Seminar in Energy Law and Policy

This course surveys policies, laws, and institutions designed to regulate the production, transmission, and use of energy resources in the United States. It will explore existing and evolving statutory and regulatory frameworks to manage the direct and collateral impact of the energy sector on consumers, on human health, and on natural resources and the environment, as well as policy considerations that have given shape to these frameworks. It covers regulatory regimes dealing with coal and natural gas as well as the delivery of energy through the electric grid. It also examines current influences on, and changes, to policy paradigms including the exigencies emerging from global climate change, the growing market in renewable and clean energy alternatives, and a rising interest in promoting energy conservation and efficiency.