Tamiko Watanabe, Denver Law LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate, Awarded Program Certficates

Denver Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law LLM Graduate Tamiko Watanabe, center, is recognized by Don Smith, program  director, and Lucy Daberkow, assistant administrative director, for achieving two program certificates. 

Ms. Watanabe, who came to Denver from her home in Kyoto, Japan, has been hired as a legal assistant and will begin those responsibilities in September.

Mr. Smith said, "Kyoto, Japan, is known as the home of the Kyoto Protocol, the UN-based agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions.  It is also home to Tamiko, and she represented her home city well during her studies at Denver Law.  I will always remember Tamiko as a remarkably hard worker as well as for a thoughtful presentation that she gave to her fellow law students on the one year anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.  She reminded all of us, in that presentation, of the care with which humanity needs to consider the relationship of nature and our modern energy generating systems."

Ms. Daberkow said, "It has been a great pleasure to have Tamiko as a student and as a member of our graduate program community.  All of us learned a great deal from her while she was studying here.  We wish her all the best in her future career." 

Sturm College of Law Welcomes 2012-2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Students: 14 Countries Represented



Lucy Daberkow, left, and Don Smith, right, welcome
new students to Denver Law's Environmental and
Natural Resources Graduate Program

Denver Law has welcomed its incoming 2012-2013 class in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Graduate Program (ENRL).  New students were introduced to Denver Law in an orientation program that featured Don Smith, program director, Lucy Daberkow, assistant administrative director, Ann Vessels, director of the externship program, and Kate Stoker, director of the writing clinic. 

"We always strive to have a diverse group of students, both in terms of the U.S. and internationally, and I am delighted that this year's group includes students from 14 countries," Mr. Smith said.  The countries are: Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the U.S.

The Denver Law ENRL LLM and Masters degree program is among the most diverse programs of its kind in the world, a point of particular interest for most students who apply to the Denver Law program.

Ms. Daberkow said, "Environmental, natural resources, and energy law in the 21st century raise issues and challenges within individual countries as well as across the world. Our wide curriculum of U.S.-focused and internationally-focused courses allows students to learn about a wide array of practices and helps prepare them for their future careers."

As a final part of the orientation program, Annie Oman, a current student and the program's student assistant, took the new students on a tour of some of Denver's best shopping areas. Helping our new students adjust to life in the US and at Denver Law is an important part of our jobs. Classes don't begin until next week!  

World's Most Efficient Solar Panel Developed

A North Carolina company, Semprius Inc., has developed the world's most efficient solar panel. The most efficient photovoltaic module previously converted 16% of sunlight into electricity with Spemprius' prototype converting 33.9%. The information is provided by two separate company press releases.

The prototype underwent testing and certification at the Instituto de Energia Solar in Spain and at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. During the previous tests, the Semprius prototype demonstrated a 32% energy conversion rate.

Even a small scale improvement like this makes a huge difference in returns on investment. This is especially true on large scale utility projects.

“This is a significant milestone for Semprius and the entire PV industry,” said Scott Burroughs, vice president of technology at Durham, N.C.-based Semprius. “For the first time we have been able to convert more than one third of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.”

The Semprius solar module magnifies the sunlight with mirrors and lenses before it hits the photovoltaic cells, creating concentrated photovoltaics.

Semprius developed its technology with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which is located in Golden, Colorado. 

London Strives for Gold in Environmental Planning for the Olympics

The United Nations Environmental Program dates the first environmentally conscientious Olympic Games to the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway. The 2012 Summer Olympics in London is hoping to push the effort even further. This is the first host city to measure its carbon footprint from construction through the end of the Games.

David Stubbs, the head of sustainability for the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games proudly discussed the development of the first global standard for sustainable event management, named ISO 20121. Additionally, the implementation of he Food Vision Program is the first to challenge the catering sector to look at sustainable sources including fair trade, M.S.C.-certified (Marine Stewardship Council-certified) fish and Farm Assured Red Tractor (a program which assures safety of food production).

