Court S. Rich
Court Rich is Co-Founder of Rose Law Group and is Director of the firm’s Regulatory and Renewable Energy Department. Court practices in the areas of renewable energy, utilities, municipal law, regulatory law, land use and zoning, administrative law, real estate, and handles administrative matters in front of the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, the Arizona Department of Real Estate, and lobbying at the State Legislature. Court serves as regulatory counsel for some of the largest solar companies and solar industry organizations in the United States. Court has extensive experience helping clients solve complicated real estate development and regulatory issues in all parts of the Valley and around the State of Arizona. Court has assisted clients in some especially unique development issues related to, utility services, floodplains, assurances, freeway and utility siting, as well as securing use permits, and variances where needed.
On the regulatory front, Court has worked on numerous groundbreaking matters in Arizona including acting as lead counsel before the Arizona Corporation Commission for the largest solar energy industry groups in the country in matters relating to the future of distributed generation in Arizona. Court has negotiated numerous power purchase agreements and turnkey agreements for utility scale solar generation facilities with utilities including among others Arizona Public Service, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Tucson Electric Power. In addition, Court has drafted and negotiated solar service agreements, solar lease agreements, and solar purchase agreements for numerous distributed scale solar projects with a variety of off-takers.
Under Court’s leadership, Rose Law Group pc has become the leading firm in Arizona for renewable energy and its renewable energy department was just ranked number one in the state by Ranking Arizona.
Court’s work demands that he have close relationships with elected officials and state, municipal, and county staff members throughout Arizona. As a result, Court is often involved in election campaigns in support of local and state candidates and stays involved in the communities in which he works. Court is always ready to assist clients in working with municipal, county, or state officials in an effort to build better communities and solve local and regional issues.
Court is a regular speaker and panelist on all things related to renewable energy. Court also has served as pro bono counsel for the Institute for Justice (representing a Winchell’s Donut shop against first amendment abuse) and has been an associate scholar at the Goldwater Institute which published his policy brief, “Protecting Private Property Rights: The Case for Vested Property Rights.”
He supports and serves on committees for various Valley philanthropic organizations including Teen Lifeline, which is one of his favorites. Former Governor Jan Brewer appointed Court to sit on her Solar Energy Advisory Task Force. Court was recently appointed by the Mayor and Council to sit on the City of Phoenix’s ad hoc committee on electric vehicle issues. Court is Vice President of the Arizona Solar Energy Industry Association, and a member of the Phoenix Green Chamber’s Public Policy Committee. Court also sits on the City of Scottsdale Cultural Council’s Scottsdale Public Art Advisory Board, the Board of the Arizona chapter of Gen Next, the Board of Directors for the Gen Equity Political Action Committee, and formerly served on the executive board of the Economic Development Group of Eloy (EDGE). Court is a proud graduate of Scottsdale Leadership’s Class 23, a member of Gen Next, and Pinal Partnership.
Court received his B.A. in philosophy from University of Arizona in 1998 and his J.D. from Arizona State University in 2001 where he was a Pedrick Scholar. He is a member of the State Bar of Arizona Association.
On the lighter side, he was named “Best Name for a Lawyer” in the Phoenix New Times’ Best of Phoenix Issue, 2001.
In The News
More on Rose Law Group Co-Founder Court Rich’s fight for rooftop solar at the Arizona Corporation Commission
By Tim Stellar | Arizona Daily Star The commissioners were drilling deep into UniSource Energy Service’s efficiency efforts Thursday when they struck a favorite: The tree giveaway program. Arizona Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers, who was elected in November, questioned the utility representative’s assertion that the company checks on where customers plant their trees. ‘You mentioned you go out and spot-check
Court Rich, Rose Law Group co-founder and renewable energy and utility infrastructure department director, gets accolades from Tesla!
Rohan Patel, senior global director of public policy and business development at Tesla, sent out a tweet to Rose Law Group Co-founder Court Rich in the wake of his huge win for rooftop solar last week before the Arizona Corporation Commission. Rich’s message to the regulatory body helped persuade commissioners from making deeper cuts to grid credits for solar customers. Kudos from Rohan: “Thanks for
Tucson Electric Power’s new solar customers to see lower credits; Rose Law Group co-founder Court Rich calls for “due process”
By David Wichner | Arizona Daily Star New rooftop-solar customers of Tucson Electric Power will get 10% lower credits for excess energy they export to the grid, under a reset of such credits approved Thursday by the Arizona Corporation Commission. But the utility panel voted to put off until October discussion of changes to the solar export credits, after hearing an earful
Bright future for EVs and renewable energy, predicts Court Rich, Rose Law Group co-founder, senior partner, and director of the Renewable Energy and Regulatory Law departments
By Shane Brennan || Arizona Capitol Times The future looks bright for electric vehicles in Arizona, says Court Rich, the co-founder, senior partner, and director of the Renewable Energy and Regulatory Law departments for the Rose Law Group in Scottsdale. Rich fought legal battles against utility companies to ensure greater access for rooftop solar panels. In 2019, he represented a
Rose Law Group Co-founder Court Rich answers: Can solar power help fix drought-ravaged farmlands?
By KJZZ The American West is experiencing its worst drought in over 1,000 years. That’s making a lot of farmers rethink their sustainability practices and reimagine land that has become infertile. One way to innovate is via solar energy. Solar panels can make use of depleted land and help offset a farm’s energy costs. They also preserve groundwater and help with crop growth. There is
Mercado Courtyards, with essential worker program, approved by Scottsdale development board; Rose Law Group Co-founder Court Rich makes the case
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Caliber.) By J. Graber | Scottsdale Progress Two complexes that would bring a combined 492 apartments to an area near the intersection of 92nd Street and Shea Boulevard have won their first round of city approvals. The Scottsdale Development Review Board voted Nov. 3 to recommend City Council and City Planning Commission approval of the