William (Bill)
Westerfield, III

Of Counsel

TEL:

916.556.1531

EMAIL:

bwesterfield@meyersnave.com

OFFICE:

Sacramento

LANGUAGES:

English

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Bill Westerfield brings nearly two decades of experience guiding California’s energy and electricity sectors through complex regulatory, policy, and commercial challenges.

William (Bill) Westerfield is Senior Of Counsel in the Land Use and Environmental Law Practice Group, with nearly two decades focused on California’s energy and electricity sectors. He pairs strategic vision with practical results, guiding clients through complex regulatory, policy, and commercial landscapes.

Bill’s experience spans the public and private sectors. He spent 11 years as Senior Attorney with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, three years as Senior Counsel to the California Energy Commission, and eight years as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. He also led regulatory compliance efforts at Tetra Tech EMI, managing a $265 million Navy installation restoration project and negotiating cleanup goals with state agencies.

He co-founded Pacific Fleet Charging, LLC, helping accelerate the adoption of commercial electric vehicles across California. His work covers electric vehicle charging networks, utility-scale renewable projects, power purchase agreements, natural gas procurement, CPUC rate cases, nuclear fuel permitting, and policies advancing energy storage, greenhouse gas reduction, and renewable energy.

Bill has represented utilities, entrepreneurs, and public agencies in proceedings on renewable portfolio standards, California Solar Initiative standards, and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. At SMUD, he authored legislative and regulatory language to implement California’s climate laws, setting the utility on course for zero carbon emissions by 2030—one of the most ambitious targets in the state.

His notable matters include the precedent-setting United States v. Miami Drum CERCLA case, SMUD’s sale and repurchase of the Solano III wind farm, and reconfiguring gas transportation rights on PG&E’s transmission backbone after the San Bruno tragedy. Known for his easygoing style and adaptability, Bill meets clients where they are—whether that means navigating a policy fight, closing a complex deal, or crafting a compliance strategy for emerging technologies.

He serves as an Advisor to the Executive Committee of the California State Bar’s Environmental Law Section and has been active on non-profit boards supporting both professional and community causes.