
Peter A. Tomasi
Partner
Pete Tomasi understands environmental law, policy, and politics from decades of counseling and litigation experience in the field. A partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, he is a member of the firm’s Environmental Regulation Practice and is co-chair of the Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) Team. His practice focuses on regulatory compliance and renewable energy, but Pete further has experience with general civil, commercial, and intellectual property litigation.
Pete is a strategic counselor to major energy producers and corporations of all sizes in working with state and federal regulators to secure permits, complete environmental review, and address cultural resource concerns for natural resource projects, power generation, and advanced manufacturing and data centers. Pete also has addressed environmental cleanups and Superfund sites, defend Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act permits, and resolved hazardous waste concerns. He is recognized by Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, and clients with complex and challenging questions.
Representative Experience
- Counseling clients regarding construction and operation permits for air, wetlands, and wastewater for infrastructure projects, including manufacturing facilities, pipeline and terminal facilities, and power generation and transmission projects.
- Defending the adequacy of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA).
- Assisting clients with sustainability reporting, including developing its first carbon management and climate change strategy and revising annual Climate Disclosure Project submissions.
- Advising clients regarding environmental and regulatory concerns relating to the construction and operation of renewable energy projects including biomass, solar and wind energy, including providing due diligence to lenders and tax equity investors for two wind farms, which also included an evaluation of the need for and completeness of efforts to obtain relevant federal, state and local approvals.
- Representation of logistics providers and reverse distributors in rulemaking and enforcement matters involving hazardous waste pharmaceuticals.
- Assisting clients with obtaining environmental permits from state, federal and tribal agencies for mining operations as well as assisting clients in developing reclamation and general compliance plans.
- Representation of clients in citizen suits brought under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act against utility and manufacturing facilities.
- Assisting clients in preparing comments on federal regulations issued under the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Restoration Act and the National Energy Policy Conservation Act.
- Providing ongoing consultation and advice to coal, biomass and gas fired facilities regarding day-to-day compliance with the requirements of the New Source Review program, the New Source Performance Standards, the Title IV Acid Rain program and future greenhouse gas regulatory requirements.
Awards and Recognition
- Selected as a 2023 and 2024 “Energy Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers.
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental (2010-2017, 2019-2021, 2023-2024)
- Listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the fields of natural resources and environmental law (2011-2025)
- Recognized, “Lawyer of the Year” in Milwaukee by Best Lawyers Magazine for his work with energy law (2018)
- Selected for inclusion to the Wisconsin Rising Stars list (2008-2012)
Affiliations
- Member, American Bar Association
- Chair-elect, Wisconsin Bar Association
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Has SCOTUS Pre-decided Whether the NRC Can License Private Off-Site High-Level Nuclear Waste Storage Facilities?
John Strom and Peter Tomasi Quoted on Shift in Environmental Policy
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Leading the Charge: How TVA's SMR Application Signals Industry-Wide Change
Foley Secures Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2025
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