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Kenneth J. Gish, Jr

Ken Gish  is of counsel at the firm's Charlotte and Seattle offices where he is a member of the power practice group. Ken is a prominent member of K&L Gates’ Corporate Sustainability Group and assists corporate and institutional customers in meeting sustainability goals through renewable energy purchases. Ken also represents clients in the energy industry, including renewable energy developers and hydropower operators in transactions, before state and federal regulatory bodies and in all aspects of complex project development including defending permit appeals at the administrative and judicial level. Additionally, Ken counsels clients with regard to compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations.

Prior to joining the firm Ken was a member of the environmental, natural resources, and energy services group at a national law firm. In addition, he served as an associate at the K&L Gates Seattle office for seven years. Before law school, Ken served as a watch and division officer on USS San Juan (SSN-751), a nuclear-powered, fast attack submarine.

  • LexArts, Inc.
    • Director, 2019 to Present
  • Leadership Lexington, Class of 2012
    • Distinguished Leader Award, 2012
    • Steering Committee, 2014 to 2020
    • Steering Committee Chair, 2018-2019
  • Bluegrass Greensource, Inc.
    • Director, 2012 to 2019
    • Chair, 2016 to 2018
  • American Bar Association Energy Markets & Finance Committee
    • Vice Chair, Publication, 2016 to 2018
  • American Bar Association Water Resources Committee
    • Vice Chair, Technology; 2005
    • Vice Chair, Membership; 2006 to 2008
  • Kentucky Bar Association, Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section
    • Chair, 2014-2015
  • King County Bar Association Environmental Law Section
    • Secretary; 2007 to 2008
    • Treasurer; 2008 to 2010
  • 23 February 2022, Tips and Tricks for Navigating the Energy Transition, Hosted by Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (Event)
  • “State Policies in Support of Offshore Wind - Do They Matter?,” AWEA Windpower Conference, May 20-23, 2019.
  • “Citizen Suit Enforcement – Filling the Gap,” 20th Annual Kentucky Environmental Permitting and Reporting Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Lexington, Ky., August 11, 2017.
  • "The Changing Face of Kentucky’s Energy Future," Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agricultural & Natural Resources Law Second Annual Symposium: “ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: The Interplay of Regulations and Natural Resources Law and Policy," University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Ky., March 2, 2016.
  • "Managing the Risks of Climate Change," 14th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Lexington, Ky., February 10, 2016. 
  • "Update on Environmental Liability in Real Estate Transactions: Watch-Outs and Best Practices for the General Practice Lawyer," 2015 Kentucky Law Update, Kentucky Bar Association, Lexington, Ky., December 4, 2015. 
  • "Recent Clean Air Act Supreme Court Decisions," 2015 Kentucky Environmental Law CLE Seminar, Kentucky Bar Association Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section, Frankfort, Ky., April 22, 2015. 
  •  "Kentucky's New Brownfield Law: A New Approach for Property Acquisition and Redevelopment," Stites Harbison, PLLC, Thirsty Thursday event, May 22, 2014. 
  • "Brave New World? - Challenges to the Electric Utility Industry (and your utility rates)," 2014 Kentucky Association of Manufacturers Energy Conference, Lexington, Ky., May 15, 2014. 
  • "New Entrants in Electric Generation in the Tennessee Valley," Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 43rd Annual Environmental Show of the South, Gatlinburg, Tenn., April 30, 2014.
  • "Greenhouse Gases at One First Street," 2014 Kentucky Environmental Law CLE Seminar, Kentucky Bar Association Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section, Frankfort, Ky., April 22, 2014.
  • "Stormwater Regulation, It’s Time to Get Serious," 2013 Kentucky Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Environmental Permitting & Reporting Conference, August 21, 2013.
  • "Understanding Riparian and Water Rights," Kentucky Land Laws Seminar, Lexington, Ky., August 15, 2013.
