2016

Renewable Energy Law

Austin Feb 9-10, 2016 Radisson Hotel and Suites, Austin-Downtown
Conference Concluded

Related products: eConferences Materials

PRESENTED BY
The University of Texas School of Law
The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

Download Brochure (PDF)

Overview

Join leading attorneys and industry experts in wind, solar and storage for two days of the latest developments affecting renewable energy in Texas and nationwide. The Renewable Energy Law Conference blends law, economics, technology, finance, tax and regulatory policy, and is aimed at industry participants, legal and financial advisors, and key legislative and regulatory policymakers and staff.

2016 highlights include:

Keith Martin, returns with a lively update on developments at the federal level affecting the renewable energy market.
A discussion on the controversial aspects of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan including its legal context, the compliance options it affords, its potential costs and benefits, its effect on the nation’s energy mix, and some of the practical and legal issues it raises.
Andy Bowman of Pioneer Green Energy, LLC explores the major shifts in the energy markets and how they are affecting Texas, during the Wednesday Luncheon Presentation.
Dan Woodfin, Director of System Operations for ERCOT, will discuss the proposed Future Ancillary Services framework, the driving factors for the change, the current state of the proposal, and its interaction with the future development of renewables in ERCOT
Case law and legislative updates from Texas and beyond that impact renewable energy policy
Networking opportunities with program faculty and attendees during Tuesday evening’s Networking Reception

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Day 1 February 9, 2016
Day 2 February 10, 2016

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Tuesday Morning, Feb. 9, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Zeina El-Azzi, Blue Earth Inc. - Austin, TX
8:00 am

Registration

Includes continental breakfast.
8:50 am

Welcoming
9:00 am

0.75 hr

What's New With Federal Incentives

A lively update on developments at the federal level affecting the renewable energy market. An unusually large number of issues of interest to independent generators are in play with the IRS, including the network upgrade payments to utilities to relieve grid congestion, prepaid power contracts, solar inverted leases, series LLCs, and targeted partnership allocations. Congress will have decided whether to give developers more time to start construction of new projects to qualify for production tax credits. The solar companies were pressing to convert their 2016 deadline to complete projects into one merely to start construction. What is the outlook for further extensions? What issues are coming up in transactions?

Keith Martin, Chadbourne & Parke LLP - Washington, DC

Keith Martin, Chadbourne & Parke LLP - Washington, DC
9:45 am

1.00 hr

EPA Clean Power Plan Review

With well over 4 million comments, EPA’s Clean Power Plan is nothing if not controversial. Discuss some of the aspects of the plan that have made it so controversial including its legal context, its assumptions, the compliance options it affords, its potential costs and benefits, its effect on the nation’s energy mix, and some of the practical and legal issues it raises.

Moderator:
Jeff Civins, Haynes and Boone, LLP - Austin, TX
Panelists:
Kathleen Spees, The Brattle Group - Cambridge, MA
David B. Spence, The University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX

Moderator:
Jeff Civins, Haynes and Boone, LLP - Austin, TX
Panelists:
Kathleen Spees, The Brattle Group - Cambridge, MA
David B. Spence, The University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX
10:45 am

Break
11:00 am

0.50 hr

Current and Trending Environmental Issues for Wind Energy

The landscape for wind energy is undergoing change on many fronts—some are generally believed to have a positive impact (such as the Clean Power Plan) and others are viewed as increasing risk and uncertainty (such as the status of permits for species impacts including birds and new requirements for noise impacts). Explore these and other trends in the industry.

Lisa Montgomery Shelton, Andrews Kurth LLP - Austin, TX

Lisa Montgomery Shelton, Andrews Kurth LLP - Austin, TX
11:30 am

0.75 hr

Distributed Solar Models

Explore the different regulatory and market models that have been utilized to implement distributed solar generation.

