Kelly Schaeffer

Kelly has over 27 years of experience working on the licensing and compliance of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydroelectric projects. As a former FERC regulator, Kelly understands the FERC processes and the complexities of multi-party/multi-interest negotiations. She specializes in strategic planning, facilitation and working with agencies and other stakeholders. Kelly has also specialized in implementing the NEPA process for a variety of clients, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Kelly has worked on both sides of the NEPA process — formerly as a regulator for FERC and now as an environmental consultant — which brings a uniquely broad and sophisticated understanding of the NEPA process to Kleinschmidt’s NEPA Services Group. Her recent projects include preparing third-party environmental impact statements for Transmission Developers Inc.’s New England Clean Power Link for the DOE, the Chester County Stream and the Riparian Restoration/Enhancement Project for the U.S. Forest Service. In addition, Kelly specializes in strategic planning, facilitation, and negotiation with multi-interest/multi-party groups and cooperating agencies. Kelly is a member of the National Hydropower Association, the U.S. Society on Dams and is on the Steering Committee for the Women In Waterpower Mentorship Program. She is also a member of the Alabama Water Resources Association. She has an M.S. in Parks and Recreation from Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in Parks and Recreation from the University of Maryland.