January
We kicked off the year with an FELJ webinar Past the Tipping Point: Looking at Ways to Mitigate the Inevitable Impacts of Climate Change, examining what policy makers and utilities can do to mitigate the various impacts of climate change on the reliability, resiliency, and affordability of utility services. A transcript of this discussion was published in Volume 43, Number 1 of the Energy Law Journal. The Gas, Oils, & Liquids Steering Committee held a half-day event featuring government and private sector expert panels discussing cybersecurity matters relevant to the natural gas and oil pipeline industry.
February
In February, EBA’s Northeast Chapter gathered several former FERC Commissioners to discuss what promised to be an exciting year for FERC. Our Electricity Steering Committee hosted an informative Energizer that reviewed the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. And finally, the Western Chapter kicked off our year of regional annual meetings with their virtual conference. Topics included western market evolution, hydrogen evolution, streamlining transmission licensing, and offshore wind.
March
March proved to be a busy month across EBA! Our Rocky Mountain and Midwest Chapters each held successful Energizers focused on achieving climate and greenhouse gas emissions goals and exploring the issues and actions being taken in response to what has been described as the Reliability Imperative. The Northeast Chapter hosted a law student focused event for those interested in a career in energy law and provided an opportunity for students to connect with industry experts.
On March 24th, the Southern Chapter held their annual meeting with a keynote presentation from former FERC commissioner Colette D. Honorable. The program also covered diversity and inclusion, energy resiliency, offshore wind, and financing commercial energy projects. At the end of March, we brought back the popular Enforcer and Defender Forum, which provided a forum to discuss current issues related to enforcement and compliance in the energy sector.
April
FELJ hosted its first Author Talk of the year on April 4th. Authors Ann Eisenberg and Elizabeth Kronk Warner discussed their Energy Law Journal article – The Precipice of Justice: Equity, Energy, and the Environment in Indian Country and Rural Communities. The Electricity Steering Committee then hosted their half-day event: Electric Regulation, Law, and Policy at Your Fingertips.
Our Texas Chapter organized a successful Lunch and Learn where Texas Public Utility Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty talked about the actions that the Texas PUC has taken in the last year, and what we can expect to see in the coming year.
May
2022 EBA Conference and Annual Meeting
Jam-packed two days of discussions focused on all aspects of energy law, policy and trends on May 10-11, 2022. Attendees included attorneys, non-attorney professionals, and students active in all areas of energy law, including antitrust, international energy transactions, legislation and regulatory reform, electric utility regulation, alternative dispute resolution, finance and transactions, and environment and public lands at federal, state, and international levels.
The Annual Meeting is the time of the year when the EBA’s board leadership changes. At this year’s Annual Meeting, Delia Patterson accepted the gavel as the 2022-2023 EBA President taking over from outgoing president Mosby Perrow.
June
The Southern Chapter hosted an informative webinar on pole attachments and provided both an electric utility perspective and a cable perspective. The Energy Law Academy deans introduced a new two-day finance focused webinar designed to familiarize attendees with multiple types of financing commonly used in the energy industry.
Our Northeast and Rocky Mountain Chapters hosted back-to-back chapter annual meetings. In Boston, the Northeast Chapter focused on how changing laws, technologies, markets, and investments are disrupting existing paradigms in the energy industry. In Denver, the Rocky Mountain Chapter focused on how supply chain issues, inflation, fires, and the transition to a clean energy future affect the energy industry,
July
The Young Lawyers Council brought back the popular Summer Intern Reception in Washington, D.C. During the long and slow summer months, we celebrated firm interns and provided an opportunity for them to connect with peers and seasoned practitioners alike.
August
In August, the FELJ hosted their second Author Talk. William G. Bolgiano discussed his article, FERC’s Authority to Regulate Hydrogen Pipelined Under the Interstate Commerce Act. William’s article can be read in the Energy Law Journal, Volume 43, Number 1.
September
The Practices Steering Committee hosted a virtual, half-day event featuring two panels: Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission and Natural Gas in the Clean Energy Transition. Then, our Midwest Chapter held their annual meeting in Carmel, Indiana. Panels gave regional overviews and discussed existing and emerging clean energy developments and initiatives taken as a result of these changes.
The FELJ hosted a second symposium on managing energy security imperatives and climate aspirations in an era of global conflict. A transcript of this discussion can be found in the Energy Law Journal, Volume 43, Number 2.
October
2022 EBA Mid-Year Energy Forum
EBA members gathered in Washington, D.C. for two days of discussions focused on all aspects of energy law, policy and trends, followed by a networking reception and closing dinner. The Forum was kicked off by keynote speaker Samuel T. Walsh, General Counsel at the Department of Energy, and also featured luncheon speaker Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The event closed with out with a casual conversation on stage between EBA President Delia Patterson and FERC Commissioner James Danly.
The Canadian Chapter hosted a successful virtual Energizer on the application and increasing importance of the duty to disclose and its implications for lawyers, regulators, utilities, and market participants in North America.
November
The Texas Chapter hosted their second Annual Meeting and Energy Symposium at the University of Texas in Austin. This popular event continued discussions started at the 2021 Texas Symposium and provided more information on the future of Texas power, Texas natural gas, LNG, and the energy transition.
The Finance, Investments, & Transactions Steering Committee’s half-day webinar provided a deep dive into the world of voluntary carbon credits. Our Louisiana Chapter welcomed EBA members to New Orleans with an evening networking event. The month ended with a Rocky Mountain Chapter Energizer on the Inflation Reduction Act.
December
Our last event of the year, an Energizer provided by our Electricity Steering Committee, was an informative discussion on hydrogen. Panelists provided insights based on their diverse first-hand experience working to develop applications for hydrogen technology and developing and working with coalitions in the hydrogen sector. Following this Energizer, attendees enjoyed a reception.