Moderator:
Tuan Pham, PowerFin Partners - Austin, TX
Panelists:
Karen Poff, Austin Energy - Austin, TX
Maura Yates, MP2 Energy - Houston, TX

Moderator:
Tuan Pham, PowerFin Partners - Austin, TX
Panelists:
Karen Poff, Austin Energy - Austin, TX
Maura Yates, MP2 Energy - Houston, TX
12:15 pm

Pick Up Lunch
Tuesday Afternoon, Feb. 9, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Brent Stahl, Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP - Austin, TX
Luncheon Presentation
Thank You to Our Luncheon Sponsor

Andrews Kurth LLP
12:35 pm

0.50 hr

The European Experience

Review retroactive amendment of feed-in tariff guarantees in Spain, Italy, and other European states; domestic and international remedies for investors; and the implications for the renewable energy industry in North America and elsewhere.

Kevin D. Mohr, King & Spalding - Houston, TX

Kevin D. Mohr, King & Spalding - Houston, TX
1:05 pm

Break
1:20 pm

0.75 hr

Water and Mineral Issues in Solar Development

Discuss the California law perspective upon water and development interactions, focusing on the issues of securing water rights for solar development, as well as the impacts of severance of rights. Issues related to the potential conflicts and resolutions between solar development and mineral rights and activity in Texas will also be discussed.

Gregory S. Friend, Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP - Austin, TX
Kristen Castaños, Stoel Rives LLP - Sacramento, CA

Gregory S. Friend, Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP - Austin, TX
Kristen Castaños, Stoel Rives LLP - Sacramento, CA
2:05 pm

0.75 hr

Policy Updates, Texas and Beyond

Explore how Texas and other states are treating renewable energy policy and what factors are driving their decisions.

Charlie Hemmeline, Texas Solar Power Association - Austin, TX
J. Christopher Hughes, Husch Blackwell LLP - Austin, TX
Susan Williams Sloan, American Wind Energy Association - Austin, TX

Charlie Hemmeline, Texas Solar Power Association - Austin, TX
J. Christopher Hughes, Husch Blackwell LLP - Austin, TX
Susan Williams Sloan, American Wind Energy Association - Austin, TX
2:50 pm

1.00 hr

Transmission Development for Renewable Energy

Learn about the current issues in electric transmission related to the development and operation of renewable energy projects. With a review of the renewable development forecast, transmission planning, cost allocation, congestion, state regulatory decisions, federal energy policy and market drivers.

Bill Bojorquez, Hunt Transmission Services, LLC - Dallas, TX
Cary J. Kottler, Clean Line Energy Partners LLC - Houston, TX
Warren Lasher, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Austin, TX

Bill Bojorquez, Hunt Transmission Services, LLC - Dallas, TX
Cary J. Kottler, Clean Line Energy Partners LLC - Houston, TX
Warren Lasher, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Austin, TX
3:50 pm

Break
4:00 pm

0.50 hr

Future Ancillary Services in the ERCOT Market

ERCOT has proposed a major change to the current 1990s-era ancillary services framework to meet evolving system needs and facilitate the use of new types of resources to meet those needs efficiently using market-based tools. Discuss the proposed Future Ancillary Services framework, the driving factors for the change, the current state of the proposal, and its interaction with the future development of renewables in ERCOT.

Dan Woodfin, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Taylor, TX

Dan Woodfin, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. - Taylor, TX
4:30 pm

0.75 hr ethics

Here But For the Grace of God Go You: Why the Texas Lawyer's Creed Matters to You

Learn how to be the opposing counsel your profession needs without compromising your ethical duties to your client—an autobiography of 4 family deaths in 11 months.

Mark McPherson, Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX

Mark McPherson, Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX
5:15 pm

Adjourn to Reception
Thank You to Our Reception Sponsor

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria, LLP

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Wednesday Morning, Feb. 10, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Susan Williams Sloan, American Wind Energy Association - Austin, TX
8:00 am

Conference Room Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:30 am

1.25 hrs

Trends in Buying and Selling Renewable Energy: Commercial, Industrial, and Wholesale Transactions

The market for the purchase and sale of renewable energy is constantly evolving, as new customers and transaction structures become more prominent. Review the role of long-term structured PPAs and hedges in the procurement of renewables by investor owned, municipal and regional utilities. Examine the growing importance of commercial and industrial (C&I) demand for renewable energy from both offsite and on-site sources.

