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Weston Adams, III

Weston Adams, III

Partner

Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
T 803.255.9708
301 S. College Street
23rd Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
T 704.417.3000
F 704.377.4814
weston.adams@nelsonmullins.com
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Weston chairs the firm’s Energy Group, and also co-chairs the firm’s Data Center Group.  His energy practice includes energy transactions, energy regulatory matters, and energy litigation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and at state utility commissions. He also practices environmental law.

Weston chairs the firm’s Energy Group, and also co-chairs the firm’s Data Center Group.  His energy practice includes energy transactions, energy regulatory matters, and energy litigation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and at state utility commissions. He also practices environmental law.

Weston Adams, III

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Acted as lead counsel for Meta in successfully arguing Motion to Quash NGO subpoena at Louisiana Public Service Commission regarding Meta’s 2-Gigawatt AI data center planned for northern Louisiana (2025). 
  • Served as lead counsel for Meta in negotiation of power supply agreement, including renewable agreement and CIAC Agreement, for 2.0 Gigawatt AI Data Center to be located in northeast Louisiana (2024-present).
  • Served as lead counsel for offshore wind developer in Duke Carbon Plan proceeding at the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and South Carolina Public Service Commission (SCPSC) (2022-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Big Tech company in dockets at the SCPSC.
  • Worked as lead counsel on various contract negotiations, including renewable PPAs, renewable natural gas agreements, gas supply agreements, and electric supply agreements for EV facilities and EV battery facilities.  
  • Served as lead counsel for Southeastern Wind Coalition in briefing at SCPSC (2024).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Clean Energy Buyers Association in several matters at NCUC and SCPSC (2022-2024).
  • Served as lead counsel for Conservation Voters of South Carolina in briefing at SCPSC (2025)
  • Acted as lead counsel for an EV charging station maker in various matters at SCPSC and NCUC (2019-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in first ever SCPSC Siting Act approval for two 100 MW solar projects, the first ever non-fossil projects to be run through the Siting Act process (2022).
  • Acted as lead counsel in three avoided cost trials on solar energy pricing and standard contract terms at the SCPSC. For press coverage, please follow this link.
  • Served as lead counsel on more than 100 appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court, the South Carolina Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
  • Served as lead counsel for microgrid developer in litigation at the District of Columbia Public Service Commission.
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in PURPA litigation at the SCPSC.
  • Acted as lead counsel for EV charging station manufacturer in two proceedings at the NCUC.
  • Worked as lead counsel for gas pipeline company in SCPSC proceeding on Responsibly Sourced Gas issues.
  • Acted as lead counsel on regulatory, permitting, environmental, and/or land use issues for solar, biomass, biofuels, biogas, and waste-to-energy renewable energy projects.
  • Worked as lead counsel for multiple defendants in a RCRA citizen's suit class action concerning allegations of groundwater contamination.
  • Served as lead counsel for all of one client's U.S. facilities in obtaining Green-e approval that the facilities' energy qualifies as renewable under the Green-e Energy National Standard.
  • Served as lead counsel for multiple clients in both the Carolina Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina and the Ward Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina.

Educational Activities

  • University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
    • Junior year abroad
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Acted as lead counsel for Meta in successfully arguing Motion to Quash NGO subpoena at Louisiana Public Service Commission regarding Meta’s 2-Gigawatt AI data center planned for northern Louisiana (2025). 
  • Served as lead counsel for Meta in negotiation of power supply agreement, including renewable agreement and CIAC Agreement, for 2.0 Gigawatt AI Data Center to be located in northeast Louisiana (2024-present).
  • Served as lead counsel for offshore wind developer in Duke Carbon Plan proceeding at the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and South Carolina Public Service Commission (SCPSC) (2022-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Big Tech company in dockets at the SCPSC.
  • Worked as lead counsel on various contract negotiations, including renewable PPAs, renewable natural gas agreements, gas supply agreements, and electric supply agreements for EV facilities and EV battery facilities.  
  • Served as lead counsel for Southeastern Wind Coalition in briefing at SCPSC (2024).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Clean Energy Buyers Association in several matters at NCUC and SCPSC (2022-2024).
  • Served as lead counsel for Conservation Voters of South Carolina in briefing at SCPSC (2025)
  • Acted as lead counsel for an EV charging station maker in various matters at SCPSC and NCUC (2019-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in first ever SCPSC Siting Act approval for two 100 MW solar projects, the first ever non-fossil projects to be run through the Siting Act process (2022).
  • Acted as lead counsel in three avoided cost trials on solar energy pricing and standard contract terms at the SCPSC. For press coverage, please follow this link.
  • Served as lead counsel on more than 100 appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court, the South Carolina Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
  • Served as lead counsel for microgrid developer in litigation at the District of Columbia Public Service Commission.
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in PURPA litigation at the SCPSC.
  • Acted as lead counsel for EV charging station manufacturer in two proceedings at the NCUC.
  • Worked as lead counsel for gas pipeline company in SCPSC proceeding on Responsibly Sourced Gas issues.
  • Acted as lead counsel on regulatory, permitting, environmental, and/or land use issues for solar, biomass, biofuels, biogas, and waste-to-energy renewable energy projects.
  • Worked as lead counsel for multiple defendants in a RCRA citizen's suit class action concerning allegations of groundwater contamination.
  • Served as lead counsel for all of one client's U.S. facilities in obtaining Green-e approval that the facilities' energy qualifies as renewable under the Green-e Energy National Standard.
  • Served as lead counsel for multiple clients in both the Carolina Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina and the Ward Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina.

