RJ Colwell, DU Law student, participates in panel discussing energy efficiency in the military

RJ Colwell, a J.D. candidate pursuing his Environmental and Natural Resources Law certificate, presented as a panelist at the University of Colorado Denver's April Sustainability Series discussion "Greening the Military."  RJ and his fellow panelists discussed the push towards energy efficiency and renewable energy by the world's largest energy consumer, the U.S. military. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the military is required to meet at least 25% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2025.  RJ presented his findings in the context of the approaches adopted by various States' Army National Guard organizations in terms of renewable energy project development.  RJ's presentation stemmed from research conducted in support of the 'Renewable Energy: Project Development and Regulation' course offered through the Sturm College of Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program.  

RJ enjoyed learning about the role energy efficiency plays as a necessary precursor for effective renewable energy from his fellow panelist, Brett Jackson, and the tremendous work on energy efficiency undertaken by the Colorado Army National Guard at its installations.

 

The Environmental and Natural Resources program applauds RJ's efforts towards bringing attention to the importance of renewables in the military and sharing his research with a wider audience.

 

 

 

 

Andrea Loguidice, LLM alumna, joins New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Originally from Island Park, New York, Ms. Andrea Loguidice received her bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University in 2001 and her Juris Doctor from the Maurice A. Dean School of Law, Hofstra University in 2005.  In 2007, Andrea started her own law firm where she practiced corporate law, environmental compliance and transportation law.  She received an Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy LLM from DU Law in 2010.  Following graduation she secured a contract attorney position at a prominent natural resources law firm in Denver.  In 2011, Andrea returned to her law firm in Island Park, New York where she would continue a general practice until obtaining the job of her dreams.     

Last November, she joined the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Office of General Counsel in Albany as a Senior Attorney.  She is currently responsible for assisting in the development, pursuit, and negotiation of Natural Resource Damage (NRD) matters, cost recovery matters, and other enforcement matters for the Bureau of Remediation and Revitalization.  Andrea is the DEC attorney on several large NRD matters in New York State, including assessments at Newtown Creek, New Cassel Industrial Area, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Gowanus Canal.  

We are proud to see Andrea putting her LLM to great use. Congratulations on this fantastic job opportunity, Andrea!

Amy Wilson, Master of Resources Law student, receives sponsorship to attend Vail Global Energy Forum

 

Amy Wilson had the opportunity to represent our graduate program at the recent Vail Global Energy Forum held in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Amy had the following to say about her experience:

The speakers at the Forum included some of the top leaders in energy like the Governor of Colorado, professors from some of the most prestigious universities in the country and industry professionals. As in the classroom, it was interesting to be challenged and encouraged to look at natural resource and energy development from multiple perspectives. 

My favorite of the speakers, former Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz, provided insight on the need for leadership in the natural resources and energy arena. His thoughtful and genuine presentation made it clear what a special time it is to be a student and a practitioner. To be a part of a shift in culture and social thought is huge. People around the globe are truly recognizing the need for clean and alternative energy; they are beginning to recognize the latent effects of our actions on the world. Being a part of the DU Environmental and Natural Resource Law and Policy Program, I feel my peers and I will contribute to these issues in a meaningful and impactful way, we will be apart of the change.

 I truly value the experience and the opportunity to attend one of the premier energy events of the year. It is exciting to see so many great minds coming together to discuss our energy problems, and future and potential solutions.

I extend my thanks to the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law and the Sponsors and Donors of the Vail Global Energy Forum for funding and supporting my attendance.

For more information about the Forum, visit their page here.

Broomfield Fracking Ban Upheld in Court

Header from Our Broomfield website.

An active environmental movement, Our Broomfield, pushed for a five year ban to provide experts with the opportunity to study the effects of fracking. In November, Broomfield passed the fracking ban by a margin of 20 votes.

The issue was recently brought to court due to some confusion regarding new voter residency requirements. The legal challenge was brought by pro-fracking group, Broomfield Balanced Energy Coalition, and It's Our Broomfield, Too.

Judge Chris Melonakis said the five year ban on fracking stands, even though the handling of some ballots were "sloppy." In his decision, he described that Broomfield acted in good faith when conducting the election, and that the results should not be tossed out.

Officials from Broomfield released a statement that they will be revisiting their election processes and updating them as needed. Broomfield City and County Manager Charles Ozaki said that Broomfield will now move forward with hiring a "qualified, independent consultant to perform a comprehensive third-party assessment of its election procedures."

