Renee Cipriano

Partner

Renee Cipriano's practice focuses on providing environmental strategic planning and counseling to a number of clients, including the energy industry, with respect to several local and national initiatives. This includes an emphasis on government relations and public law and policy.

She has extensive experience handling:

• Complex regulatory authorization/permitting matters
• Local government approvals
• Local siting matters
• Public hearings and community outreach
• Situational management

She also has overseen complex multidimensional infrastructure projects, brownfields redevelopment projects and energy projects.

Experience

Highlights of Ms. Cipriano's private practice include:

• Negotiating innovative and one-of-a-kind alternative regulations with the State of Illinois to implement a multi-pollutant strategy as part of the state's mercury regulations
• Assisting a major power plant company with sensitive PSD permitting for a coal-fired power plant in Illinois
• Assisting a municipal utility with negotiating an innovative agreement with an environmental group to allow construction of a new coal-fired power plant
• Providing comprehensive strategic counsel on permitting and third-party outreach to a specialty steel and forgings plant regarding the relocation and expansion of its facility
• Assisting new biomass electric generating facility with PSD permitting, community and government outreach and state legislation
• Assisting two major natural gas distribution pipeline companies with an investigation by the U.S. EPA and Illinois Attorney General into PCB Mega Rule compliance
• Lobbying for the passage of the State of Illinois law requiring installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all dwellings
  

Speeches and Presentations

Ms. Cipriano has lectured on environmental matters for a variety of national and local professional associations.

Previous Experience

• Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal (2005 – 2007)
• Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, State of Illinois [under the administrations of Governors George H. Ryan and Rod R. Blagojevich] (2001 – 2005)
• Senior Advisor on Environment and Natural Resources to Illinois Governor George H. Ryan (1999)
  Partner, Schiff Hardin (1998 – 1999) 
• Associate Director and Chief Counsel, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1995 – 1998)
• Associate, Schiff Hardin (1992 – 1995) 
• Assistant Attorney General, Environmental Control Division of the Illinois Attorney General (1985 – 1992)

In her capacity as Illinois EPA Director, Ms. Cipriano advised the governor on environmental and energy policy and legislation while overseeing a staff of 1,200 and a budget exceeding $1 billion. In this position, she served as an Illinois Commissioner on the Great Lakes Commission; the Environmental Chair of the National Brownfields Association, Illinois Chapter; the Board of Directors for the Clean Energy Community Foundation; and on the Special Task Force on the Condition and Future of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure.
 
Highlights of Ms. Cipriano's government service include:

• Creating the Green Illinois Initiative, a state program to promote environmental stewardship, sustainability, and planning for a healthier and greener future
• Launching of the Green Fleets Program, the Green Dealers Program, and Illinois Clean School Bus Program. These efforts promote the use of clean fuel technology and alternative fuels, including specifically bio-diesel and ethanol.
• Spearheading the development and passage of the state's comprehensive Right to Know Law. This legislative program makes Illinois the nation's leader in public notification and community relations activities when a release of a contaminant is discovered.
• Launching the national recognized program "Green Pays on Green Days." This program was successfully implemented through partnership efforts that included Illinois EPA, WMAQ-TV/Chicago, various Illinois companies, Partners for Clean Air, and others to promote voluntary actions to improve air quality.
• Expanding of one of the nation's most successful brownfields program to clean up and redevelop abandoned industrial sites
• Creating the Basinwide Management Advisory Group as initiate the review and redefinition of how Illinois plans for the protection of water quality
• Creating the first-ever Environmental Justice Officer position in the State of Illinois and Advisory Group to continue development of an environmental justice policy in Illinois
• Implementing Illinois EPA's first uniform Enforcement Management System for compliance and enforcement activities
• Serving as Chair of the Governor's Environment and Natural Resource Cabinet; Governor's Energy Cabinet, and Governor's Balance Growth Cabinet

Awards and Honors

Leading Lawyer – Environment, Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Leading Lawyer – Top 100 Women Lawyers; Top 100 Women Business Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers

Who's Who Legal — Illinois, Environment

Education

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Standing Committee for Environmental Law
Section on Environment, Energy and Resources
        Past Vice Chair

Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
President's Circle