David M. DeSalle

David M. DeSalle is a Partner in the Washington, D.C. office of PLG. He helps energy companies, independent power producers, electric cooperatives, manufacturers, and infrastructure developers navigate complex regulatory, transactional, and compliance challenges so they can develop, interconnect, and operate projects successfully.

With more than three decades of experience, David’s practice centers on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) matters, regional transmission organization (RTO) rules and markets, generation interconnection, transmission planning, and related environmental and infrastructure permitting. He has represented clients across nearly every aspect of FERC practice, including open-access transmission service, market design and market-based rates, Federal Power Act Section 203 transactions, reliability compliance under Section 215, and enforcement matters. His experience spans the organized markets of PJM, MISO, and SPP as well as bilateral and western markets outside the RTOs. David is experienced with natural gas supply and transportation matters as well and has also represented companies regarding the manufacture and transportation of liquified natural gas and biogas.

Earlier in his career, David served for over 14 years as counsel to Midcontinent ISO during the development and evolution of its energy and ancillary services markets and interconnection processes. He also represented electric utilities through major generation divestitures and mergers, and he continues to advise clients on state regulatory matters in multiple jurisdictions.

David’s environmental regulatory practice is grounded in his earlier role as counsel and government affairs coordinator for a statewide manufacturing trade association, where he advised members on federal and state environmental permitting and compliance and participated in the proceedings that established retail electric, natural gas, and telecommunications competition. He regularly counsels clients on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting for energy and infrastructure projects, energy efficiency standards, critical infrastructure protection, and cybersecurity compliance.

In addition to his energy and environmental work, David serves as outside general counsel to selected growing businesses, advising their owners on operational, transactional, and strategic matters.

David is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law in Washington, D.C. (2027). He is admitted in the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. He earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Representative Experience

• Advised a major regional transmission organization for over 14 years on the design and implementation of day-ahead and real-time energy and ancillary services markets, regional transmission planning, and generation interconnection queue reform.
• Represented utilities in the divestiture of significant generation portfolios (including nuclear assets) and related merger transactions.
• Negotiate and litigate generator interconnection agreements and related transmission service arrangements, with particular experience on renewable and hybrid BESS projects.
• Counsel independent power producers, cooperatives, and other market participants on FERC and RTO compliance, market rules, and commercial agreements.
• Advise manufacturing and industrial clients on energy supply, interconnection, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance matters affecting facility development and operations.
• Provide outside general counsel services to growing businesses on a range of corporate, transactional, and regulatory issues.