Andrew S. Levine

Co-Chair, Environmental

alevine@stradley.com

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Andrew Levine
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Overview

As co-chair of the firm’s environmental practice group, Andy Levine is widely recognized by industry leaders for his strategic environmental counsel, practical financial solutions to complex challenges and innovative approach to expanding the energy economy in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

Having started his career litigating multimedia enforcement cases for the federal government against refineries, pipelines and solid waste companies, he was soon recruited by Waste Management to implement these very types of programs on the corporate side. While at Waste Management, Andy oversaw landfill and transfer station expansions, permitting and compliance throughout the Eastern Seaboard, and also developed the strategic landfill gas-to-energy program that formed the basis for his current energy practice in natural gas, and synthetic gas.

As an experienced deal architect, he maximizes his clients’ ROI in constructing, operating energy and environmental infrastructure projects, obtains the best possible financing and tax treatment, and evaluates the most advantageous deal and organizational structure. He also finds the most strategic means for environmental compliance and permitting, with a keen focus on the organizations’ business development plans, and most of all, the bottom line.

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Focus

Results

Representative Matters

  • worked with a major developer to secure grants and approvals for compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for a major utility corporation
  • negotiated several CNG leases for Atlantic City including one of the first purely merchant CNG stations (i.e., not requiring a take or pay) working with a large waste management company to unify the landfill gas systems from two huge regional facilities, and purchasing a former USX electrical plant to produce approximately 30 MW used to power the surrounding industrial park
  • developed and implemented strategies with a major utility for deployment of gas-powered distributed energy systems using natural gas as a resilient source of power
  • developed and implemented combined heat and power (CHP) strategies for a large turbine manufacturing company
  • provided counsel to a company seeking to develop a business model for distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for use in CHP facilities that cannot be connected to gas systems
  • developed a large-scale alternative gas facility throughout Wilmington, Delaware to mingle landfill gas from a large state-owned facility and biogas from a city-owned treatment works to provide methane to fuel several CHP plants
  • worked with a joint venture to develop a new oil transshipment facility in the Philadelphia region to receive Bakken crude by unit train to be barged downriver to a jet fuel refinery
  • drafted comments on behalf of merchant refiners to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed renewable fuel standards regulations with respect to moving the point of obligation for RFS compliance
  • evaluated the feasibility of a LNG port in Chester, Pennsylvania for investment firms
  • evaluated an economic model for development of downstream facilities for polypropylene products
  • evaluated the feasibility of developing a methanol facility for offshore shipments to the Caribbean and Europe
  • provided counsel to a company establishing a virtual pipeline model for deployment in adverse areas where pipelines were not yet economically viable
  • facilitated the transfer of ownership of Exelon’s Schuylkill Generating Plant to Veolia, which provides the steam loop for Center City Philadelphia, and may also serve as a strategic resource for microgrid development
  • drafted performance guaranties and coordinated the development of large-scale energy efficiency projects at universities, prisons and government offices
  • resolved a large-scale federal enforcement matter against a confidential state government agency investigation relating to the donation of rail cars contaminated with high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls that were released onto museum property
  • oversaw the redevelopment and refinancing for a large aerospace and satellite testing facility for reuse as a large office complex under the New Jersey Brownfields Program
  • acted as redevelopment counsel for the proposed reuse of a Pennsylvania Healthcare Supply Chain Association site as a large regional health care facility
  • represented a client in the purchase of a BRAC facility, obtaining ground and air development rights at a closed military facility with agreement by the Army to remediate, and with full liability protection for the client’s operations
  • acted as counsel and project manager of voluntary drinking-water-quality investigations for a large, multi-jurisdictional school system, involving more than 250 institutions, to detect lead and remediate causes of exposure to students and staff
  • acted as counsel for a large regional chemical company seeking to sell its headquarters facility, which was also a superfund site
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Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
Education
  • J.D., cum laude, Tulane University School of Law
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Tulane University, Phi Beta Kappa
Memberships

  • Lower Bucks Family YMCA Advisory Board, Recording Secretary
  • Chair, Newtown Township Open Space, Parks and Recreation Board
  • Member, Greater Philadelphia Energy Action Team
  • Past Chairman, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

Publications

News

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Presentations

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, “Supply Chain Agreements 2023: Manufacturing and Market Disruption,” Practising Law Institute
  • Panelist, “Climate Risk & ESG Standards: The Intersection of Environmental Regulation and Corporate Disclosure,” Perrin Conferences: Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference
  • Panelist, “Renewable Energy Technologies and U.S. Innovation,” Stradley Ronon and RETTEW Webcast
  • Panelist, “Redevelopment Projects Challenged Through COVID-19 and How They Have Survived,” Council of Development Finance Agencies Virtual National Summit
  • Panelist, “Energy Infrastructure,” Council of Development Finance Agencies’ Intro Infrastructure Finance Webcast
  • Presenter, “Energy Development Incentives under the Federal Opportunity Zones,” Practising Law Institute
  • Presenter, “Downstream Uses of Natural Gas,” Practising Law Institute
  • Presenter, “Renewable Natural Gas Project Development,” Practising Law Institute
  • Moderator, “Negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement,” Practising Law Institute
  • Moderator, “Energy Project Finance Considerations,” Practising Law Institute
  • Panelist, “The Greater Philadelphia Energy Advantage,” Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
  • Panelist, “Changes in Corporate Policies Resulting from Climate Change Initiatives,” American Lawyer Media’s American Compliance and Commitment Legal Summit
  • Panelist, “The Multifaceted Effort to Regulate & Modify Corporate Behavior Through Climate Change Incentives,” Environmental Compliance and Commitment Legal Summit
  • Presenter, “Refueling the Region,” Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
  • Panelist, “Yeah! We’re Going to Electrify Everything…Uh Oh,” Microgrid Philadelphia
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Recognitions

  • Suburban Life Magazine, "Top Attorney"
  • Suburban Life Magazine, "Five-star Attorney"
  • The Best Lawyers in America
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Philadelphia Environmental Litigation "Lawyer of the Year"
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent rating
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In The Community

Andy worked for years to fund and construct inclusive playground structures. He is also chair of Newtown Township’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation Board, whose mission is to expand the open space and trail systems of Newtown, Pennsylvania, develop recreational playing fields, and create a large nature center for environmental education. He is also an adjunct professor at Drexel University’s School of Engineering. Andy also works with veterans and cancer survivors in his capacity on the Bucks County YMCA Board of Advisors.
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