Omar represents energy generation companies, project developers, industrial users of energy, businesses, manufacturers, and municipal utilities in a broad range of litigation and regulatory investigations and proceedings involving the power sector. He also advises clients in telecommunication matters involving cell phone antennae and energy-related issues.
A significant portion of Omar’s practice involves representing clients in matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility commissions. He has particular experience with the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), and the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Omar also frequently litigates cases before federal and state courts of appeal, including the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In a recent appeal of a FERC decision to the DC Circuit, Omar presented an oral argument in a dispute concerning the interpretation of a regional transmission organization (RTO) tariff and FERC’s jurisdiction over distributed energy generation interconnections and related cost issues.
In addition, Omar counsels clients seeking to develop or deploy distributed energy generation, behind-the-meter technology, or on-site power generation, including advising on strategies. He provides transactional, permitting, and regulatory approval support, including guidance on pertinent state or federal regulations, and represents parties in transactions or disputes involving qualifying facilities (QF).
Omar’s practice also encompasses providing transactional support on the regulatory aspects of renewable energy project financing. He has represented generators in disputes concerning interconnection, efforts to recover revenues for providing reactive power service, and matters involving market-based rates, including applications and periodic compliance filings.
Prior to joining Mintz, Omar was a senior attorney at an international law firm, where he represented clients in litigation, regulatory, transactional, and telecommunications matters. Earlier in his career, Omar was an attorney-advisor in the Office of General Counsel at FERC, where he advised and worked on determinations on issues involving the NGA, FPA, and PURPA.
viewpoints
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues Landmark Order to Improve Generator Interconnection Processes Across the US
August 2, 2023 | Alert | By Steven Shparber, Omar Bustami, Xandy Walsh
On July 28, 2023 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 2023, a landmark order in which the Commission concluded definitively that the existing pro forma generator interconnection procedures and agreements are insufficient to ensure that interconnection customers are able to interconnect to the transmission system in a reliable, efficient, transparent, and timely manner. Read more to learn about the Order.
News & Press
FERC’s Landmark Interconnection and Transmission Reforms: What Are They, and Will They Survive?
October 9, 2024
Member Steven Shparber and Associates Omar Bustami and Julia Hutchinson Morton co-authored an article in PV Tech about the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission introducing significant transmission reforms aimed at easing interconnection bottlenecks.
Closing 80+ Deals in 2023 Totaling $4B - Mintz Continues Commitment to Energy Transition
February 12, 2024
Mintz’s Energy & Sustainability practice continued its commitment to energy transition with more than 80 deal closings totaling $4 billion over the past 12 months, as global investment in energy transition showed continued strength in an overall down market.