The Energy Bar Association Conference and Annual meeting is EBA's premier energy law and public policy conference. Join hundreds of energy industry attorneys, regulators from the the Department of Energy and other agencies, in-house energy attorneys, consultants and others. The conference offers two days of thought-provoking CLE programming and multiple networking opportunities. See the full conference agenda below. Note: Speakers and sessions will be continuously updated and edited leading up to the conference.
Energy Unleashed: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Policy Integration
Thursday, May 1
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Keynote Remarks by The Honorable Judy W. Chang, FERC Commissioner
9:30 AM - 10:55 AM: Honorable Kevin J. McIntyre - General Session: Trump 2.0 Energy Outlook
11:10 AM - 12:20 PM: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent 1A: State Energy Policies in 2025
This session will focus on how state policy makers, agencies, and energy law practitioners are looking at their role in achieving state energy policy goals in an environment where the federal government is heavily focused on the expansion of American oil and gas. Panelists will discuss ways their approaches to energy policy and regulation are likely to change to respond to federal energy actions and what tools they view as essential to making progress on their state’s policy goals, such as but not limited to decarbonization targets, renewable and alternative energy goals, and construction of large infrastructure projects such as offshore wind and transmission expansion.
Concurrent 1B: Commercializing Innovation: Bringing Emerging Energy Technologies to Market
This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with bringing nascent and developing energy technologies to market at utility-scale. Panelists will discuss the technological, financial, regulatory, and permitting factors at play that can facilitate (or hinder) support for new technologies.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Luncheon
2:15 PM - 3:25 PM: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent 2A - Are Resource Adequacy Markets Adequate?
The panel will explore the significant changes in organized market resource adequacy constructs and will compare and contrast with the manner in which resource adequacy needs are being addressed in non-market regions. Significant load growth, changing resource mixes, the role of state commissions vs. RTOs, and recent FERC filings will all be explored.
Concurrent 2B – In-House Counsel: A Day in the Life
In this session, attendees will learn what in-house lawyers tend to do themselves versus what they staff out to firms, how they interact with their outside counsel, how they build relationships and work with their internal clients, and how an in-house professional can advance and develop within their company. This panel will also discuss the differences between in-house counsel, regulatory affairs, and compliance positions, and what it is like to move over to the mythical "business side" of the company after working as a lawyer.
3:50 PM - 5:00 PM: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent 3A – NEPA’s Shifting Landscape
This panel will discuss recent developments that could have far-reaching effects on how federal agencies, including FERC and DOE, conduct environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), both generally and with respect to climate change issues in particular.
Concurrent 3B – Future-Proofing Against Extreme Weather: Strategies and Insights
Recent extreme weather events, particularly Winter Storms Uri and Elliott, have highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the bulk electric system's ability to withstand and recover from severe conditions. This panel will delve into the critical insights gained from these events and examine the proactive measures being implemented by the electric and natural gas industries to bolster weather preparedness. The panel will also address ongoing challenges and potential barriers to achieving comprehensive weather preparedness in the energy sector. This discussion will provide valuable insights into the industry's evolving approach to maintaining a reliable and resilient power supply in the face of increasingly extreme weather events.
Key Focus Areas for this panel
1. Emergency Operations and Planning: The panel will discuss improvements in emergency response protocols and long-term planning strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather on power systems.
2. Winterization Efforts: Exploration of initiatives to winterize both power generation facilities and natural gas production/processing plants, enhancing their ability to function during harsh winter conditions.
3. Gas-Electric Coordination: Analysis of steps taken to improve coordination between natural gas suppliers and electric utilities, ensuring a more reliable energy supply during critical periods.
4. NERC Reliability Standards: Discussion on the development and implementation of new North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards aimed at strengthening grid resilience.
Special Event
Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association Gala
After the first day of conference events, please join us at the Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association’s 2025 Annual Gala on Thursday evening from 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (ET)
The separately ticketed charitable event will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a seated dinner with presentations by representatives from CFEBA.