Moderators:
William H. Holmes, K&L Gates LLP - Portland, OR
Shalini Ramanathan, RES Americas - Austin, TX
Panelist:
Jacob Susman, OwnEnergy an EDF RE Company - Brooklyn, NY
Andrew Dickson, Duke Energy Renewables - Austin, TX

Moderators:
William H. Holmes, K&L Gates LLP - Portland, OR
Shalini Ramanathan, RES Americas - Austin, TX
Panelist:
Jacob Susman, OwnEnergy an EDF RE Company - Brooklyn, NY
Andrew Dickson, Duke Energy Renewables - Austin, TX
9:45 am

0.75 hr

Yieldcos Update

An update on how yieldco structures are being used to finance renewable energy projects. Discuss yieldco effects on project values and consolidation, legal and tax issues, and whether cost of capital and interest rate trends will impact the use of yieldcos.

Moderator:
Robert Sternthal, CohnReznick Capital Markets Securities, LLC - New York, NY
Panelists:
Terence Grant, Marathon Capital, LLC - San Francisco, CA
E. Ramey Layne, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX

Moderator:
Robert Sternthal, CohnReznick Capital Markets Securities, LLC - New York, NY
Panelists:
Terence Grant, Marathon Capital, LLC - San Francisco, CA
E. Ramey Layne, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX
10:30 am

Break
10:45 am

0.75 hr

Improving the Marketability of Your Project: Tips and Pitfalls

Beyond the economics of a project, there are key contractual and development issues that will be analyzed during the due diligence process. Gain insight into how lawyers review and evaluate project documents, tips on how to best showcase your renewable energy project, and examples of potential pitfalls that an investor or buyer is trying to avoid.

This presentation has moved to Wednesday at 2:50 p.m.

Becky H. Diffen, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Austin, TX
Materials By:
Megan Ceder, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX

Becky H. Diffen, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Austin, TX
Materials By:
Megan Ceder, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX
11:30 am

Pick Up Lunch
Wednesday Afternoon, Feb. 10, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Charlie Hemmeline, Texas Solar Power Association - Austin, TX
Luncheon Presentation
Thank You to Our Luncheon Sponsor

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
11:50 am

0.75 hr

Texas’ Transforming Energy Market: Big Changes Underway

Major shifts in energy markets—historic and persistent low natural gas prices, relentless drops in the price of solar generation and the steady march forward of wind in high resource areas—are transforming the energy space worldwide and here in Texas. Explore how these shifts are each affecting Texas today, what challenges and opportunities they present and what we can expect in the near future.

Andy Bowman, Pioneer Green Energy, LLC - Austin, TX

Andy Bowman, Pioneer Green Energy, LLC - Austin, TX
12:35 pm

Break
12:50 pm

0.50 hr

Renewable Energy Case Law Update

Review recent court decisions involving renewable energy.

Jacob P. Arechiga, Jackson Walker L.L.P. - Austin, TX

Jacob P. Arechiga, Jackson Walker L.L.P. - Austin, TX
1:20 pm

0.50 hr

Texas Property Tax Incentives

A review of Chapter 313 of the Texas Tax Code dealing with value limitation agreements, including failed legislation, the new form agreement, and rules. Briefly discuss Chapters 312, 380 and 381 of the Local Government Code.

Renn G. Neilson, Baker Botts L.L.P - Houston, TX
Robert Wood, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX

Renn G. Neilson, Baker Botts L.L.P - Houston, TX
Robert Wood, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX
1:50 pm

1.00 hr

Islanding the Grid - Getting to 100%

Islanding the grid is dynamically disaggregating the grid to eliminate cascading failures while maintaining power to everyone. As a country, we are at the beginning of being able to see how and why to have such a capability. Explore challenges of cost, regulations, and technology, but also technical benefits in reliability in critical infrastructure protection and financial benefits from minimization of failure related opportunity costs.

