Josh Kaplowitz

Counsel

202.220.6919

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Overview
Insights
Awards

Josh focuses his practice on regulatory, policy, contractual, and litigation matters related to offshore wind and renewable energy. With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, he has a deep understanding of what it takes to guide major clean energy infrastructure projects through the federal environmental law review process and survive judicial review – including permitting and litigation involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), and Clean Water Act (CWA).

Josh previously served as vice president for offshore wind at the American Clean Power Association (ACP), where he led ACP’s offshore wind advocacy efforts, working to advance the organization’s policy, legislative, and regulatory priorities for offshore wind, with a particular emphasis on advocating for permitting reforms before a wide range of federal agencies and Capitol Hill. He also facilitated ACP’s collaboration with state and local governments, stakeholders, and the public.

After working in private practice as an environmental, toxic tort, and commercial litigator, Josh served for five years in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior as legal counsel for BOEM’s Office of Renewable Energy Programs and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). During his tenure, he helped guide multiple projects through the NEPA process, advise on multiple major rulemakings, and defend his client agency against legal challenges to its permits and leases. While at the Solicitor’s Office, Josh also advised BOEM on expanded use of categorical exclusions and other potential methods for streamlining its NEPA process.

Josh is a frequent speaker and writer on renewable energy law and policy. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University College of Law, where he teaches a seminar on offshore wind law.

Overview

Josh focuses his practice on regulatory, policy, contractual, and litigation matters related to offshore wind and renewable energy. With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, he has a deep understanding of what it takes to guide major clean energy infrastructure projects through the federal environmental law review process and survive judicial review – including permitting and litigation involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), and Clean Water Act (CWA).

Josh previously served as vice president for offshore wind at the American Clean Power Association (ACP), where he led ACP’s offshore wind advocacy efforts, working to advance the organization’s policy, legislative, and regulatory priorities for offshore wind, with a particular emphasis on advocating for permitting reforms before a wide range of federal agencies and Capitol Hill. He also facilitated ACP’s collaboration with state and local governments, stakeholders, and the public.

After working in private practice as an environmental, toxic tort, and commercial litigator, Josh served for five years in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior as legal counsel for BOEM’s Office of Renewable Energy Programs and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). During his tenure, he helped guide multiple projects through the NEPA process, advise on multiple major rulemakings, and defend his client agency against legal challenges to its permits and leases. While at the Solicitor’s Office, Josh also advised BOEM on expanded use of categorical exclusions and other potential methods for streamlining its NEPA process.

Josh is a frequent speaker and writer on renewable energy law and policy. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University College of Law, where he teaches a seminar on offshore wind law.

Insights

Speaking Engagements

2025 Renewable Energy Seminar

Speaking Engagements

2025 Energy Bar Energy Forum

Press Coverage

Trump Offshore Wind Actions Send ‘Shock Waves’ Through Clean Energy Investment

Press Coverage

Trump’s War on Offshore Wind: Tracking the Actions and Impacts

See all insights from Josh Kaplowitz

Awards

Top areas of focus

  • Adjunct professor, George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C. (2022-present)
  • Vice president, offshore wind, American Clean Power Association, Washington, D.C. (2021-2023)
  • Senior counsel, U.S. offshore wind, GE renewable energy, Washington, D.C. (2020-2021)
  • Attorney-advisor, Division of Mineral Resources, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Washington, D.C. (2015-2020)

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2007, editorial board, Journal of Law & Politics
  • Yale University, B.A., with distinction, 2000

