Will Cleveland

Senior Attorney

Will litigates electric utility cases before the Virginia State Corporation Commission and lobbies the Virginia General Assembly on clean energy legislation. He also coordinates with partners to develop policies to decarbonize Virginia’s energy sector in a fair and equitable way.

All major decisions about power generation and the future of a decarbonized economy are made at the state level, which is where SELC focuses its efforts,” Will says. “That’s why I work for SELC.

Will Cleveland

An SELC highlight for Will was adoption of the Virginia Clean Economy Act of 2020

https://www.southernenvironment.org/press-release/new-law-sets-virginia-on-a-clean-energy-path/, which will replace all carbon-emitting power plants in Virginia with zero-carbon generation by 2050, with milestones to ensure progress along the way. This legislation accelerates retirement of fossil-fuel power plants, establishes a statewide energy efficiency standard, speeds installation of rooftop solar for homeowners, and expands larger-scale solar and offshore wind. 

Will has also served on the Virginia Clean Energy Advisory Board, appointed by Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. He served on the board of the Virginia Conservation Network and Local Energy Alliance Program, and was a member of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency.

Raised in Charleston, Will remains fond of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and also has a passion for the mountains of western North Carolina.

Previous experience

• K&L Gates, LLP, associate in the environmental practice group  
• Baker Botts, LLP, associate in the environmental practice group  
• J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
• M.A., Middlebury College, English
• B.A., Middlebury College, cum laude
• With SELC since 2014