Sessions
Panel: Green Banking for Success
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Thu
Ramon-Luis Nieves (born in San Juan, 1975) is a former state senator, former Vice President of a financial institution, and an attorney for more than two decades.
As managing member of RL Legal & Consulting Services (2017-present), Nieves practices law in the state and federal courts of Puerto Rico, as well as regulatory agencies. As part of his energy law practice, Nieves helped organize the first community-controlled microgrid systems in Puerto Rico. Currently, Nieves is drafting his final research project for the Energy Law LLM at Vermont Law School.
During his tenure in the Senate of Puerto Rico, Nieves served as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and the Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Telecommunications. Nieves championed the first energy reform act (Act No. 57-2014), which created the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau as well as new mandates for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the energy sector. He sponsored Act No. 22-2016, which reformed and/or eliminated energy subsidies and; sponsored Act No. 133-2016 to facilitate net metering and authorize microgrids and community-shared solar. Nieves was also member of the special committee of the Senate to investigate corrupt fuel purchase practices at PREPA. As a consultant for the Senate, Nieves contributed to drafting Act No. 17-2019, Puerto Rico’s Energy Public Policy Act.
On November 2, 2017, Nieves testified before the Subcommittee on Energy, Energy & Commerce Committee, U.S. Congress, regarding the effects of Hurricane María, and the energy crisis. He frequently discusses energy issues on the radio, TV, national media, and social media. Nieves is also an active musician, composer and recording artist.