Thiti Waikavee, 2005 Environmental and Natural Resources Law LLM Graduate, Admitted to University of Auckland PhD Program

Thiti Waikavee, a 2005 University of Denver Sturm College of Law LLM graduate from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program, has been admitted to the University of Auckland Faculty of Law PhD program.

Mr. Waikavee, who earned a certificate in Environmental Law and Policy while studying at DU, is a licensed attorney in his home country of Thailand where he practices law. He received his law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University.

He has been involved in matters regarding the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Alternative Energy Glossary and Reference Guide 2nd Edition Published and Available for Free

The law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP has published the second edition of the Alternative Energy Glossary and Reference Guide. Included in the glossary are terms such as biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, LEED buildings, smart grid, ocean thermal, solar, tide, wave, and wind.

The 96-page publication can be accessed by clicking here.

The guide will be a welcome addition to the library of any organization or person working in the alternative energy sector.

Presidential Management Fellows Program to be Discussed at College of Law by 2007 DU JD and LLM Graduate Theresa Corless on Sept. 28

Theresa I. Corless, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law JD and LLM graduate, will speak at the college of law at noon on Sept. 28 noon about the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program.

Ms. Corless, environmental coordinater for special projects at the Rio Grande National Forest/San Luis Valley Public Lands Center, earned her LLM from the Environmental and Natural Resource Law program at the college of law. Following completion of her studies at DU, Ms. Corless earned a prestigious spot as a Presidential Management Fellow.

The program is a competitive two-year government leadership fellowship. Although due to federal regulation there are no "attorney" positions in the PMF, many attorneys and those with legal backgrounds find relevant positions in the program. At the end of the two years, fellows are placed in a permanent position.

Students are eligible in the year in which they receive a graduate degree. The application period is Oct. 1-15. More information about applying can be found by clicking here.

Recent EPA Hearing: "A Little Like High School" According to One Observer

What takes place at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearings? Sometimes you might be surprised.

Andrea Gelfuso, who teaches environmental law at the University of Denver, wrote recently about an EPA hearing she attended in August. Ms. Gelfuso, an environmental lawyer herself, was a bit surprised. Please click here to read her observations that were first published in the High Country News.

Former Assistant Secretaries of the Interior John A. Carver and Rebecca C. Watson Speak at Sturm College of Law; Key Issues and Challenges Explained

Two former Assistant Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Interior, John A. Carver Jr. and Rebecca C. Watson, recently discussed their tenures at the Department of Interior in a wide-ranging presentation at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Mr. Carver served as an Assistant Secretary during the administrations of President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson while Ms. Watson served in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Former Secretary Carver, who also was a professor at the college of law from 1972 through the mid-2000s, began by describing the relationship between the nation's public lands and the history and development of the United States. He noted that during much of the country's history the matter of "what should be the ultimate disposition of these public lands" has been debated and pondered.

Among the key issues during his tenure, from 1961-1966, were the role of public lands in the provision of forage for cattle and the resulting grazing fees as well as undertaking a major land survey of Alaska, which at that time had only recently been admitted to the U.S. He also noted with some humor the challenges he faced between the policy officers in the department and the solicitor's office.

Former Secretary Watson, a Sturm College of Law 1978 JD graduate and currently a partner at the Denver-based firm of Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley PC, mentioned the major event -- the 9/11 terrorist attack -- that took place just before she assumed her role. That event played a large role in the projects she ultimately was involved in including how to protect critical energy infrastructure and the role of energy more generally as a national security issue. A second key focus was the matter of catastrophic wild fires and what could be done to reduce the risk of such catastrophies. Finally she described the concept of "cooperative conservation," which was emphasized by her boss, former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton (also a DU JD graduate), and her ultimate boss President Bush.

Secretary Watson also told the students about the three guiding principals that she employed at the Department of the Interior including: (1) creating a team; (2) providing the team leadership in the form of defining where the team was headed and making decisions; and (3) the need to always be aware, from an ethical standpoint, of the high standards that one should uphold while in public office.

Despite the 40 years that separated Secretaries Carver and Watson, several observations are crystal clear. First, they both loved their time at the Department of the Interior. Secretary Carver said his time there represented "the best job I ever had." Second, the desire to serve the public was considered a high honor as well as an important responsibility to both secretaries. Third, because of their close associations with the College of Law there was much for all of us to learn about their pride and loyalty to an institution that has been and continues to be an important part of their lives.

