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Sarah G. Vilms
Principal
Sarah Vilms brings 30 years of experience in energy, environment, natural resources and related policy fields. Specializing within the Energy & Environment Policy Practice Group, Sarah addresses issues on behalf of clients concerning conventional and renewable energy generation, including solar, geothermal, energy storage, lithium production, energy infrastructure and transmission, distributed generation, greenhouse gas emissions, natural infrastructure, ground-level ozone, permitting and federal lands issues.
Sarah also works on behalf of water authorities regarding drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, grants and federal financing incentives.
Sarah directs federal strategy for major US entities, develops comprehensive strategic plans to impact legislation and regulation, secure federal funding opportunities and advises clients in augmenting their national profiles.
Sarah advocates on behalf of client matters before Congress, the White House and federal agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation (USDA), National Science Foundation (NSF), White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), White House Domestic Policy Council and related agencies and governmental entities. She also works with the United Nations and the World Bank on environment and energy related issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Sarah gained experience in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate and working with the Chairman of the Environment Committee for the New South Wales Parliament House in Sydney, Australia.
- Direct federal lobbying for national renewable energy industry association – Provides strategic advice and direct federal lobbying in Congress and with the Administration for issues that benefit the electric industry regarding an extension of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the ITC for stand-alone storage, energy workforce development training and related subsidies, working to include these and other measures in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
- Department of Energy – Representing clients before the DOE on federal funding for grid-scale battery storage capabilities focusing on long-life, high-speed charge and discharge rate and EMF and anti-tamper resilience.
- Water authorities – Representing water authorities before Congress and federal agencies regarding funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, septic to sewer conversions, lead pipe removal and replacement, increasing principal forgiveness and negative interest loans within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
- Cities and counties – Representing cities and counties with regard to energy, environment and natural resource needs before the US federal government. Also provides specific expertise on behalf of cities and counties working with the Department of Commerce to secure funding and opportunities for local entity economic development, including opportunities through the Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) program.
Education
- Brown University, B.A., 1993
- Contributor, “Capital Thinking Update,” Environment and Natural Resources section for weekly online publication by Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP (2010-2014)
- Contributor, “The Trustworthiness of Elections, Voting Machines and Internet Voting, and the Voting Situation for 2012,” Capital Thinking Radio Show, Aired on VoiceAmerica Business (January 13, 2011)
- Contributor, “Will President Obama’s New Title IX Guidelines Level the Playing Field for Aspiring Female Athletes and Academics?” Capital Thinking Radio Show, Aired on VoiceAmerica Business (April 22, 2010)
- Contributing consultant, “The Rising Tide: Emergence of a New Competitive Standard in Health Care,” The Health Care Advisory Board, publication (1996)