Friday, May 2
9:00 AM - 10:25 AM: General Session 2 - Data Centers Debate: Customer Impact, Legal Standards, and Financial Assurances
Join us for a lively discussion around the retail, ratemaking, and customer-impact dimensions of data centers. In a debate-style format, panelists will argue whether data centers should be a separate customer class and the proper conceptual/legal standards and measurement for allocating costs between customers and data centers. We will debate the basis on which utilities should prioritize scarce load interconnection slots as well as the question of what financial assurances should be required to get in data center connection queues.
10:50 AM - 12:00 PM: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent 4A - The State of States in Transmission Proceedings
From transmission planning to siting, this panel will examine the varying roles of state entities in federal proceedings to determine planning processes, project selection, cost allocation, and whether a project is needed. This panel will further dig into long-term regional transmission planning under FERC Order Nos. 1920 and 1920-A, what it means in practice for state commissions, whether there is a gap around how local transmission is planned – and how it all fits into the transmission framework under federal law.
Concurrent 4B - So You Want to Use ADR to Resolve An Energy Dispute? Ethical Obligations and Best Practices
Join this panel of distinguished judges and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professionals to learn:
- What types of energy industry disputes are amenable to ADR?
- What are the legal and ethical obligations and consideration for neutrals and attorneys representing parties in ADR proceedings?
- What could go wrong?
- What are some best practices for neutrals and attorneys representing parties in ADR proceedings?
12:15 PM - 1:45 PM: Lunch and EBA Annual Meeting
2:00 PM - 3:10 PM: Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent 5A - The Intersection of Policy and Reality – How will states meet increasing demands for energy, infrastructure and decarbonization goals?
Increasing demand for energy is being fueled by data centers, population growth, EVs, and manufacturing. During this panel, we will discuss how entities across the value chain are attempting to balance the need to decarbonize our energy systems with the need to fuel our growing economy. We will explore the roles of states, regulators and other policy makers in making sure that energy remains in abundant supply; that we have the necessary infrastructure to deliver it where it’s needed; and, ultimately, how we can make sure that our renewable goals are realistic in supporting the energy future. Legal issues to be addressed include but are not limited to permitting reform, clean water act, certificate policy statement, and environmental and/or emissions regulations.
Concurrent 5B - Recent Developments in Nuclear Energy Law and Policy
Nuclear energy is one of the technologies at the forefront of discussions on combating climate change and meeting carbon emission reduction goals. The panel will explore recent legal, regulatory and policy developments in the commercial nuclear power industry.
3:35 PM - 5:00 PM: EPAct 2005 at Twenty: Looking Back (and Ahead) at the Long-Term Impacts of the Defining Energy Law of the Early 2000s
Join us for a dynamic discussion on the impact and legacy of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). Signed into law by President George W. Bush, EPAct aimed to address rising energy costs and reduce dependence on foreign energy by incentivizing and financing various types of energy production. Notably, it repealed the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and expanded FERC’s authority to combat energy market manipulation. This panel will explore the ongoing legal and policy debates surrounding the law’s provisions and how it continues to shape the energy landscape today.
CLE:
This program is eligible for 10 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 12 hours of CLE credit, in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
To Receive CLE Credit:
If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle-eba@americanbar.org for the program at which you attended at least one session to completion. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you will fill out one affidavit for the full event. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle-eba@americanbar.org.
Scholarships:
EBA offers eligible student, government, and academic members discounts on the rates for most EBA programs which carry CLE credits, including EBA's Annual and Mid-Year Meetings. EBA will, on a case-by-case basis, consider requests from members to attend EBA programs at a discounted rate. Discount requests must be made to EBA's office at least fifteen days prior to the close of regular registration for the program in question. Requests will be considered by EBA if timely and complete. Discount requests must demonstrate a substantial financial hardship. Please submit your requests to jhannan@eba-net.org.