And finally, it was simply impossible for those of us in the audience not to benefit from the professionalism these two leaders displayed in their respect for their roles as public servants. This is no small lesson to be considered in contemporary times that are often colored by disagreements and heated disputes. When we watch individuals from different times, different generations, and different political backgrounds provide thoughtful and respectful commentary about their careers and the challenges they faced we are reminded of the powerful positive examples that can be reflected in how one conducts his or her career.

John A. Carver Jr. and Rebecca C. Watson -- two esteemed members of the Sturm College of Law community, who taught all of us more about life and success in an hour than we often learn in months and even years.

--Don C. Smith

(Editor's note: John A. Carver Jr. is in the top photo; in the middle photo from left Rebecca Watson, John A. Carver Jr, Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resource Law program, and Professor of Law K.K. DuVivier; bottom photo is of Rebecca Watson.)

Sherry Manning, 2010 Masters of Resource Law Studies Graduate, Returns to the Philippines to Work on Eco-Tourism Organic Farm

Sherry Manning, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law Masters in Resource Law Studies graduate, has returned to the Philippines where she lived from March 2006 to August 2008 while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Ms. Manning's return to the Philippines will involve her efforts to help the ENCA Eco-Tourism Organic Farm become an official non-profit organization in the country. During her earlier time in the Philippines, Ms. Manning helped establish the ENCA farm as a leading eco-tourism destination.

The ENCA farm is located in the Cordillera Mountain Range in Tublay Benguet. The ENCA farm, which is named after Enrique and Carmen Cosalan, has been in the Acop and Cosalan families since the 1800s. For many generations the farm served as a means of sustenance for the families who lived there. Four years ago the farm was opened as an eco-tourism site for the public.

Through Ms. Manning's efforts, the ENCA farm has been recognized in Washington state as a non-profit organization. Ms. Manning and others are hoping that the ENCA farm will become a U.S. recognized non-profit in the near future. In the meantime, Ms. Manning will work from now until mid-December on seeking non-profit status in the Philippines.

The non-profit designation is important as part of the ENCA farm's fund raising efforts, which are aimed at helping the farm's programs develop and "become more accessible to organic farmers through the Philippines," according to Ms. Manning.

Colorado Bar Association Offers Free Memberships to Law Students

Students at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law may join the Colorado Bar Association for free, an offer that is sure to be of interest to all students studying environmental, energy, and natural resources law (among other topics).

Student members enjoy the rights and privileges of active members as may be defined by the Board of Governors.

The student membership application can be accessed by clicking here.

Joining the CBA is a great way to network with practicing attorneys and, as a consequence, build one's professional network. It is never too early for a student to begin thinking about how to establish and expand his or her own network of contacts.

Energy Special Sections in Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal

Two of the world's most authoritative newspapers, the London-based Financial Times and the New York City-based Wall Street Journal, published special energy sections on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010.

If you are even mildly interested in environmental, energy, and natural resources issues, these special sections are must reading. The sections cover all of the key issues including renewables, the role of fossil fuels, and where there is money to be made -- and lost -- in the energy sector.

Vestas to Build 3.0 Megawatt Wind Turbines in Colorado

Danish-based wind turbine manufacturer Vestas will build its largest turbine to date, the 3.0 megawatt V112 model, in Colorado.

First reported in the Denver Business Journal, "Vestas hopes new model will catch the wind" (Sept. 10, 2010), the 3.0 MW models are targetted to wind farms in the Midwest. Martha Wyrsch, Vestas Americas president, said, "Customer interest has been very high, and we're very excited about bringing the product to market.

According to Vestas, the 3.0 MW V112 model is "designed for onshore low- and medium-wind speed sites and for offshore sites anywhere around the world."

More about the V112 can be learned by clicking here.

Looking For Environmental, Energy, Natural Resources News and Trends in Colorado? Check out the Denver Business Journal

Readers of this blog are well aware of my affinity for leading news sources such as the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal in terms of staying current about the news and trends in the ever-changing and evolving environment, natural resources, and energy sectors. I strongly believe there is no substitute for keeping on top of key events and knowing what key news and opinion makers are saying, doing, and writing.

