Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm

Pennsylvania’s former chief environmental guardian will now be looking out for the interests of clients of the national law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott.

John R. Hanger will concentrate on alternative energy, clean transportation infrastructure, energy efficiency, competitive energy markets and smart grid, according to a news release from the firm.

“As I considered potential opportunities, I was extremely impressed by Eckert Seamans. It has tremendous resources and capabilities in the utility and energy sector, and the firm provides a great foundation to draw on my knowledge of clean energy technologies and to help clients in a meaningful way, ” Hangar said. “Globally in 2010 $251 billion was invested in clean energy, and investment is growing rapidly. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth in these areas.”

Hanger served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for more than two years under former Governor Edward G. Rendell. He also is a former Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and had served as the chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, chair of the Pennsylvania Mine Safety Board, vice-chair of Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure Investment Authority, and as a member of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

Prior to serving in the Rendell administration, Hanger was President and CEO of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) where he promoted clean energy supplies and technologies.

Prior to his time with PennFuture, from 1993 to 1998, Hanger was a commissioner with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), where he served on the Electricity Committee, the Consumer Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He advocated for policies that allow consumers to choose their electric, gas and telephone companies; that assist low-income families; and those that benefit the environment, such as net metering, energy conservation, and renewable energy. Hanger has been described as the architect of Pennsylvania’s Electricity Generation Competition and Customer Choice Act that passed in 1996.

Hanger earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and his undergraduate degree at Duke University. He will be working from Eckert’s Harrisburg office.

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