Attorney: Energy Industry Facing Opposition With Strong Gameplan

摘要

"It's about winning the hearts and minds of the public." That's attorney Robert Alessi's advice to US E&P companies as they either prepare for or start big-budget projects such as planned LNG-export facilities on the Gulf Coast or the Keystone XL pipeline. Alessi is a partner in the New York City-based law firm of DLP Piper and is in its Environmental, Litigation and Energy groups. He told Natural Gas Week that US energy companies are facing a formidable and well-heeled environmental lobby. One of his jobs, he said, is to work with energy companies on projects with an eye to dealing with the public, as well as the green opposition, which often evolves into legal and legislative action. "The opposition will implement their playbook without regard to the specific situation — but then after starting, they refine their opposition," Alessi said, adding that energy companies "have to get ahead of the curve if they are going to succeed."