University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, Level 6
On the 40th anniversary of PURPA—the nation’s most important renewable energy statute—we will critically explore the past, present, and future of renewable energy law and policy in the United States. Please join us to engage in a dialogue with the nation’s foremost experts.

5.5 hours of CLE (pending).

Register online »

Registration fees:
$75 general public
$40 seniors, government, university or nonprofit
$20 students

Hosted by the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment.

Panels, Speakers and Agenda

8:00 – Registration

9:00-9:10 – Welcome

9:10-10:20 – PURPA and the Rise of U.S. Renewable Energy Policy in Historical Context

• William Boyd, UCLA School of Law
• Richard Hirsh, Virginia Tech
• Robert Lifset, The University of Oklahoma
• Moderator: Megan McKay Withroder, Rocky Mountain Power

10:20-10:40 – Break

10:40-11:50 – 40 Years of 20/20 Hindsight: PURPA Challenges Today (Roundtable Debate)

• Vicki Baldwin, Parsons Behle & Latimer
• Emily Sanford Fisher, Edison Electric Institute
• Travis Kavulla, Montana Public Service Commission
• Felix Mormann, Texas A&M University School of Law
• Moderator: Michelle Brandt King, Holland & Hart

11:50 – 1:00 – Lunch

1:00-2:10 – Emerging Trends in U.S. Renewable Energy Law and Policy

• Galen Barbose, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Kate Konschnik, Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions
• Leah Stokes, UC Santa Barbara
• Moderator: Alexandra Klass, University of Minnesota Law School

2:10-3:20 – International Perspectives on Renewable Energy Policy

• Peter Connor, University of Exeter
• Penny Crossley, The University of Sydney Law School
• Seongwook Heo, Seoul National University School of Law
• Moderator: Lincoln Davies, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

3:20-3:40 – Break

3:40-4:40 – Rooftop Solar and the Future of the Electricity Grid (Roundtable Debate)

• Allison Clements, Energy Foundation
• Lincoln Davies, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
• Kevin Jones, Vermont Law School
• Christopher Worley, vivint.Solar
• Moderator: Danya Rumore, University of Utah

4:40-5:00 – Wrap-up – Pulling Together the Conference’s Themes

For questions, contact Kris Monty at (801) 585-3440.

Free parking is available at the Rice-Eccles Stadium. We encourage you to use public transportation to our events. Take TRAX University line to the Stadium stop and walk a half block north. For other public transit options use UTA’s Trip Planner. The law school is on the Red Route for the University’s free campus shuttles (College of Law stop).

This conference is supported by a donation from the Cultural Vision Fund, the Energy Bar Association and Holland & Hart.