Energy Attorney

Applied Digital; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Digital seeks a Power and Energy Attorney to support its legal team on power, energy, and infrastructure initiatives, drafting and negotiating PPAs, interconnection agreements, EPC contracts, and energy supply agreements.

You will advise on regulatory matters, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and travel to operating locations as needed. Qualified candidates have 4-8+ years in energy or infrastructure law and bar admission in the U.S.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 4-8 plus years of legal experience, with a focus on energy, utilities, power transactions, or infrastructure law.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate energy-related agreements including PPAs and interconnection agreements.
• Draft and negotiate ESAs, PPAs, energy supply and offtake contracts.
• Provide legal support for power development, utility infrastructure, energy procurement, and grid connectivity.
• Advise on federal, state, and local regulatory matters impacting energy generation, transmission, and procurement.

Skills

Power transactions

PPAs

Interconnection

Energy regulations

Contract drafting

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Bar membership in US jurisdiction

Job description

At Applied Digital, we are the epicenter of AI innovation, crafting cutting-edge data center solutions tailored for the demands of high-performance computing. Designed from the ground up to support AI and machine learning workloads, our infrastructure is the backbone of tomorrow’s technological advancements, including AI-driven video and generative platforms.

We are:

• Forward-Thinkers: With a keen eye on current market trends and future innovations, we adapt swiftly and lead technological evolution.
• Resilient: We navigate complex challenges and emerge stronger, delivering robust and reliable solutions for industry pioneers.
• Innovative Designers: Leveraging the latest technologies, we create visionary solutions that redefine industry standards.

At Applied Digital, we are committed to solving intricate problems, advancing business initiatives, maximizing operational efficiency, and reducing our carbon footprint. We are a team of resilient, forward-thinking innovators driving the AI revolution.

Position Summary:

As the Power and Energy Attorney, you will play a critical role on our Legal team. You will be responsible for supporting the company’s power, energy, and infrastructure initiatives, ensuring legal compliance and mitigating risk across a range of complex commercial transactions. The ideal candidate will have 4-8 plus years of relevant legal experience with a strong focus on drafting and negotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs), interconnection agreements, energy supply agreements, and other power and infrastructure-related contracts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of energy-related agreements, including but not limited to:
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
• Interconnection Agreements
• Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contracts
• Energy Supply and Offtake Agreements
• Transmission and Utility Service Agreements
• Provide legal support for power development, utility infrastructure, energy procurement, and grid connectivity matters.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including development, finance, engineering, operations, and executive leadership.
• Advise internal stakeholders on federal, state, and local regulatory matters impacting energy generation, transmission, power procurement, and utility services.
• Monitor and analyze changes in energy regulations, utility policies, and industry developments, providing practical guidance on compliance and business impacts.
• Support strategic energy initiatives, including power procurement, capacity planning, renewable energy projects, and utility negotiations.
• Assist with dispute resolution, regulatory proceedings, and litigation management as needed.
• Willing and able to travel as needed to the company’s various operating locations (i.e., ND, TX, etc.).

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 4-8 plus years of legal experience, with a strong background in energy, utilities, power transactions, or infrastructure law.
• Strong understanding of energy markets, utility regulations, interconnection processes, and power procurement structures.
• Experience partnering with regulated utilities, electric cooperatives, and alternative energy providers on power procurement, utility services, grid connectivity, and power infrastructure initiatives.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating Electric Service Agreements (ESAs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), energy supply agreements, and other long-term power offtake contracts.
• Strong expertise negotiating and managing energy-related agreements, including interconnection agreements, feasibility studies, engineering and construction agreements, operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements, and management services agreements.
• Deep understanding of utility regulations, transmission and distribution frameworks, and power delivery requirements.
• Familiarity with Public Service Commission (PSC) approval processes, regional transmission organization (RTO) and independent system operator (ISO) requirements, capacity procurement programs, load management programs, and related regulatory compliance matters.
• Experience advising business stakeholders on energy regulatory requirements, utility negotiations, power procurement strategies, and risk mitigation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior in-house experience supporting energy, utility, infrastructure, or data center organizations.
• Law firm experience representing energy developers, utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), or infrastructure clients.
• Experience supporting large-scale power generation, transmission, renewable energy, or data center projects.

Please note that Applied Digital is currently unable to sponsor new applicants for employment authorization or provide immigration-related support for this position. This includes, but is not limited to, visa categories such as H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1, O-1, and any Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) or other work authorizations that require employer sponsorship.

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents acknowledge that they possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.