Counsel
John A. Hodges

Practices
Education
Columbia Law School, LL.B., with honors
- Stone Scholar
- Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Managing Editor
Harvard University, A.B.
Clerkship
- Hon. Edwin D. Steel Jr., U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Admission
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
John Hodges is an accomplished attorney in the areas of energy, environmental law, product safety, and international trade.
John regularly counsels clients on energy efficiency, environment, data centers, artificial intelligence, product safety, products liability, standards, unfair competition, advertising, corporate issues, and international trade. He represents a broad range of consumer and industrial products manufacturers and service providers in federal and state regulatory, litigation, and legislative proceedings. He has extensive experience in representing the interests of trade associations.
John has litigated on a broad variety of complex issues, including energy efficiency, environment, preemption, and liability of foreign states and their instrumentalities.
He has extensive experience concerning energy efficiency of appliances and other products, including standards; testing and labeling; legislation; rulemaking before the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); state regulatory proceedings (including the California Energy Commission); litigation in federal and state courts; and enforcement, exception, and waiver proceedings, as well as in connection with trade association certification and compliance programs. He has played an important role on behalf of clients in preparing amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. He has also dealt with product safety, labeling, and marketing claims before the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the FTC.
John represents clients before numerous governmental agencies, including the DOE, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (including ENERGY STAR), the U.S. Departments of Commerce (DOC), Agriculture (USDA), Homeland Security (DHS), Interior (DOI), Labor (DOL), Justice (DOJ), State (DOS), and Transportation (DOT), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), the International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as before the National Advertising Division (NAD). He also represents trade associations on corporate governance, antitrust compliance, government affairs, and litigation.
Read More+Education
Columbia Law School, LL.B., with honors
- Stone Scholar
- Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Managing Editor
Harvard University, A.B.
Representative Experience
- Represented clients in DOE rulemaking proceedings for residential gas furnaces, room air conditioners, portable air conditioners, electric motors, battery chargers, external power supplies, and other products.
- Represented clients in DOE and ENERGY STAR enforcement cases, including central air conditioners, water source heat pumps, commercial package air conditioners, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water heaters, refrigerators, commercial freezers, clothes washers, lamp fixtures, and other products.
- Represented clients in judicial challenges to DOE rules for central air conditioners, heat pumps, walk-in coolers and freezers, and direct heating equipment.
- Represented manufacturers in obtaining waivers from DOE for central air conditioners, room air conditioners, portable air conditioners, commercial refrigeration equipment, and external power supplies.
- Represented clients regarding data centers and related energy and artificial intelligence (AI).
- Represented manufacturers relating to California Energy Commission requirements for computers, battery chargers, air conditioning equipment, water heaters, commercial refrigeration equipment, light-emitting diodes, small-diameter directional lamps, and other products.
- Represented manufacturers concerning products tested under industry certification and compliance programs.
- Drafted and negotiated proposed amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for a trade association.
- Represented clients before the CPSC regarding computers, batteries, adapters, clothes washers, and other products.
Publications and Presentations
Publications
- “New Trump Administration Proposals Target DOE Energy Efficiency Rules”, HWG Advisory (May 2025)
- “Trump DOE’s Plan On AI Offers Challenges, Opportunities,” Law360 (April 2025)
- “How Trump Orders Roll Back Energy Efficiency Mandates,” Law360 (February 2025)
- “Trump Orders Impact Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (February 2025)
- “How Global Data Center Regs May Influence U.S. Policies,” HWG Advisory (December 2024)
- “Data Centers: Artificial Intelligence Spurs Need for More Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (September 2024)
- “House Passes Bill to Curb DOE Energy Efficiency Powers,” HWG Advisory (May 2024)
- “DOE Amends NEPA Categorical Exclusions,” HWG Advisory (May 2024)
- “DOE Again Amends Energy Efficiency Process Rule,” HWG Advisory (April 2024)
- “FTC Proposes Changes to Energy Labeling Rule; Adopts Amended Labeling Rule for Televisions,” HWG Advisory (February 2024)
- “Court Vacates Energy Efficiency Standards for Failure to Consider Alternatives and Explain Choices,”HWG Advisory (January 2024)
- “COP28 Agreement on Doubling Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement by the End of this Decade; DOE Presses Forward on Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory (December 2023)
- “Bills Would Limit DOE Energy Efficiency Powers; DOE Presses Forward,” HWG Advisory (September 2023)
- “Court Overturns DOE Energy Efficiency Standard; Efficiency Program Moves Forward,” HWG Advisory (August 2023)
- “Energy Efficiency to Tame Data Center Energy Use,” HWG Advisory (July 2023)
- “Pressures on Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (June 2023)
- “A Shot Across the Bow of Energy Efficiency Program,” HWG Advisory (May 2023)