The 2012 Olympic Games have transformed a large part of East London, the  Lea Valley site, which had been an industrial waste ground for centuries. The transformation included cleaning lead, arsenic and tar out of the soil. In addition to beating their 90% recycling goal by 8%, volunteers also helped restore the natural habitat and water flows along the River Lea.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said, "It's fantastic that so many volunteers have pulled together to help make our rivers and canals sparkle for London's summer like no other. The eyes of the world will be on the capital during the Games and thanks to this hard work, millions of people will be able to see our wonderful waterways at their best."

The 250 acres of parkland is the biggest urban park to be built in Europe for 150 years with 45 hectares of new wildlife habitat. Organizers created temporary structures that can be recycled after the games in addition to permanent structures that are to be incorporated into the park. The area is to be named The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be open to the public after the games.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Solar Energy Project Assists Affordable Housing in Denver

Last April, Namaste Solar Electric Inc  began installation of solar power systems in 387 affordable housing buildings in Denver. The $10 million solar power project is part of a 2.5 megawatt, 20 year power purchase signed by the Denver Housing Authority. This is one of the largest solar panel installations within the Denver metro area. Within those 387 buildings, 668 units will benefit from the solar power. Denver Housing Authority will buy the solar power at slightly less cost than what Xcel Energy Inc had been charging and the yearly rate increase will also be lower than Xcel's. The Denver Housing Authority’s project is partnered with Namaste Solar Electric Inc, of Boulder, Oakleaf Energy Partners and Enfinity America Corporation.

A similar solar power system installation in Denver was brokered by the Denver Public School system in 2010. However, heir two power-purchase agreements were only 1.8 and 1.2 megawatts in 16 and 12 schools respectively.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock stated: “The Denver Housing Authority continues to serve as an aggressive leader in revitalizing Denver’s inner-city communities. Developing smart, sustainable residential sites clearly makes them an outstanding example of the stewardship that makes us a leader in energy-conscious cities.”

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

US: Driest Conditions Since the Dust Bowl?

The United States is facing some of the driest conditions since the droughts of the 1950's and 1930's which  were characterized by the Dust Bowl. The US Department of Agriculture has declared the current drought as the largest disaster in its history, affecting over 26 states -nearly two-thirds of the continental US. However, this current drought, although equal in size, "is not as severe or long lasting as the multiyear droughts of the 1950's and 1930's" according to Mark Svoboda, a climatologist  with the US National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Svoboda refers to this drought as a "flash drought" because it arrived in a time frame of weeks to months, relatively fast for a drought.


The dry conditions were caused by the heat wave that hit the greater Midwest in June.
The drought is hitting agriculture and livestock the hardest. The dry spell came during the most critical point for corn growth. Tom Vilsack, the USDA secretary, noted that the forecast for other agricultural products, including soybeans and livestock, had been hurt by the drought.

It is hoped that with sustainable water practices, people will be able to manage the drought conditions.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant

Australia Pushes Boundaries of Preservation

In June, Australia announced its intention to create the world's largest marine reserve. The reserve will cover more than a third of Australia's coastal waters, encompassing 3.1 million square kilometers of ocean. Restrictions are being placed on fishing and oil and gas exploration within the reserve.

Environmental Minister Tony Burke said, "It's time for the world to turn a corner on protection of our oceans and Australia today is leading that next step."

The areas that will be protected include the Great Barrier Reef, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The areas provide support for tropical ecosystems in reefs and deep sea canyons, such as sharks and tuna among other aquatic species. A US navy ship also rests in the water which sunk in 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Burke said he wanted the reserves to set a benchmark for the world in environmental protection and food security – access to and consistent availability of food. The plan aims to guarantee future fish stocks by preventing overfishing.

The finals plans should be announced by the end of the year.
Here is a detailed video of the plan.

Angelica Oman

Graduate Program Assistant