Includes continental breakfast.

A review of significant federal regulatory changes over the past year, including forcing the shift away from coal to natural gas and renewables, accommodating the shift, natural gas deliverability and incentives to invest in infrastructure, efforts to unify the Balkanized grid and FERC Order 1000, grid resiliency, and FERC-CFTC investigations and information-sharing.

J. Dan Watkiss, McDermott Will & Emery - Washington, DC

Exponential growth in oil and gas production activity in Texas, particularly in the Permian Basin, continues to have a dramatic impact on current and forecasted electric power consumption. A discussion of the necessity and challenge of forecasting the need for, and construction of, adequate electric power infrastructure (distribution and transmission facilities) to provide access to commercial “on the grid” power, as well as the costs and other impacts of having to rely on alternative sources of power.

Moderator:
Kathleen M. LaValle, Jackson Walker L.L.P. - Dallas, TX
Panelists:
John J. Bick, Priority Power Management - Arlington, TX
Terry Preuninger, Oncor - Dallas, TX
Kenneth H. Sheffield Jr., Pioneer Natural Resources Company - Irving, TX

Overview of reforms to the Mexican Constitution affecting the exploration for and the development and production of oil and gas, the consequences of these reforms for the pipeline/midstream industries (including import/export and cross-border infrastructure development opportunities), the likely impact on the LNG export business in the Western Hemisphere, and the proposed constitutional reforms to the electric power business and markets.

Moderator:
Kenneth S. Culotta, King & Spalding - Houston, TX
Panelists:
Thomas S. Heather, Ritch, Mueller, Heather y Nicolau, S.C. - México City, DF
Carlos Roa, Petróleos Mexicanos - México City, DF
José L. Valera, Mayer Brown - Houston, TX

Review of the current state of the approval process for LNG export projects at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including the prospect for a pause or departure from the DOE's "order of precedence" queue, with a focus on issues highlighted by recent orders and the implications for the continuing development of LNG export infrastructure and commercial arrangements.

James F. Bowe Jr., King & Spalding - Washington, DC
Joan M. Darby, Dickstein Shapiro LLP - Washington, DC

Included in registration.

Hon. Barry T. Smitherman, Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas - Austin, TX

A review of key developments related to the state regulation of common carrier pipelines in Texas, with focus on developments in the past year related to eminent domain and the scope of Railroad Commission jurisdiction over liquids pipelines carrying natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, and other non-crude oil liquids.

James H. Barkley, Baker Botts - Houston, TX

The boom in natural gas production in domestic shale plays has made infrastructure development—and service on such infrastructure—increasingly critical for producers. Explore regulatory and contractual considerations raised by taking gas from the wellhead to the market in this environment, including natural gas gathering, processing, transportation and sales.

James E. Olson, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX

The evolution of the gas day standard from 1994 to current efforts to modify the scheduling standards and business practices to support today’s energy market.

Rae McQuade, President, North American Energy Standards Board, Inc. - Houston, TX

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is often touted by its proponents as the solution to global warming and decried by its detractors as an economically unfeasible panacea. A survey of the existing technology for CCS as well as the current legal regime for implementing CCS projects.

Giji M. John, Andrews Kurth LLP - Houston, TX

Developments in major challenges to federal regulations under the Clean Air Act, including the Cross State Air Pollution Rule and EPA's rules that impose greenhouse gas permitting requirements on stationary sources. EPA's ongoing development of major rules, such as new regulations for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, is also discussed.

Joshua B. Frank, Baker Botts - Washington, DC

Sponsored by Reed Smith LLP

Join us for drinks and hors d'oeuvres with program faculty and attendees.

Includes continental breakfast.

An update on the development at both ERCOT and the PUCT relating to resource adequacy in the ERCOT market, including changes to load forecasting, generation in the queue, the impact of ORDC and increases in price caps, as well as other changes to the ERCOT Protocols to encourage new capacity to site.

Moderator:
Diana M. Liebmann, Haynes and Boone, LLP - San Antonio, TX
Panelists:
Mark Dreyfus, Austin Energy - Austin, TX
Charles S. Griffey, Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business - Houston, TX
Warren Lasher, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Austin, TX

An overview of the current ERCOT transmission planning processes with discussion of potential changes following recent regulatory challenges.

Warren Lasher, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Austin, TX

ERCOT’s neighbor to the north has implemented “Day 2” markets and now is preparing to integrate major public power utilities to the north while continuing its tussles with MISO over Entergy’s integration into MISO.  Learn how these and other developments may affect those in ERCOT as well as those doing business in SPP and MISO.

N. Beth Emery, Husch Blackwell LLP - Washington, DC, and Houston, TX

The former Director of the CFTC Enforcement Division gives his perspective on what to expect from the Division and its use of Dodd-Frank authority in domestic and cross-border investigations.

David Meister, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates - New York, NY

Issues, questions and possible solutions to the challenges presented by trade options.

Moderator:
Kaiser Malik, Calpine Corporation - Houston, TX
Panelists:
Jeffrey J. Nichols, Haynes and Boone, LLP - Houston, TX
Gayle M. Patton, Targa Resources - Houston, TX
Tiffany L. Silvey, Luminant Energy Company LLC - Dallas, TX

What are the ethical boundaries, borders and gray areas for lawyers involved in negotiations? A fast-paced presentation with points to ponder, hypotheticals to consider and something to smile about.

Jason Boulette, Boulette & Golden L.L.P. - Austin, TX