Recently, however, it occurred to me that I'm leaving out a big segment of news and trends related to what is happening right here in the Denver region specifically and Colorado more generally. While it is often important to know what is happening in Washington and Brussels, Lima and Beijing (among others), it is also important to follow the news right here. And in that regard I have a suggestion: Follow the environment, energy, and natural resources coverage in the Denver Business Journal (DBJ).

Last week I met with Cathy Proctor, the DBJ reporter who covers these beats. Ms. Proctor, a graduate of the highly respected Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University near Chicago, covers the good and the great (and others as well I'm sure!) as she reports on the news and trends in the Denver area and Colorado. This coverage is important to all of us who live, study, and work here since her reporting helps us know more about what local firms are doing and thinking about in terms of their markets. For those of you considering working here, her reporting is likely to be indispensable to your understanding of these economic sectors. Many consider Ms. Proctor to be "the" reporter when it comes to these issues. You can also follow her blog.

Now that's not to say that The Denver Post, and other area media outlets are not covering these issues. However, the market segmentation of today's media often means that more focused publications -- in this case the DBJ -- deliver more targeted and regular coverage of the sectors they cover.

Looking ahead, I will more closely follow Ms. Proctor's coverage in the DBJ. Moreover, it is quite likely that she will be visiting the Sturm College of Law (probably early next year) to share her insights about trends in the environment, energy, and natural resources sectors. One can never be too well informed, especially when it comes time to impress a prospective employer.

(The DBJ is available in print form weekly on Fridays and on-line as well. The Westminster Law Library subscribes to the print edition as well as the on-line version. The print edition is available on Level 2 and the on-line version is available through the library's website.) Personal subscriptions are available through the DBJ website.

--Don Smith

Jeremy Fancher, 2009 LLM Graduate, Begins Work as Policy Analyst and In-House Counsel for International Mountain Biking Association

Jeremy Fancher, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law 2009 LLM graduate from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy program, has been hired as a policy analyst and in-house counsel by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).

According to the IMBA, which seeks to create, enhance and preserve mountain biking experiences worldwide, Mr. Fancher will "lead the IMBA's efforts to shape national mountain bike and public lands policies by working closely with many federal partners including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, as well as meeting with officials from state and local governments."

Mr. Fancher said, "I am thrilled to join IMBA and contribute to the legacy of developing and preserving mountain biking opportunities on public lands."

During high school Jeremy began mountain biking in the hills near Santa Barbara, California. However, his time on a bike declined while he was playing football for Azusa Pacific University. After a period of not riding, he returned to his bike after viewing the Lifetime Fitness Leadville 100 mountain biking event.

He will be based in IMBA's Boulder headquarters.

JD Graduate Profile: Becky Bye, Legal Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewables

Issues related to renewable energy and energy efficiency are among the top energy-related matters domestically and internationally as nearly every country grapples with how to provide affordable, dependable, and clean energy.

Becky Bye, a May 2005 JD graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, is someone who works on these issues daily. To Ms. Bye, the practical aspects of how the U.S. can and is implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives are the fundamental questions addressed in her legal counsel position for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office in Golden, Colorado.

More specifically Ms. Bye provides legal advice on legal issues and laws ranging from energy and environment to labor and government contracting. She negotiates power purchase agreements and interconnection agreements with private entities for the installation and sale of renewable energy on DOE-owned sites. She also provides lead legal support for matters involving a variety of Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) including the state and local government energy efficiency and conservation block grant program funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

Before assuming her role at the Department of Energy, Ms. Bye worked as an associate attorney at Holland & Hart in Denver and later as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado. In the latter position, Ms. Bye provided legal advice to the Commissioners of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regarding federal and state energy, gas, telecommunications, water, and transportation laws. She also acted as lead counsel on behalf of the PUC for hearings and decisions regarding energy efficiency initiatives in buildings, gas rates, new energy turbines, and proposed transmission lines proposals.

