"Oil & Gas Development Key to U.S. Future," Write Rebecca Watson and Don Smith in Christian Science Monitor Opinion Piece

Oil and gas development using fracking and horizontal drilling will support U.S. energy security and benefit the national economy, according to an opinion piece co-authored by Rebecca Watson, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior and Denver Law graduate, and Don Smith, director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

 "Fracking, or more broadly, oil and gas development, is an industrial activity and can cause negative environmental effects," Ms. Watson and Mr. Smith wrote in the piece published October 23,2013, in The Christian Science Monitor.  "But many modern industrial and everyday activities have environmental or human health risks.  The reasonable response is sensible regulation, at both the federal and state level, rather than wholesale bans."

Ms.Watson, a Denver energy and land-access lawyer, is a shareholder with Welborn Sullivan Meck &Tooley, P.C. in Denver.

The Christian Science Monitor is considered one of the nation's leading publications and is read by opinion makers across the U.S. and the world.  Click here to read the entire opinion piece.

'07 MRLS Alum Discusses Wind Energy in Boulder

Danny Splettstosser graduated from DU’s MRLS program in the winter of 2007. After working for 3 years as one of Electricite De France – Renewable Energy’s first utility scale solar project developers, he returned home to Colorado. Danny is currently the Manager of Business Development for juwi Wind based out of Boulder Colorado. Danny runs a small team of business developers which specialize in utility scale wind project mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and renewable energy power sales.

Over the past two years, Danny has focused on diversification of juwi’s wind energy portfolio away from the uncertainties of U.S. renewable energy tax credits. In particular, Danny has been instrumental in beach-heading new markets the Canadian Maritimes provinces. Creation of this new market opportunity has included: working with Canadian corporate and tax counsel to create a viable and financeable corporate structure; leading acquisitions of more than a half dozen community wind projects; comprehensive coordination of project development activities with internal and external contract project developers; securing provincial and municipal permits; coordinating interconnection studies and interconnection agreements; leading the negotiation of four joint ventures with community wind project co-owners, three of which are with First Nations, and subsequently managing those joint ventures; leading a consortium of market participants in PPA negotiations with Nova Scotia Power under their Community Feed-In-Tariff including assisting in writing filings for Nova Scotia’s Utility Review Board; preparation of a portfolio of more than $65 million of wind energy projects for finance and construction in 2014; leading efforts for further diversification within the Canadian wind energy market.

Key elements of his course work at DU which have directly applied to his work experience are: Land Use Development Law, Environmental Law (particularly related to NEPA processes), Corporate Social Responsibility and  Renewable Energy Finance.

Danny shares, “The work is extremely challenging, but every day before I go to work, I get to tell my son that ‘Daddy is off to save the world’  and that’s a pretty good feeling.” 

New Specialization in Sustainability Offered

We are pleased to announce that students in the Environmental and Natural Resources Graduate Program (ENRGP) can now apply for a new specialization in Sustainability Law and Policy!

Sustainability has become increasingly popular as companies and individuals strive to reduce their impact on the environment. Corporate sustainability has expanded and many organizations now have large teams devoted to incorporating sustainable methods into the business. These teams address issues regarding resource depletion, supply chain sustainability, as well as generation of energy savings and consumer behavior habits.

The sustainability sector offers a variety of careers options for students to pursue. Students are able to apply their degree to sustainable international development, others focus on corporate social responsibility or green marketing. Sustainability is in demand and the type of employment is open to the individual's skills and preferences.

Students in the ENRGP are able to choose from a selection of courses to obtain the Sustainability Law and Policy specialization. These courses range from Corporate Social Responsibility to National Legislation and Policy for the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources.

Assistant Director Lucy Daberkow shared, "We strive to offer our students the most up to date and relevant course choices. Creating a  specialization in Sustainability allows  students to focus their studies in an area that is of the most importance at the local, national, and global levels. The study of topics such as Global Warming, Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainability prepares today's students to be the leaders of a more prosperous and green future. "

For more information about our specialization options, visit our website!
Click here to apply to our program!

Former Student Featured on KDVR

Steam Espresso Bar was recently featured on KDVR, local channel 31 as the hot new coffee hangout. To watch the video see above or follow this link.

Hani Yaafouri, a 2010 ENRGP MRLS graduate, and his brother Zahi, MBA '03 and MRECM '01, opened  Steam Espresso Bar in May. The brothers were intent upon creating a sustainable business concept that offered excellent coffee and a wonderful atmosphere.