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Speaker, “Future of Renewables,” 2025 Renewable Energy Seminar, September 18, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Navigating the Headwinds: The Future of U,S, Offshore Wind,” 2025 Energy Bar Energy Forum, September 15, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Member Webinar: Federal Energy Update with Liz Burdock & Policy Experts,” Oceantic Network, June 11, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Power Plays: Emerging Challenges at the Intersection of Energy and Environmental Law,” American Law Institute, June 6, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Navigating Renewable Energy: Insights from the ACP Siting and Permitting Conference,” Energy Law Insights, May 30, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Beyond Wind Turbines – Understanding Presidential Energy Directives and the Energy Project Landscape” and “Charting the Energy Addition – Offshore Wind’s Rising Influence,” 2025 Offshore Technology Conference, May 5-8, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Unpacking the New Presidential Directives on Offshore Wind: What They Mean and What Comes Next,” 2025 Oceantic Network International Partnering Forum, April 28 – May 1, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Developments in the Intersection of Energy and Environmental Law,” 2025 Environmental Law: Tackling the Issues in a Pivotal Year Conference, February 21, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Permitting in Federal and State Waters,” The Tulane Offshore Wind Conference: The Future for Offshore Wind in the Gulf and Nationally, January 31, 2025.
  • Moderator, “Get Wind of This: The 2024 Election’s Wake Effect on Offshore Wind,” Locke Lord Seminar Series, December 9, 2024.
  • Author, “Courts Scrutinize Pretextual Challenges to Offshore Wind,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, October 2024.
  • Author, “Furling the Sales: Offshore Wind Developers Are Tacking Away From Higher Risk Auctions,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, October 1, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Regulatory Frameworks, Permitting and Incentives,” AFloat: American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit 2024, September 25, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Energy Regulation After Loper Bright, Corner Post and Jarkesy: Agency Implications, Anticipated Impacts,” Strafford Webinar, September 19, 2024.
  • Moderator, “Get Wind of This: BOEM’s Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Lease Sale,” Locke Lord Seminar Series, September 18, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Riding the Wave: Offshore Wind Feeding Solutions,” Oceantic Network: International Partnering Forum 2024, April 22-25, 2024.
  • Speaker, “How Offshore Wind Can Thrive,” Northeast Energy and Commerce Association: 2024 Renewable Energy Conference, March 7, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Leasing in Federal and State Waters,” Tulane Offshore Wind Conference: The Future for Offshore Wind in the Gulf and Nationally, January 2024.
  • Moderator, “Timing the Supply Chain: When Will My Services By Procured,” Louisiana Wind Energy Week, January 2024.
  • Panelist, “Permitting and NEPA Reform,” American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources Public Land and Resources Committee, June 2023.
  • Moderator, “Going Big on California Offshore Wind: State & Federal Progress & Direction,” Pacific Offshore Wind Summit, May 2023.
  • Keynote speaker, “Offshore Wind: Opportunities and Challenges,” 2023 State Energy Conference of North Carolina, April 2023.
  • Panelist, “Collaborative strategies to minimize conflicts between offshore wind development and sand resources,” American Shore and Beach Preservation Association Coastal Summit, March 2023.
  • Panelist, “Offshore Wind Siting and Permitting Challenges,” ALI-ABA Environmental Law 2023, February 2023.
  • Panelist, “Put Your Next Foot Forward: Next Generation Technologies and Innovations,” American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources 30th Fall Conference, September 2022.
  • Moderator, “Offshore Wind and Energy Independence in the US,” Nexans Climate Day, September 2022.
  • Panelist, “Building the Plane While We’re Flying It – Should We Reform the Offshore Wind Leasing and Permitting Process During Liftoff for a New Industry?” Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Annual Institute, July 2022.
  • Panelist, “Wind, Water, and Waves: Marine and Great Lakes Renewable Energy,” Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Annual Institute, June 2022.
  • Moderator, “Transition to Offshore Wind,” ACP CLEANPOWER, May 2022.
  • Panelist, “Offshore Wind Development in the Southeast: Opportunities and Challenges,” Energy Bar Association, Southern Chapter Annual Conference, March 2022.
  • Moderator, “Offshore Wind Safety Standards,” American Clean Power Operations Maintenance and Safety Conference, March 2022.
  • Panelist, “Offshore Wind and Other Renewables Energy Development,” Environmental Law Institute/ALI-ABA, February 2021.
  • Moderator, “Wind of Change: Federal Offshore Policy in 2021,” AWEA Offshore Windpower, October 2020.
  • Presenter, “BOEM Permitting of Offshore Wind: A Legal Primer,” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, July 2020.