- “Energy Efficiency Pushed in Proposed Biden Budget,” HWG Advisory (April 2023)
- “Fast Start in 2023 on Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (March 2023)
- “Boost to DOE Energy Efficiency Programs,” HWG Advisory (February 2023)
- “Fusion: Not a Near-Term or Mid-Term Substitute for Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (January 2023)
- “Energy Efficiency: Offramp on ‘Highway to Climate Hell,’” HWG Advisory (November 2022)
- “FTC Explores Changes to Energy Labeling Rule, Right to Repair,” HWG Advisory (November 2022)
- “Climate Change, Energy Shocks Increase Focus on Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (October 2022)
- “Inflation Reduction Act Accelerates Biden Energy Efficiency Agenda,” HWG Advisory (August 2022)
- “DOE Reorganizes and Presses Ahead on Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (July 2022)
- “DOE’s Continued Push for Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (March 2022)
- “DOE Starts Proceeding on Efficiency Standards for External Power Supplies,” HWG Advisory (February 2022)
- “DOE Energy Efficiency Activity Pushes Forward in 2022,” HWG Advisory (January 2022)
- “DOE Amends Energy Efficiency Interim Waiver Rule,” HWG Advisory (December 2021)
- “DOE Amends Energy Efficiency Process Rule,” HWG Advisory (December 2021)
- “Energy Efficiency Initiatives Dramatically Escalate Here and Abroad,” HWG Advisory (November 2021)
- “DOE Continues Sprint to Update Energy Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory (September 2021)
- “DOE Continues Rollback of Trump-Era Rules; Updates Other Energy Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory(August 2021)
- “DOE Proposes Changes to the Energy Efficiency Interim Waiver Process,” HWG Advisory (July 2021)
- “DOE Proposes More Changes to Trump-Era Energy Efficiency Process Rule,” HWG Advisory (July 2021)
- “DOE Proposes to Amend Energy Efficiency Process Rule,” HWG Advisory (April 2021)
- “DOE Proposes to Eliminate Rule on Guidance,” HWG Advisory (March 2021)
- “DOE Grapples with Prioritization and Other Energy Efficiency Issues,” HWG Advisory (February 2021)
- “Biden Administration Focuses on Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (February 2021)
- “DOE Proposes Revisions to Efficiency Enforcement Regime,” HWG Advisory (September 2020)
- “DOE Amends Efficiency Rulemaking Procedures; Proposes Amended Standards Selection,” HWG Advisory (February 2020)
- “Push to Shrink Digitalization’s Carbon Footprint,” HWG Advisory (February 2020)
- “Sizzling World Presses Industry for Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (December 2019)
- “Court of Appeals Rejects DOE Delays in Publishing Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory (October 2019)
- “States Ramp Up Energy Efficiency Requirements,” HWG Advisory (July 2019)
- “DOE Proposes Eliminating Bottleneck in Energy Efficiency Waiver Process,” HWG Advisory (May 2019)
- “Compliance Planning for California IoT Security Requirements,” HWG Advisory (May 2019)
- “California Dramatically Escalates Energy Efficiency Enforcement,” HWG Advisory (April 2019)
- “Court Rejects DOE Stay of Test Procedures Rule,” HWG Advisory (March 2019)
- “DOE Proposes Significant Changes to Lighting Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory (March 2019)
- “DOE Proposes to Amend Efficiency Rulemaking Procedures,” HWG Advisory (February 2019)
- “DOE Requests Information About Smart Appliances and Equipment,” HWG Advisory (September 2018)
- “CPSC to Hold Hearing on Internet-Connected Consumer Products,” HWG Advisory (March 2018)
- “Court Orders DOE to Publish Efficiency Rules,” HWG Advisory (February 2018)
- “DOE Battery Charger Standards Take Effect in Five Months: Are You Ready?,” HWG Advisory (January 2018)
- “DOE Requests Comment on Amending Energy Efficiency Procedures,” HWG Advisory (December 2017)
- “DOE Seeks Input on Energy Efficiency Flexibilities,” HWG Advisory (November 2017)
- “California Adopts Efficiency Rules for Computer Innovation,” HWG Advisory (November 2017)
- “Whither Energy Star: Changes Debated for Longstanding Efficiency Program,” HWG Advisory(November 2017)
- “DOE Releases Game Plan on Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Exports, National Labs, and NEPA,” HWG Advisory (October 2017)
- “Congress, Administration Grapple Over Energy Efficiency Programs,” HWG Advisory (October 2017)
- “California Proposes Amendments to Energy Efficiency Rules for Computers,” HWG Advisory (October 2017)
- “DOE Considers Market-based Approach to Energy Efficiency,” HWG Advisory (October 2017)
- “California Presses Forward with New Energy Efficiency Standards,” HWG Advisory (October 2017)
- “President Trump Signs Executive Order to Strengthen ‘Buy American’ and ‘Hire American’ Programs,” HWG Advisory (April 2017)
- “California Adopts Energy Efficiency Rules for Computers, Computer Monitors, and Signage Displays,” HWG Advisory (January 2017)
- “California Proposes Efficiency Rules for Computers, Computer Monitors, and Signage Displays,” HWG Advisory (September 2016)
- “Doubling Down: Energy Efficiency Penalties Skyrocket,” HWG Advisory (July 2016)
- “New Efficiency Rules for Computers and Computer Monitors Move Forward,” HWG Advisory (April 2016)
- “The 40-Year Legacy Of Energy Efficiency Legislation,” Law360 (October 2015)
- “Upping the Ante: California’s Draconian New Efficiency Enforcement Rule,” Bloomberg Environmental Reporter (September 2015)
- “DOE Again Proposes Energy Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers,” HWG Advisory(September 2015)
- “CPP Is An Opportunity For Appliance And Equipment Industry,” Law360 (September 2015)
- “Appliances, Lighting, Computers, Data Centers, and Computer Servers,” The Law of Clean Energy: Efficiency and Renewables (2011)
Presentations and Lectures
- “Raising the Stakes in Energy Efficiency Enforcement,” (Co-presenter) Webinar (May 2016)
Media Coverage
- Quoted in “AI Data Centers Pose Regulatory Challenge, Jeopardizing Climate Goals – Study,” Data Center Knowledge (December 2024)