FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 28, 2022
CONTACT: Lisa Meiman, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720.962.7411
Note: Lisa Meiman was a public affairs specialist.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Ron Klinefelter has been selected as Western Area Power Administration’s senior vice president and General Council. Klinefelter has been acting in this position since Jan. 3; his official start date is Oct. 9.
“I started at WAPA as a GS-7 co-op student more than 30 years ago,” said Klinefelter. “To have the opportunity to serve as WAPA’s General Counsel is truly an honor. I do not take this responsibility lightly and look forward to working with the outstanding Office of General Counsel team to live up to our slogan and ‘transmit the best dam legal advice’ we possibly can.”
As General Counsel, Klinefelter leads more than a dozen attorneys and supporting staff responsible for providing policy, technical and administrative guidance on power marketing and transmission management, sales and operations; construction, claims and supply and services contracts; property management, including acquisition or disposal of real and personal property; personnel law, labor relations and related administrative matters; and ethical restrictions that apply to Federal employees.
The Office of General Counsel also directs all legal activities from research through litigation; prepares and reviews opinions and office memorandum reports establishing WAPA’s position on major legislation and other official guidance, policy and regulations; and prosecutes or defends WAPA before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the Merit Systems Performance Board, Equal Employment Opportunty Commission, Federal Labor Relations Board and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in legal proceedings.
“It is my pleasure to welcome Ron to WAPA’s senior executive team,” said WAPA Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau. “He has extensive knowledge and experience in every area of law affecting WAPA, including eminent domain, open access transmission, market participation and power marketing. His expertise and vast partnerships within and external to WAPA will benefit the organization and our customers as we strive to fulfill our legislative and contractual responsibilities.”
Klinefelter began at WAPA as a law clerk in 1992 and quickly advanced to General Law attorney in 1994, where he focused on controversial land acquisition and condemnation matters. In 1995, he began working with WAPA’s Upper Great Plains region as their regional attorney, focusing on power marketing, transmission, operations and maintenance for the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Program – Eastern Division.
In 2013, Klinefelter was selected as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel where he shared responsibilities with the General Counsel for providing direction of all legal activities within WAPA. In 2016, Klinefelter received WAPA’s Exceptional Service Award, the highest award at the organization. Klinefelter has served as the legal advisor to WAPA’s Power Marketing Management Council and Power System Operations Council.
Klinefelter got his start in the legal field working for a sole practitioner in Pennsylvania in 1988. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law, is admitted into the U.S. Federal District Court of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals and is currently a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Energy Bar Association.
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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 28,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.
Last modified on September 12th, 2023