Balch's Jesse Unkenholz Receives Young Leadership Award by the Birmingham Jewish Federation

Jesse Unkenholz, partner in Balch’s Birmingham office and member of the Energy Practice, will be awarded the Joanie Plous Bayer Young Leadership Award by the Birmingham Jewish Federation. Jesse has been on the Board of the Levite Jewish Community Center (LJCC) for many years, and has served in volunteer and leadership roles within the organization. He is also a member of the LJCC Executive Committee and is known as the “go-to person” for countless members of the Jewish community. 

Jesse, a Birmingham native, has been involved with the Levite Jewish Community Center since childhood. Upon returning to Birmingham to begin his legal career, Jesse felt that reigniting his involvement with the LJCC was a natural fit. As a result, Jesse was able to grow his social and professional networks and quickly gain leadership experience. He co-chaired a Next Gen group of young leaders who served on Birmingham Jewish agency boards. Together, they worked to create a strategic vision and implementation plan for unified and sustainable Jewish community organizations in the Birmingham area. Currently, Jesse is co-chair of the Search Committee for a new CEO of the Birmingham Jewish Federation.

Jesse advises clients in all aspects of the electric industry, focusing on natural gas and renewable energy generation. He has extensive experience developing new wholesale and retail renewable energy products and programs, advising clients on voluntary, state, and federal green energy requirements, compliance with Renewable Energy Credit (REC) mandates and marketing requirements, and energy efficiency legislation and regulations. Jesse's practice involves Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) compliance, policy, litigation, and appeals. He also assists utility clients in matters before state public service commissions and other regulatory agencies.