Hunton Andrews Kurth and the Environmental Law Institute hosted a complimentary summer speaker series featuring key representatives from environmental regulatory agencies. The series of informal seminars provided attendees with the opportunity to directly interact with environmental regulators and professionals in the field on the latest issues and challenges in environmental law in California and throughout the western United States.
Green Energy
Renewable energy is increasingly satisfying demand for electricity and transforming energy markets throughout the United States. Over the past five years, renewable energy projects represented more than 60% of new electric generating capacity in the United States, and renewable energy projects now provide about 18% of total electricity generation (up from 9% in 2008). Along with reductions in the cost of solar projects, federal tax law incentives and commitments from corporations to buy renewable energy, the growth of renewable energy is being driven by state-level energy and environmental policy initiatives. Ed Burgess, Director at Strategen Consulting, led our discussion on renewable energy trends and policies and how states are integrating renewables into the grid (including innovative policies that are intended to allow states to meet a larger portion of their peak energy demand through renewable energy). At Strategen, Ed advises Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, utilities, trade associations and developers on policies and programs affecting renewable energy and battery storage.
Speakers:
Edward Burgess, Director, Strategen Consulting
Michael Klaus, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (moderator)
**See other sessions in the San Francisco Summer Speaker Series schedule HERE.**