The brothers used reclaimed wood from 1930's railway box cars and upgraded the building to be more energy efficient. They are also using eco-friendly paper cups, locally-sourced food items,
and stainless steel filters to prevent the waste generated from paper filters.

Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Director had this to say, "Steam Espresso Bar is a true gem of a coffee shop. We are so proud that Hani, our friend and former student, designed a place that is not only inviting but also environmentally friendly. It is great to see that Hani is putting into practice all the sustainability and renewable energy concepts he acquired while pursuing his studies here. Make sure you stop by for the best coffee you’ll ever have!"

Denver Law Environmental Law Professor Rock Pring and Catherine Pring Featured in Panel Discussion at Recent International Bar Association Annual Meeting in Boston

Professor George Pring, third from left, and Catherine Pring, fourth from left.

Sturm College of Law Professor George (Rock) Pring and Catherine Pring were featured presenters recently at the International Bar Association's Annual Meeting in Boston. 

The Prings, internationally respected experts on the growing roles of environmental courts and tribunals, were part of a panel entitled "Environment and natural resources courts - do we need independent and specialized adjudicators?"  The Prings are co-authors of Green Justice: Creating and Improving Environment Courts and Tribunals, which was published by the Access Institute of the World Resources Institute.

The panel, which included several other experts from around the world, was moderated by Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the New South Wales Land & Environment Court.  (Justice Preston visited Denver Law several years ago.)

Don Smith, Director of Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy program, said, "Rock and Kitty Pring are known around the world for their precedent setting work on environmental courts and tribunals.  The Prings continue to bring their insights and observations to a topic that is of major interest to those involved with environmental issues.  All who seek a more environmentally conscious world are indebted to these pioneers."

2013 Renewable Energy Conference Next Week

The 2013 Renewable Energy Conference will take place on Friday, October 18th. This is the third annual renewable energy conference and the event will focus on: "The World of Renewable Energy: State, National and International Perspectives on Renewable Energy Law and Policy."

The Conference will delve into a variety of topics including China's energy programs and the intersection with U.S. interests. In addition, the Conference will discuss challenges and opportunities in federal renewable energy policy. A major issue with renewable energy are the challenges associated with the transmission of the energy generated from renewable resources. A special panel will discuss those transmission challenges.

Registration information:
The deadline to register is Monday, October 14th.
Students are offered a discount rate of $37.50!!
The Conference includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, free parking and access to conference materials.

Join us for a full day of education and networking as key leaders examine state, national and international perspectives on renewable energy law and policy. 

Click here to register for the event!

Kimberly Jackson Discusses Her Position as Oil and Gas Planner

Kimberly Jackson, LLM'13, accepted a position in the CO Department of Public Health and Environment earlier this year as the state's Oil and Gas Planner. We recently caught up with Kimberly and learned more about what it means to be an Oil and Gas Planner.

Kimberly's primary responsibility is to collaborate with citizens, local municipalities, other states and the federal government to work on the planning and development of oil and gas operations. She shared, "Our goal as a Division is to ensure that oil and gas projects are being appropriately scoped, planned, and managed in a way that allows for the safe exploration and production of these energy resources without harming public health or the environment."

Her role includes a lot of stakeholder engagement, and involves anything from speaking to community groups about the impacts of oil and gas development, working with the oil and gas industry to ensure that they are in compliance with current state regulations, assisting local governments plan for oil and gas activities within their communities, collaborating with other states in our efforts to come up with effective oil and gas regulations, and assisting the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in conducting Environmental Assessments on air quality impacts of oil and gas production in Colorado and throughout the region as a part of their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis.    

When asked where she see's herself in a few years, Kimberly replied, "I am starting to become more involved in the inspection and permitting of oil and gas operations across the state of Colorado as well. My Division has a phenomenal oil and gas enforcement and permitting group, so I am being trained to conduct inspections as a part of this newly expanded team that is tasked with conducting on-site inspections as a way to ensure that oil and gas operators are conducting their work in a manner that is environmentally sound with appropriate control devices to reduce harmful emissions."

Kimberly worked for an oil and gas operator in North Dakota last year when an industry colleague told her that the state of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was creating a brand new position that focused specifically on our state’s oil and gas development with a particular emphasis on public health impacts as they relate to air quality. "I thought that my background as both a licensed nurse and environmental law practitioner would be a great fit for this new position, so I applied."