Jeffrey Mikulina, Blue Planet Foundation - Honolulu, HI
Gene Preston, IEEE - Austin, TX

Jeffrey Mikulina, Blue Planet Foundation - Honolulu, HI
Gene Preston, IEEE - Austin, TX
2:50 pm

0.75 hr ethics

Ethics of Negotiation: Are You Smarter than a First-Year Associate? (Part 2)

When it comes to ethics in negotiations, it's anything but anything-goes. Could a tiny white lie here and a teeny puffing there mean the difference between getting the deal done and getting disbarred? These questions and more are answered. Are you smarter than a first-year associate?

This presentation has moved to Wednesday at 10:45 a.m.

Wilson Chu, McDermott Will & Emery - Dallas, TX
Barrett R. Howell, K&L Gates LLP - Dallas, TX

Wilson Chu, McDermott Will & Emery - Dallas, TX
Barrett R. Howell, K&L Gates LLP - Dallas, TX
3:35 pm

Adjourn

Day 1 February 9, 2016
Day 2 February 10, 2016

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Jacob P. Arechiga

Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Bill Bojorquez

Hunt Transmission Services, LLC
Dallas, TX

Andy Bowman

Pioneer Green Energy, LLC
Austin, TX

Kristen Castaños

Stoel Rives LLP
Sacramento, CA

Megan Ceder

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Wilson Chu

McDermott Will & Emery
Dallas, TX

Jeff Civins

Haynes and Boone, LLP
Austin, TX

Andrew Dickson

Duke Energy Renewables
Austin, TX

Becky H. Diffen

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Austin, TX

Gregory S. Friend

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP
Austin, TX

Terence Grant

Marathon Capital, LLC
San Francisco, CA

Charlie Hemmeline

Texas Solar Power Association
Austin, TX

William H. Holmes

K&L Gates LLP
Portland, OR

Barrett R. Howell

K&L Gates LLP
Dallas, TX

J. Christopher Hughes

Husch Blackwell LLP
Austin, TX

Cary J. Kottler

Clean Line Energy Partners LLC
Houston, TX

Warren Lasher

Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.
Austin, TX

E. Ramey Layne

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Keith Martin

Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Washington, DC

Mark McPherson

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Jeffrey Mikulina

Blue Planet Foundation
Honolulu, HI

Kevin D. Mohr

King & Spalding
Houston, TX

Renn G. Neilson

Baker Botts L.L.P
Houston, TX

Tuan Pham

PowerFin Partners
Austin, TX

Karen Poff

Austin Energy
Austin, TX

Gene Preston

IEEE
Austin, TX

Shalini Ramanathan

RES Americas
Austin, TX

Lisa Montgomery Shelton

Andrews Kurth LLP
Austin, TX

Susan Williams Sloan

American Wind Energy Association
Austin, TX

Kathleen Spees

The Brattle Group
Cambridge, MA

David B. Spence

The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX

Robert Sternthal

CohnReznick Capital Markets Securities, LLC
New York, NY

Jacob Susman

OwnEnergy an EDF RE Company
Brooklyn, NY

Robert Wood

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Austin, TX

Dan Woodfin

Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.
Taylor, TX

Maura Yates

MP2 Energy
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

Zeina El-Azzi—Co-Chair

Blue Earth Inc.
Austin, TX

Brent Stahl—Co-Chair

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP
Austin, TX

Steven Baron

Baron Consulting and Legal Services
Austin, TX

Lisa Chavarria

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP
Austin, TX

Becky H. Diffen

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Austin, TX

Sarah Christine Fernandez

E.On Climate & Renewables
Chicago, IL

Gregory S. Friend

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria LLP
Austin, TX

Michael G. Grable

Lone Star Transmission, LLC
Austin, TX

Richard Gruber

Thirdpath Advisors, LLC
Austin, TX

Ann A. Hawkins

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Houston, TX

Charlie Hemmeline

Texas Solar Power Association
Austin, TX

William H. Holmes

K&L Gates LLP
Portland, OR

Monty Humble

Brightman Energy LLC
Austin, TX

Michael J. Jewell

Stratus Energy Group
Austin, TX

Byron Kentor

SunPower Corporation
Austin, TX

Stephen Krebs

OwnEnergy
Houston, TX

Tim N. Libson

Trintek Energy Consulting, Inc.
Austin, TX

Diana M. Liebmann

Haynes and Boone, LLP
San Antonio, TX

Bonnie McMurtry

Andrews Kurth LLP
Houston, TX

Mark Sanders

Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association
Austin, TX

Susan Williams Sloan

American Wind Energy Association
Austin, TX

Gregory J. Smith

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Randy Sowell

Lionshare Advisory Services
McCamey, TX

Lacey Watson

Husch Blackwell, LLP
Austin, TX

Adam Wenner

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Washington, DC

Roderick E. Wetsel

Wetsel, Carmichael & Allen, LLP
Sweetwater, TX

