Guest Blogger: Ken Alex

Ken Alex

Senior Assistant Attorney General

Ken is the Senior Assistant Attorney General heading the environment section of the California Attorney General’s Office, and the co-head of the Office’s global warming unit.  From 2000 to 2006, Ken led the California Attorney General’s energy task force, investigating price and supply issues related to California’s energy crisis.  He spearheaded numerous settlement negotiations against power producers that collectively resulted in over $5 billion of energy crisis-related recoveries for the State of California. Ken has handled cases under most federal and California environmental statutes, and has negotiated dozens of significant settlements, including some of the country’s largest settlements for violations of the Clean Water Act; hazardous waste laws; and natural resource damages provisions.  Ken represents California in the public nuisance actions filed against power and auto companies for emission of CO2 and for global warming, and negotiated agreements with San Bernardino County and ConocoPhillips for the first required reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

California Lawyer named Ken an “Attorney of the Year” in 2004 for his work in energy law, and he received the ABA award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy in 2007 for global warming work. He has taught courses on environmental law and policy at Stanford, Hastings, and Golden Gate University.

Ken is a graduate of Harvard Law School and holds a B.A. in political theory from the University of California at Santa Cruz.