Summer Opportunties in Energy Law and Policy

Vermont  Law  School's    summer  energy  program  responds  to  the  rapid  growth  of  the  clean  energy  sector  as  well  as  the  environmental  challenges  associated  with  traditional  energy  production.  The  growing  demand  for  solar,  the  emergence  of  a  smart  electric  grid  and  the  prospects  for  electrifying  the  transportation  sector  are  revolutionizing  the  energy  field.    Unique  to  our  sumer  program  is  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  our  part-­‐time  Energy  Clinic  while  taking  a  full  complement  of  our  extensive  courses  in  energy    and  environmental  law  and  policy.  

The Energy Clinic (3-6 credits)

We  offer  valuable  hands-­‐on  clean  energy  experience  in  our  energy  clinic.  Our  clinic  focuses  on  solar  and  other  clean  energy  technologies.    While  in  many  other  places,  energy  means  oil  and  gas.    At  VLS  we  teach  energy  in  the  context  of  what  we  want  the  world  to  be  50  years  from  now.    

“This  is  a  well  designed  and  run  clinic  and  I  would  recommend  to  students  for  the  experience  even  if  they  are  not  particularly  interested  in  energy  law  and  policy,  in  particular  because  of  this  professor  who  is  very  knowledge,  but  more  importantly,  is  approachable  and  helpful.”  -- Energy Clinic Student Evaluation Fall 2015  

 For  information  on  the  Energy  Clinic  please  email  Professor  Kevin  Jones  at  kbjones@vermontlaw.edu  

 

“The  Energy  Clinic  provided  me  with  practical  training  opportunities  relevant  to  my  career.  For  instance,  I  drafted  a  land  lease  agreement  for  community  owned  solar  projects.  This  allowed  me  to  use  the  analytical  and  critical  thinking  skills  I  gained  in  the  classroom  to  draft  a  functional  contract  similar  to  those  used  in  the  renewable  energy  industry  today.”      

-­‐-­‐  Bryan  Mornaghi  J.D./MELP  Contract  Manager  -­‐  K2  Management,    Boston,  MA.    www.vermontlaw.edu/energy  

 

Summer  Energy  Program    http://www.vermontlaw.edu/summer      

Three  Essentials  of  the  Electric  Grid  –  Business  (1  credit)  This  course  explores  the  current  national  policy  on  transition  to  a  smart  electric  grid  with  a  primary  focus  on  how  this  transformation  will  lead  to  global  environmental  improvement.  The  course  explores  how  a  smart  electric  grid  can  supercharge  energy  efficiency,  expand  demand  response,  integrate  electric  vehicles,  and  foster  storage  and  other  distributed  energy  technologies.  The  course  will  include  an  introduction  to  the  path  for  environmental  improvement,  an  interactive  discussion  of  policy  options,  and  case  study  examples.        Professor  Kevin  B.  Jones    Three  Essentials  of  the  Electric  Grid  –  Engineering  (1  credit)  The  engineering  realities  of  energy  infrastructure  systems  can  greatly  constrain  the  choices  that  lawyers  and  policy  analysts  might  otherwise  make.  This  module  will  cover  the  engineering  fundamentals  inherent  in  electric  power  grids  and  will  explain  how  these  engineering  realities  affect  market  and  regulatory  choices.  Students  get  to  visit  a  transmission  grid  control  center  and  learn  onsite.    Professors  Tom  Dunn  &  Chris  Root    Three  Essentials  of  the  Electric  Grid  –  Law  (1  credit)  With  the  climate  crisis,  we  have  the  need  to  sharply  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  transition  to  a  low  carbon  economy.  This  module  will  examines  how  in  practice  we  can  use  the  power  of  the  law  to  make  progress  on  our  climate  goals  through  clean  energy  advocacy.  Through  classroom  discussion  and  exercises  this  course  will  use  real  case  studies  to  explore  both  substantive  policy  and  skills-­‐based  knowledge  on  how  to  advance  energy  and  transportation  policies  on  national,  regional,  and  local  levels  in  order  to  provide  the  momentum  to  meet  our  climate  goals.    Professor  Kit  Kennedy,  Director,  Energy  and  Transportation  Program,  Natural  Resources  Defense  Council      End  Use  Energy  Efficiency  (2  credits)  This  course  describes  the  reasons  for,  techniques  of,  and  results  from,  energy  efficiency  measures  in  leading  programs  around  the  United  States.  In  exploring  how  leaders  maximize  energy  efficiency  results  from  the  home  and  business  to  the  grid,  the  course  will  explore  the  systems,  policy,  and  legal  basis  that  legitimize  energy  efficiency  as  an  energy  resource  and  assure  societal  trust  in  the  outcomes.    Professor  Scott  Johnstone,  CEO  Vermont  Energy  Investment  Corporation    Renewable  Energy  Finance  and  Development  (2  credits)  This  course  will  provide  an  in-­‐depth  look  at  the  legal  issues  associated  with  the  development  and  project  financing  of  renewable  energy  projects.  The  course  will  explain  the  various  ownership  structures  that  are  used  for  developing  a  project,  and  will  examine  in  depth  the  basic  terms  and  conditions  of  the  contracts  that  are  necessary  for  a  successful  project  financing,  such  as  power  purchase  agreements,  engineering  contracts,  fuel  supply  arrangements,  and  operation  and  maintenance  agreements.  The  course  will  also  cover  the  basic  financing  agreements  such  as  credit  agreements  and  equity  arrangements  and  will  examine  federal  and  state  incentives  for  the  development  of  renewable  power  projects  such  as  renewable  portfolio  standards,  renewable  energy  credits  and  production  tax  credits.    Professor  Glenn  Berger    Global  Energy    Law  (2  Credits)  Global  Energy  Law  and  Policy  explores  the  current  policy  framework  in  a  particular  region  outside  of  the  United  States  with  a  focus  on  clean  energy  policies.  The  course  will  explore  the  regions  policy  development  process,  the  current  energy  policy  framework,  policies  implementing  global  and  regional  climate  commitments  and  emerging  issues.  This  year  the  focus  will  be  on  the  European  Union  and  will  be  taught  by  Anna  Marhold,  Assistant  Professor,  Senior  Researcher,  Tilburg  Law  and  Economics  Center,  Tilburg  Law  School  in  the  Netherlands.    Oil  and  Gas  Production  and  the  Environment  (2  Credits)  This  course  provides  students  with  an  understanding  of  the  future  of  petroleum,  the  framework  of  conservation  law  and  property  law  used  to  produce  and  regulate  oil  and  gas,  and  the  externalities  of  production.  The  course  reviews  the  nature  of  the  oil  and  gas  lease  used  in  the  U.S.  on  private  lands  and  on  public  lands,  including  federal  offshore  leases.  The  course  looks  at  how  best  practices,  sustainable  development,  and  social  issues,  including  human  rights,  are  treated  in  the  domestic  and  international  law  affecting  oil  and  gas  production.  Additional  topics  include  the  role  of  FERC  in  regulating  gas  markets  and  pipelines  and  selected  issues  in  shale  oil  and  gas  development  in  the  U.S.      Professor  Jacqueline  Weaver