Credit Info

Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 13.50 hrs | 1.50 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 13.50 hrs | 1.50 hrs Ethics

You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Oklahoma – 16.00 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Other Credit

TX Accounting CPE – 16.00 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

TX Insurance – 0.00 hr

UT Law CLE conferences are considered "qualifying" courses, not certified by TDI. Such qualifying courses may be used for credit.

Qualifying courses are insurance courses that are: (A) offered for credit by accredited colleges, universities, or law schools; or (B) part of a national designation certification program; or (C) approved for classroom, classroom equivalent, or participatory credit by the continuing education approval authority of a state bar association or state board of public accountancy; or (D) certified or approved for continuing education credit under the guidelines of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

Continuing Education Credit Information for Agents and Adjusters

Agent/Adjuster Continuing Education Forms

TX Professional Engineer – 0.00 hr

This course may qualify for self-reporting credits with PELS (TX Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors) - please use the link below to find information on how to track your credit with PELS. When you select this credit type, you will receive a downloadable Certificate of Attendance with date and course information for your records.

https://pels.texas.gov/pecep.htm

TX Real Estate Commission (TREC) – 9.00 hrs

To request continuing education elective credit for real estate related courses approved by the State Bar of Texas for minimum continuing legal education participatory credit, a license holder is required to file an Individual Credit Request for State Bar Course.

https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CE_CLE-1%2004.10.23.pdf
Use this link to obtain the TREC MCE form for self-reporting your TREC credit. To obtain your Certificate of Attendance you will need to claim credit in your UTCLE account and once claimed you will be able to download a Certificate of Attendance to include with your credit request form.

Key Dates

Austin – Feb 9-10, 2016 – Radisson Hotel and Suites, Austin-Downtown

Conference Concluded

Buy

Austin

Individual
Last day for $550.00 Regular pricing: Feb 3, 2016
$600.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $495.00 Regular pricing: Feb 3, 2016
$545.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $440.00 Regular pricing: Feb 3, 2016
$490.00 for registrations received after this time

Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Feb 3, 2016
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Feb 5, 2016

Venue

Radisson Hotel and Suites, Austin-Downtown

111 E. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX
512.478.9611 (reservations)

Accommodations

$179 room rate good through January 8, 2016 (subject to availability).
Reserve your room online.

Parking Information

Daily Self-Parking: $3
Overnight Self-Parking: $8
Daily Valet Parking: $26

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors! Click each logo below to learn more.

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria, LLP

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria, LLP
sbaustinlaw.com

Since 2000, Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria, LLP has helped its clients build over 6 GWs of wind, solar and natural gas energy generation plants. The firm has worked on the development, finance, acquisition and sale of energy projects in Texas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Its current energy practice also includes energy storage and natural gas energy generation projects in Texas. Our lawyers are experienced in the preparation of wind, solar, and geothermal energy leases, easements, options and purchase agreements, property tax abatement and tax limitation agreements, environmental matters, crossing agreements, BOP/EPC construction contracts, and mineral surface waiver agreements. We analyze and resolve the myriad of legal, title, environmental and survey issues arising in the development of energy projects and help clients plan for future challenges. We work closely and collaboratively with project finance counsel to coordinate the real estate instruments, governmental approvals, surveys, title policies, and legal opinions necessary to close deals. In addition to our transactional work, we counsel clients regarding the regulatory framework of the Texas Public Utility Commission, Texas franchise and sales tax issues, and permitting matters.
Andrews Kurth

