commission through its new “AB 205” opt-in certification program.

California High-Speed Rail System. Advised the California High-Speed Rail Authority on compliance with NEPA, National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, and other federal environmental laws for the California High-Speed Rail system between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim.*

Affordable Housing Development. Advised The Kelsey on an entitlement strategy for an eight-story, 109-unit disability-focused 100% affordable housing development in San Francisco’s Civic Center neighborhood. The project took advantage of the state density bonus law and the streamlined approval process created by SB 35.*

Great Wolf Lodge. Represented Great Wolf Resorts in a public-private partnership to develop a 500-room hotel and indoor water park in Manteca, California. Representation included negotiating and drafting agreements to vest city entitlements, resolving real estate matters, advising on compliance with CEQA and other environmental laws, and obtaining natural resource permits from state and regional agencies.*

Telecommunications Facilities. Advised a telecommunications company on obtaining approvals to place infrastructure on federal lands under jurisdiction of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation.*

LITIGATION

Sierra Club v. Imperial Irrigation District. Represented Imperial Irrigation District in a CEQA lawsuit challenging its participation in a federally funded water conservation program. The superior court ruled in favor of the client and dismissed the case.

Conserve Southwest Utah v. U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Represented the Utah Department of Transportation in litigation challenging federal approvals for the Northern Corridor Highway in southwest Utah, involving claims under NEPA, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and other federal laws.*

Maacama Watershed Alliance v. Sonoma County. Represented Knights Bridge Vineyards in a CEQA lawsuit challenging entitlements to develop a new winery and an associated mitigated negative declaration. The California Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the client.*

Helicopters for Agriculture v. Napa County. Represented vineyard and winery owners in a federal constitutional lawsuit challenging an initiative ordinance that restricted the use of helicopters for agricultural activities. The case was favorably settled for the clients.*

Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance v. U.S. Department of the Interior. Represented conservation organization in a NEPA lawsuit challenging federal agencies’ actions related to management of the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area in Wisconsin, including briefing and argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.*

TRANSACTIONAL DUE DILIGENCE

Solar Energy and Battery Storage Projects. Advised multiple purchasers, equity investors, and lenders with respect to environmental, natural resources, and land use permitting issues for utility-scale solar energy and battery storage projects.

* Matters completed prior to joining Allen Matkins.