  • "Endangered Species Act in Kentucky," Kentucky Bar Association Environment, Energy and Resources Law 2013 Kentucky Environmental Law CLE Seminar, April 23, 2013.
  • "Dangerous Intersections: Understanding and Navigating the Crossroads of Construction and the Environment," 2013 Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Environmental Conference, March 5, 2013. 
  • "R&D Today & Tomorrow, and Making it Happen," Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, 2012 Energy Conference, Louisville, Ky., June 13, 2012.
  • "Emerging Issues in Oil and Gas Production," Mineral Property Law Seminar, Lexington, Ky., May 17, 2012.
  • “Environmental Protection Regulatory Update," Second Annual Kentucky Environmental Law CLE seminar, Frankfort, Ky., April 10, 2012.
  • "Recent Developments in Clean Air Act Regulations," Recent Developments in Air Quality Regulations Seminar, Louisville, Kentucky, October 6, 2011.
  • "Understanding Kentucky's Surface Water Rights," Kentucky Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, Lexington, Kentucky, March 31, 2011.
  • "What do you mean I'm liable? How to limit exposure to environmental liability in real estate transactions," 11th Biennial Real Estate Law and Practice Institute, UK College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 11 & 12, 2010.
  • “Conserving Energy while Saving the Environment” and “Green Building and Low Impact Development,” Northwest Environmental Conference Portland, Oregon; December 8, 2009.
  • “Wind Power: Legal Framework for Wind Power Siting – Case study: Klickitat County’s Unique Energy Overlay Zone Permitting Process,” LSI’s Land Use in Eastern Washington Conference, Spokane, Washington, July 10, 2007.
  • “Water Issues for Energy Development,” Washington Water Law Conference, Seattle, Washington, June 5, 2007.
  • “Stricter Water Quality Standards and New TMDLs: Minor Tweaks or Major Changes?” Northwest Environmental Conference, Portland, Oregon, December 7, 2006.
  • “Environmental Disobedience,” Northwest Environmental Conference, Portland, Oregon, December 9, 2005.
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
  • Navigating Potential Changes In Carbon Reporting Standards,” Law360, 17 January 2023
  • "Don't Step in It: D.C. Circuit Vacates Manure-Related Notification Exemptions Under CERCLA and EPCRA," Stites & Harbison, PLLC Legal Update, April 13, 2017.
  • "Environmental Compliance for the Distilling Industry," Kentucky Bar Association, Bench and Bar Magazine, November 2013. 
  • "Here we go again: DC Circuit vacates Cross-State Air Pollution Rule," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, August 22, 2012.
  • "Supreme Court Clarifies Test to Determine Navigability for Title to Riverbeds," Water Quality and Wetlands Committee Newsletter, American Bar Association, Vol. 10, No. 2, August 1, 2012.
  • "EPA issues proposed rule limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, March 27, 2012. 
  • "Supreme Court rejects federal common law nuisance claims for greenhouse gas emissions," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, June 20, 2011. 
  • "Comment period opens on EPA’s proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Rule for Coal-Fired Power Plants," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, May 3, 2011. 
  • “New Hydropower: Technical and Regulatory Challenges,” American Water Resources Association – Washington Section Newsletter, July-August 2007.
  • “Conflicting Decisions Leave Open Questions about Water Rights, Constitutional Takings and the Endangered Species Act,” Washington State Bar Association Environmental & Land Use Law Newsletter, Vol. 32, No. 3, November 2005.
  • “Columbia River Summer Spill Reduction Rejected,” ABA Water Resources Committee Newsletter, Vol. 8, No. 1, December 2004.
  • “Unlocking Regulatory Barriers to Sustainable Energy Systems,” Natural Resources & Environment, Fall 2004.
  • “Distributed Generation: A Piece of the Energy Supply Puzzle,” prepared for the LSI Power Supplies in the Pacific Northwest Conference, August 12-13, 2004.
  • “The President’s Ocean Commission: Progress Toward a New Ocean Policy,” Natural Resources & Environment, Summer 2004.
Additional News & Event Pages
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