Rachael Becker McEntee
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P. A.
Recognized for
Renewable Energy
The Elite Counsel Perspective
In renewable energy development, Rachael’s command of environmental requirements and utility proceedings is formidable, matched by incisive commercial judgment.
In renewable energy development, Rachael’s command of environmental requirements and utility proceedings is formidable, matched by incisive commercial judgment.
Overview
Rachael Becker McEntee is a shareholder at Bernstein Shur whose practice centers on renewable energy development, alongside energy, environmental and land use law. She advises project sponsors, investors and financial institutions on the development, acquisition and sale of renewable energy projects in New England and beyond. Her work spans solar, hydro, biomass, wind, landfill gas, anaerobic digestion and transmission projects.
Rachael works with clients across a project’s lifecycle, from initial diligence and development through permitting, acquisition and sale. She helps identify regulatory risks early and assess practical ways to address them, drawing on her experience with federal and state energy and environmental requirements. She also represents clients in administrative and adjudicatory proceedings before regulatory bodies, including the Maine Public Utilities Commission and other state public utilities commissions.
Her environmental work includes permitting, regulatory compliance and large-scale remediation projects. Rachael advises on obligations under federal and state environmental laws, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This work complements her renewable energy practice, where environmental requirements and regulatory proceedings can be central to moving a project forward.
Rachael’s approach is pragmatic and tied to clients’ business objectives. She focuses on steps that will advance a project and adjusts course when a different path is more useful. Her experience in private practice, startups and academia informs the multidisciplinary perspective she brings to that work. Clients value her direct communication and collaborative style.
Education
- JD, Boston University
- BA, Harvard University
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- State of Maine
Honors & Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2027 (Since 2021)
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- 2023 Katahdin Counsel
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Maine State Bar Association
- New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE)