Ronald L. Rencher

Mr. Rencher was a shareholder in Parsons Behle & Latimer’s Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources practice group. Mr. Rencher spent a number of years in industry-developing electric power projects. He advised electric utilities in all facets of operations, including fuel acquisition agreements, such as a billion-dollar, life-of-the-mine coal supply agreement for a mine-mouth plant; fuel transportation agreements (rail, truck and barge); “all requirements contracts” for electric cooperatives; power purchase contracts; bulk power agreements and equipment purchase contracts. He also represented utilities in “stray voltage” and other litigation and assisted electric utility cooperatives with financial restructurings both in and out of bankruptcy court.

As restrictions were increasingly placed on the use of coal, Mr. Rencher also advised utilities on converting coal-fired facilities to natural gas, including documentation of such conversions. He handled permitting and regulatory issues, including EPA investigations with respect to clean air, water, solid and hazardous waste and represented clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the public utility commissions of several Western states.

Mr. Rencher also represented non-utility business and corporate clients before the Utah legislature and was actively involved in drafting proposed legislation for a variety of clients. A former United States Attorney for the District of Utah, Mr. Rencher represented clients in white collar criminal antitrust and grand jury investigations as well as in civil litigation before all courts.

Prior to joining Parsons Behle and Latimer, Mr. Rencher enjoyed a national energy practice with a large international firm headquartered in New York City.

His previous professional experience included serving as president of a subsidiary of the Bechtel Power Corporation (1986-88), where he was in charge of developing a large coal-fired independent power project with General Electric; Combustion Engineering; Public Service Company of New Mexico; and the Navajo Nation; and as general manager (1983-86) and general counsel (1981-83) of the Intermountain Power Agency, during construction of a large, coal-fired generation station and AC and DC transmission systems.

He was the United States Attorney for the District of Utah (1977-81), and a member of the Utah House of Representatives (1971-76), where he served as Speaker of the House (1975-76) and as a Minority Whip (1973-74). He was trained and appointed as a mediator by the U.S. District Court Utah (ATR pilot program).