Teresa Hill and Patrick Ferguson on Energy Policy: How Will States Power the Data Center Boom?

10 minute read | July.08.2025

Orrick energy partners Teresa Hill and Patrick Ferguson spoke with Law360 about the fast-changing landscape for U.S. data center energy policy. Surging demand for AI and cloud computing is driving a new wave of data center development. As states race to attract data center projects while managing grid strain, which regulatory models will set the standard?

Teresa pointed out that tech companies are driving utilities to create new ways to buy renewable energy. “They have often been the source of pressure for utilities to facilitate these transactions, because in a lot of areas in the country, there’s no clear path for them to buy renewable energy directly,” she said.

Patrick highlighted the “clean transition tariff” now in place in Nevada and North Carolina.

Read the full article in Law360

Authors

Teresa Hill Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Energy

Seattle

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D:+1 206 839 4375
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure
Energy
Infrastructure
Renewable Energy
Wind Energy
Solar Energy
Energy Storage
Power
Data Centers
Responsible Business

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Teresa Hill Partner

Seattle

Focused on helping public and private companies in achieving their global “net zero” carbon commitments, Teresa has a particular emphasis on negotiating renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). She has partnered with some of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy, working to expand the global footprint of their energy portfolios in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Teresa has extensive experience with wind, solar and storage projects and, specifically, the negotiation of development-related agreements, including virtually and physically settled renewable power purchase agreements.

Prior to joining Orrick, Teresa was a partner in the energy and infrastructure group of a global law firm and in the environment, land use and natural resources and renewable energy groups of a Portland-based law firm. She also clerked for Chief Justice Linda Copple Trout, the first woman appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Patrick Ferguson Partner, Data Centers, Renewable Energy

San Francisco

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D:+1 415 773 5762
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Data Centers
Renewable Energy
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Offshore Wind
Energy Storage
Energy & Infrastructure
Energy
Power

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Patrick Ferguson Partner

San Francisco

Patrick Ferguson brings two decades of experience guiding clients through the development, financing, acquisition, and sale of some of the most innovative energy projects in the United States. His practice spans a wide range of technologies—including solar, wind, geothermal, energy storage, and natural gas peaking and combined-cycle plants—and he is recognized for his ability to navigate complex regulatory, commercial, and transactional challenges.

Patrick advises project sponsors at every stage of the development lifecycle. His work includes negotiating power purchase and long-term offtake agreements, physical and financial swaps, interconnection and engineering arrangements, operations and maintenance agreements, and management services agreements. He has led the negotiation of many gigawatts of energy storage tolling and capacity agreements with utilities as well as commercial and industrial offtakers, and regularly counsels major power companies on energy and capacity sales under WSPP, EEI, and ISDA contracting frameworks.

Patrick also plays a leading role in the rapidly expanding data center sector. He represents power producers and data center companies in the development of hyperscale facilities across the country, advising on power sleeving arrangements with utilities and behind-the-meter energy solutions. He is the editor of Megawatts to Megabytes: Orrick’s 2025 Guide to Developing, Financing & Powering Data Centers, the firm’s definitive publication on data center infrastructure and energy strategy.

A recognized authority in energy regulation, Patrick has been at the forefront of many of the industry’s most significant and groundbreaking projects. Clients recommend him in Chambers USA for his “expert regulatory and commercial advice” and his “experience across a range of assets including solar and geothermal power plants and transmission lines.” He is ranked as a market leader by Chambers USA, Legal 500 USA, and Best Lawyers.

Patrick was recognized as "2026 Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for Energy Regulatory Law in California.