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About Jeff
Jeff Holmstead, former assistant administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for Air and Radiation, is one of the nation’s leading climate change lawyers as recognized by Chambers USA (2008-2023) and heads the Environmental Strategies Group at Bracewell. The Environmental Strategies Group is a multi-disciplinary group that includes environmental and energy attorneys, public policy advocates and strategic communications experts – most of whom have had high-level government experience. Under Jeff’s leadership, they work together on a daily basis to advise and defend companies and business groups confronting major environmental and energy-development challenges, both domestically and globally.
From his time in both the government and the private sector, Jeff is very familiar with the environmental and energy challenges facing the business community. He advises clients dealing with an increasingly complex regulatory, legal and public relations landscape, drawing on his experience in policy development, administrative and legislative advocacy, litigation and strategic communications. He has worked with clients in a number of industries on issues related to climate change, Clean Air Act policy and enforcement, and energy policy — including the development of new coal-fired power plants, refineries, renewable energy sources, and electric transmission infrastructure.
Jeff headed the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation from 2001 to 2005, longer than anyone in EPA history. During his tenure, he was the architect of several of the agency’s most important initiatives, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule, the Clean Air Diesel Rule, the Mercury Rule for power plants and the reform of the New Source Review program. He also oversaw the development of the Bush Administration’s Clear Skies Legislation and key parts of its Global Climate Change Initiative. Between 1989 and 1993, Jeff served on the White House Staff as Associate Counsel to former President George H.W. Bush. In that capacity, he was involved in the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the key steps taken to implement those amendments. From 1987 to 1988, he served as a law clerk to Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Experience
Publications and Speeches
“Critical Considerations for the Development and Operation of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Projects,” Chapter 7, 68 FNREL-INST 7, 2022.
Keynote speaker, “Plan for Growth and Sustain Compliance in an Uncertain Climate”, Environmental Resource Management’s Air Quality Roundtable for Natural Gas Midstream Industry, September 2019
Keynote speaker, “Sea Change? Energy and Environmental Policy Under Trump,” Southern Gas Association Management Conference, April 27, 2017.
Moderator, “All Trumped Up: The First 100 Days and Beyond,” Gulf Coast Power Association Spring Conference & Exhibition, April 19, 2017.
Panelist, “Clearing the Air on the Status of Significant Air Regulations,” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Spring Meeting, March 31, 2017.
Panelist, “The Evolving Southeast Energy & Environmental Policy Landscape,” Energy and Environmental Policy Landscape: Charting the Course for the Southeast Electricity Sector, hosted by Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, February 15, 2017.