Andrews Kurth
andrewskurth.com

Andrews Kurth offers developers, financial institutions, turbine manufacturers, contractors and others in the renewables business some of the most sophisticated international renewable power advice available in the world. Andrews Kurth lawyers get deals done by helping clients navigate the complexities of renewable energy projects and maximize available tax, financial and environmental credits and incentives. Our integrated renewable energy team combines Andrews Kurth’s business, finance, regulatory, energy, real estate, tax and environmental strengths. Team members work collaboratively on financings, investments, asset purchases and sales and other transactions involving clean and renewable energy.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
orrick.com

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has one of the world’s leading renewable energy practices, with over 100 lawyers focusing on the energy industry globally. We have market-leading practices in project development, financing, and energy project M&A, and we advise on a range of issues related to solar and wind projects, as well as geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, biofuels, landfill gas and fuel cells. We have experience in every significant financing approach to renewable energy projects, including construction debt, term debt, mezzanine debt, leasing, tax equity, capital markets transactions and tax-exempt financing. With a deep understanding of the industry, our top-caliber lawyers have strong technical expertise that serves the needs of global clients in all of the specialized practice areas involved in the development and financing of energy projects.
Husch Blackwell, LLP

Husch Blackwell, LLP
huschblackwell.com

Renewable energy is leading the electricity industry in growth and innovation and nowhere is that more apparent than in Texas. Husch Blackwell has one of the largest and most active renewable energy law practices in the United States. Our attorneys have experience on projects involving more than 10 GW in wind and solar production, 2.1 billion gallons in annual biofuel output, and 1.5 MMbtu in annual landfill gas production.

In 2014, our attorneys were directly involved in 70% of the wind generation that went into construction and/or tax equity financing in Texas. Our solar experience includes nationally-recognized and innovative work on behalf of the top renewable developers in the state. And our ERCOT and PUCT team members are well-known as leaders in Texas wholesale and retail power regulation.
Haynes and Boone, LLP

Haynes and Boone, LLP
haynesboone.com

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm serving clients involved in some of the most innovative renewable and alternative energy projects in the world, as well as traditional power generation projects. Our clients benefit from our broad experience in regulatory, environmental and transactional legal work as well as our strategic planning advice with regard to both regulatory and commercial risks. Our lawyers work with start-ups, investors, joint venture partners, power generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, independent power producers and electric utilities. With more than 550 attorneys in offices in Texas, New York, California, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Shanghai, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest law firms in the nation by The National Law Journal.
Vinson & Elkins LLP

Vinson & Elkins LLP
velaw.com

Vinson & Elkins is a leading international law firm for complex transactional, regulatory and dispute resolution matters. In our nearly 100-year history, we have earned a reputation as the preeminent firm serving the energy and natural resources industry. Worldwide, our approximately 700 lawyers assemble multidisciplinary, industry-focused teams to help clients manage their legal and regulatory responsibilities. Our 15 offices are located in energy hubs, financial centers and political capitals globally.

Renewable Energy Law

Overview

Event Schedule

Tuesday Morning, Feb. 9, 2016

Tuesday Afternoon, Feb. 9, 2016

Wednesday Morning, Feb. 10, 2016

Wednesday Afternoon, Feb. 10, 2016

Conference Faculty

Planning Committee

Credit Info

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

Key Dates

Venue

Radisson Hotel and Suites, Austin-Downtown

Accommodations

Parking Information

Our Sponsors

Stahl, Bernal, Davies, Sewell & Chavarria, LLP

Andrews Kurth

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Husch Blackwell, LLP

Haynes and Boone, LLP

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Stay in the loop with UT Law CLE