The Vermont Law School, VLS Alumni in Energy Affinity Group, the Institute for Energy and the Environment, and the Environmental Law Institute co-sponsored the Vermont Law School’s second annual Alumni in Energy Symposium. The event was comprised of three interactive, facilitated programs.
PANEL 1: “Will the Clean Power Plan make it through the courts?“ (10:15 AM– 11:45 AM)
The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is finally here, and so are the lawsuits challenging it. This panel discussed the ongoing litigation related to the Clean Power Plan and likely outcomes.
Moderator: Brian H. Potts, JD'04, Partner, Foley & Lardner
Panelists:
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- David Doniger, Director, Climate & Clean Air Program, Natural Resources Defense Counsel
- Dallas Burtraw, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
- Roger Martella, Partner, Sidley & Austin (former EPA General Counsel)
- Richard Revesz, Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus, NYU Law School
Lunch On Your Own (11:45 AM-1:00 PM)
PANEL 2: Solar and Other Distributed Generation – At the Crossroads? (1:00 PM-2:30 PM)
The solar and distributed generation industry is booming. But there are many challenges facing the industry. Federal tax credits are set to expire and utility commissions around the country are starting to raise the fees charged to solar installations. This panel looked holistically at the current solar industry, the ongoing legislative and regulatory debates, and discussed the future of solar.
Moderator: Kevin B. Jones, Professor of Energy Technology & Policy, Vermont Law School
Panelists:
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- Karin Berry, Vice President and Manager, Renewable Energy
- Thomas Loquvam, Associate General Counsel, Arizona Public Service Corporation
- Sean Gallagher, VP of State Affairs, Solar Energy Industries Association
- Zoe Hanes, JD/MSEL’06, Vice President & General Counsel, FLS Energy, Inc.
Break (2:30 PM-3:00 PM)
PANEL 3: Can (And Should) The EPA Modify Its Renewable Fuel Standards? (3:00 PM– 4:30 PM)
After much debate, the EPA finally released its renewable fuel standard targets for the upcoming years. Was the EPA’s decision to ease the standards a good one? Was it legal? This panel discussed the EPA’s actions, the ongoing litigation, and whether the EPA should continue to lower the standards in future years.
Moderator: Daniel Phillips JD'04, Director, Fuels Solazyme Inc.
Panelists:
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- Bob Dineen, President & CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
- Brendan Williams, Executive Vice President, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers Association
- Mike McAdams, Staff, Advanced Biofuels Association
A happy hour (4:30 - 6:30) will follow the last panel.