Because of Ms. Bye's expertise and career experience, Environment21 posed several questions to her:

1. When did you first get interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency?

"Since my childhood, I was always interested in pursuing law school and always had a separate interest in the well-being of the environment including human, animal, and plant health and preserving the earth's beauty. On top of these interests, I had an interest in science and majored in chemistry in college. When I started at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, I maintained an interest in environmental, natural resources, and energy law; these areas were the perfect confluence of my interests and passions. Around the time I went to law school (2002 through 2005) and soon thereafter, economically feasible renewable energy/energy efficiency technologies became more relevant to society for so many reasons. I chose to pursue this area since it seemed that I could do my part as a lawyer to secure a cleaner environment for future generations, while also creating many jobs in the new 'green' energy sector."

2. What advice would you have for students who might want to work in this area?

"The first piece of advice I would give any student pursuing any area of law is get as much hands on experience as you can in order to understand what the practice area encompasses. I would also advise you to try different aspects of that area--working at a firm, in-house, federal government, state government, non-profit, etc. Each type of entity, even if you practice in the same practice area, provides a wholly different experience as an attorney. Truly find your best fit.

"I would also advise students to go out and try to meet as many practitioners as they can and talk to them about what they do. Attend law school events that are attended by attorneys; attend Colorado Bar Association continuing legal education events for the practice area in which you are interested; do your best to meet as many people as you can and get as many perspectives as you can. Lastly, keep up with the news. If you are interested in renewable energy/energy efficiency, do your best to stay on top of the technologies and the laws behind it, so you can get more out of your discussions with practitioners or other people in the field."

3. How did your Sturm College of Law education prepare you for what you are now doing?

"Renewable energy/energy efficiency law involves various other legal areas. On a daily basis, I must use my knowledge of property, administrative, real estate, labor/employment, environmental, contract, and other laws to provide sound legal advice to my client (the Department of Energy). The Sturm College of Law provided a wide array of these and other courses, and I incorporate what I learned everyday. In addition, I took many practice-related courses such as the Natural Resources Practitioner-in-Residence class that helped me understand the transition between learning the law and applying it in practice."

"Investing in China and Southeast Asia: Ethical and Business Perspectives" Presentation in Denver Sept. 8

The Association of International Petroleum Negotiators is sponsoring a program entitled "Investing in China and Southeast Asia: Ethical and Business Perspectives" in Denver on Sept. 8.

The event, which will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Encana Oil & Gas at 370 17th Street, 40th floor, Suite 1700, in downtown Denver, will bring together presenters who have more than 60 years of combined experience in China and Southeast Asia. The presenters will include:

• Edwin Moritz, president of Gustavson Associates LLC
• Jim Higbee, director of Higbee Consulting International
• Todd Olinger, Ducker, Montgomery, Lewis & Bess PC
• Mark Semenoff, Simon Semenoff
• Bahman Paul Ebrahimi, professor at Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver

Each presenter will touch on what he has learned over his career, and speak on issues of ethics, business, engineering, oil and gas development and general investment advice for those looking to invest in China or receive support from the Chinese capital markets. Special emphasis will also be placed on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and how U.S.-based companies have managed FCPA compliance issues.

Students may attend for $5; non-AIPA members may attend for $10.

Judge Carlos Lucero of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Speaks to Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law Students

Recently Judge Carlos Lucero, a member of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, spoke to a gathering of University of Denver Sturm College of Law students from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

Judge Lucero spoke about his involvement with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative's Latin American and Caribbean Division, which supports legal reform efforts and judicial capacity building. He told the gathering of a meeting he had with members of the Chilean Supreme Court at which the group discussed the country's constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment alongside the concept of "absolute rights." Judge Lucero was quite impressed with the Chilean judges' consideration of how these rights are balanced and ultimately implemented.

Judge Lucero, who was appointed to the federal bench in 1995 by President Bill Clinton, also discussed his own experience with U.S. environmental law during the period when he practiced law in Alamosa, Colorado. During his years in private practice, Judge Lucero was involved with water law and public lands issues in particular.

Judge Lucero has a bachelor's degree from Adams State College and a law degree from George Washington University Law School. He served as a law clerk for former Colorado U.S. District Court Judge William E. Doyle from 1964-1965.

(Editor's note: In the top picture, Judge Lucero, far right, and Sturm College of Law Academic Dean Fred Cheever, far left, speak with 1L student John Hedges; in the middle picture, Judge Lucero speaks with Don Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program; the bottom picture is of Judge Lucero and Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Director for the ENRL.)