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Ben Dunham

Principal Attorney

 

Ben Dunham is the founder and Principal Attorney at the firm. He counsels clients on regulatory and legislative matters related to energy, environment, tax, and trade. Representative matters include:

• Building and representing a coalition of more than 40 NGOs, labor unions, and companies, which succeeded in authorizing a clean energy program in the Energy Act of 2020, securing $2.4 billion in appropriations for the program in the BIL, and securing $700 million and PTC/ITC eligibility in the IRA.

• In the CHIPS and Science Act, passing bipartisan legislation focused on decarbonizing steel production

• On behalf of a coalition supporting sustainable chemistry, successfully advocating for eligibility for sustainable chemistry projects in numerous IRA programs

• Developing and executing a successful strategy to ensure continuation of the EPA's Safer Choice program during the Trump Administration

• Advising a consumer product manufacturer on designing a legal framework for aggressively addressing plastic waste

• Assisting a leading renewable chemical manufacturer with successful Part I and Part II applications for a Department of Energy loan guarantee

Prior to starting Dunham Law, Mr. Dunham spent five years with several law firms. He also worked as a senior advisor to the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), including roles as Chief Counsel and Legislative Director. He directed the activities of the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health under Lautenberg and negotiated the first bipartisan bill to reform the Toxic Substance Control Act.

Before working on Capitol Hill, Mr. Dunham was Sr. Legislative Counsel for Earthjustice’s Environmental Health practice group and Global Warming Staff Attorney at Environment America.

He has been quoted by the New York Times, Washington Post, the AP, the New Yorker, and has appeared on the CBS Evening News and national radio programs.

Mr. Dunham is an active member of the Washington, DC bar.

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