Keith Solar

Law School
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Professional Background
Keith Solar represents both public and private clients primarily in connection with water rights and water-related issues. He has a sub-specialty in desalination.

Solar has served as special counsel to the city of Carlsbad since 2002 to assist the city and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District in negotiating land use and water purchase agreements, respectively, for the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Project. When built, that project will produce 50 million gallons per day of desalinated seawater and will be the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. With respect to desalination projects generally, Solar has significant experience with the negotiation and documentation of: agreements for the manufacture and sale of membranes and spiral wound elements for use in desalination facilities; agreements regarding desalination facilities, including without limitation agreements regarding the purchase of desalinated seawater, development agreements regarding conveyance facilities for desalinated seawater; water delivery agreements; and design‑build‑operate agreements.

In addition to his work in desalination, Solar currently is a member of the State of California, Direct Potable Reuse Technical Advisory Board. During 2014, he also represented San Diego Council District 1 as a member of the City of San Diego Pure Water Working Group. From 2012-13, Solar served as a member of the City of San Diego Water Policy Implementation Task Force. He has authored several published commentaries on water issues, generally.

Professional Affiliations
San Diego County Bar Association; former member of Legal Affairs Committee (2002-04), Association of California Water Agencies.