Educational Activities

  • University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
    • Junior year abroad

Media

Visit Insights

Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice (2011–2026), Energy Regulatory Law (2011–2026), Litigation – Environmental (2011–2026), Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2011–2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Columbia, SC, Appellate Practice (2023)
  • Columbia Business Monthly's "Midlands Legal Elite", (2011, 2012, 2014–2016); Top Attorney Vote Recipient for Environmental Law (2015- 2016), Energy (2020–2021, 2023), Environmental Law (2020–2024)
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Energy & Natural Resources – North Carolina (2021–2025)

Professional Activities

  • Board of Directors, E4 Carolinas
  • Co–Chair, E4 SC Clean Energy Industries Task Force
  • Chair, Board of Directors, S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance 
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee
  • Board of Directors, Southeastern Wind Coalition

Community

  • Former Chairman, South Carolina Conservation Bank Commission
    • Served on Commission from 2004 to 2014, during which time this state agency  provided state funding for the permanent conservation of more than 250,000 acres of land in South Carolina

Weston chairs the firm’s Energy Group, and also co-chairs the firm’s Data Center Group.  His energy practice includes energy transactions, energy regulatory matters, and energy litigation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and at state utility commissions. He also practices environmental law.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Acted as lead counsel for Meta in successfully arguing Motion to Quash NGO subpoena at Louisiana Public Service Commission regarding Meta’s 2-Gigawatt AI data center planned for northern Louisiana (2025). 
  • Served as lead counsel for Meta in negotiation of power supply agreement, including renewable agreement and CIAC Agreement, for 2.0 Gigawatt AI Data Center to be located in northeast Louisiana (2024-present).
  • Served as lead counsel for offshore wind developer in Duke Carbon Plan proceeding at the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and South Carolina Public Service Commission (SCPSC) (2022-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Big Tech company in dockets at the SCPSC.
  • Worked as lead counsel on various contract negotiations, including renewable PPAs, renewable natural gas agreements, gas supply agreements, and electric supply agreements for EV facilities and EV battery facilities.  
  • Served as lead counsel for Southeastern Wind Coalition in briefing at SCPSC (2024).
  • Acted as lead counsel for Clean Energy Buyers Association in several matters at NCUC and SCPSC (2022-2024).
  • Served as lead counsel for Conservation Voters of South Carolina in briefing at SCPSC (2025)
  • Acted as lead counsel for an EV charging station maker in various matters at SCPSC and NCUC (2019-present).
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in first ever SCPSC Siting Act approval for two 100 MW solar projects, the first ever non-fossil projects to be run through the Siting Act process (2022).
  • Acted as lead counsel in three avoided cost trials on solar energy pricing and standard contract terms at the SCPSC. For press coverage, please follow this link.
  • Served as lead counsel on more than 100 appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court, the South Carolina Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
  • Served as lead counsel for microgrid developer in litigation at the District of Columbia Public Service Commission.
  • Acted as lead counsel for solar developer in PURPA litigation at the SCPSC.
  • Acted as lead counsel for EV charging station manufacturer in two proceedings at the NCUC.
  • Worked as lead counsel for gas pipeline company in SCPSC proceeding on Responsibly Sourced Gas issues.
  • Acted as lead counsel on regulatory, permitting, environmental, and/or land use issues for solar, biomass, biofuels, biogas, and waste-to-energy renewable energy projects.
  • Worked as lead counsel for multiple defendants in a RCRA citizen's suit class action concerning allegations of groundwater contamination.
  • Served as lead counsel for all of one client's U.S. facilities in obtaining Green-e approval that the facilities' energy qualifies as renewable under the Green-e Energy National Standard.
  • Served as lead counsel for multiple clients in both the Carolina Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina and the Ward Transformer Superfund Site case in North Carolina.

Educational Activities

  • University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
    • Junior year abroad

Education

  • University of Florida, MA (1997)
    • Milbauer Fellow and Grinter Fellow (1995–1997)
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1991)
    • Research Editor, South Carolina Law Review
    • Student Representative, USC Law School Faculty Hiring Committee
    • John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court
  • The Society of the Cincinnati’s Scholar to France (1987)
  • University of the South (Sewanee), BA (1987)

Admissions

  • South Carolina
  • North Carolina

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice (2011–2026), Energy Regulatory Law (2011–2026), Litigation – Environmental (2011–2026), Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2011–2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Columbia, SC, Appellate Practice (2023)
  • Columbia Business Monthly's "Midlands Legal Elite", (2011, 2012, 2014–2016); Top Attorney Vote Recipient for Environmental Law (2015- 2016), Energy (2020–2021, 2023), Environmental Law (2020–2024)
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Energy & Natural Resources – North Carolina (2021–2025)
  • Board of Directors, E4 Carolinas
  • Co–Chair, E4 SC Clean Energy Industries Task Force
  • Chair, Board of Directors, S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance 
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee
  • Board of Directors, Southeastern Wind Coalition
  • Former Chairman, South Carolina Conservation Bank Commission
    • Served on Commission from 2004 to 2014, during which time this state agency  provided state funding for the permanent conservation of more than 250,000 acres of land in South Carolina