The Broomfield Balanced Energy Coalition has stated that it intends to pursue other means of preserving constitutional rights in Broomfield.

Professor Rock Pring Interviewed Regarding Environmental Courts in Hawaii

Professor Rock Pring

Hawaii is considering the benefits of establishing an environmental court. Advocates of the environmental court system feel that environmental crimes, such as pumping pool water into the ocean or dumping trash on the roadside, etc. would be better prosecuted in an environmental court.

"Nearly 500 jurisdictions around the world, including dozens of U.S. cities, maintain environmental courts and tribunals," said George Pring, a professor emeritus at Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver and the co-author with his wife, Kitty Pring, of "Greening Justice," a study of environmental courts.

Hawaii Senate Bill 632, which recently survived committee and will head to the senate floor, would create an environmental court within the state's circuit courts. If the bill passes, it would make Hawaii the second state to create a court specifically for dealing with environmental matters (the other state being Vermont).

Professor Pring stated, "We have a real proliferation of environmental courts around the world, and it's not just the rich countries doing it, by any measure. We watched them in Bangladesh, for heaven's sakes. Such courts work better in some jurisdictions than in others. When they do work, the special courts save money and get complex cases through the system faster."

For more information about the benefits and call for an environmental court in Hawaii, visit the following Associated Press article: Hawaii Considers Establishing an Environmental Court

Obama Administration Pushes for More Efficient Delivery Trucks

Safeway Delivery Truck
Photo Courtesy Paul Sullivan 

 

President Barack Obama spoke on Tuesday regarding climate change and linked it to a need for reduced fuel consumption. He stated that his administration intends to create stronger fuel-efficiency standards in March of 2016 for delivery trucks.


Heavy-duty, delivery trucks currently comprise just 4% of the vehicles on the nation's roadways, yet are responsible fore about 20% of the climate changing gases created by the transportation sector. President Obama sees this as an opportunity to enact meaningful climate change.

He outlined three powerful benefits/incentives for the reduced emission standards during his speach on Tuesday: 1) The U.S. will become less dependent on imported oil. 2) The reduced shipping costs will translate into savings for consumers. 3) The reduced emissions will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, which is blamed for global warming.

Safeway has set itself as a leader on the issue; spending money on cleaner, more efficient trucks.The company has also improved truck aerodynamics and is using better tires and trailers. Safeway has long been committed to operating its business in the most environmentally responsible and fuel efficient manner.

The Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency are currently developing new standards for the 2018 vehicle model year. The new, March 2016 emission standards would exist in addition to the yearly model standards.

Professor DuVivier Honored by the American Association of Law Schools

In January of 2014, Professor K.K. DuVivier received a new honor at the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS). First elected by her peers as a Section officer in 2010, Professor DuVivier is now the Chair of the AALS Section on Natural Resources and Energy Law.  

The AALS is a non-profit corporation created with the goal of “improv[ing] the legal profession through legal education.” In its role as “legal education’s principal representative,” the AALS advocates before the federal government and other national associations the interests of its over 170 member law schools and approximately 25 schools that are not members but who pay AALS dues. Another service the AALS has provided since 1922 is its Directory, which lists biographical and contact information for over 10,000 teachers in law schools across the United States.

The Section on Natural Resources and Energy Law includes over 300 law professors in AALS schools. One of Professor DuVivier’s primary responsibilities as chair is to coordinate the 2015 program for the Section at the next AALS annual conference scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C. from January 2 through 5, 2015. She will lead the section in scheduling the program, making a call for proposals from potential panelists, reviewing submissions, coordinating additional high-profile speakers, and arranging for publication of program papers. Other major responsibilities include coordinating a day-long field trip along with the AALS Section on Environmental Law and any other of the Section on Natural Resources and Energy new initiatives this year, including the possibility of additional Section networking opportunities and an award for leaders in the Natural Resources and Energy law fields.  

Rumor has it that Sturm College of Law Professor Jan Laitos was the founder of the AALS Section on Natural Resources and Energy in 1992. According to Professor Laitos, “The AALS did not have any sections that sufficiently covered the research interests of professors who worked in the area of natural resources law. DU’s expertise in this area made us natural leaders to give it more attention with its own AALS section. I’m excited that natural resources and energy law has gained more converts and the Section has prospered. I’m also delighted that Professor DuVivier is carrying on the DU tradition of leading in this area.”

K.K. as a geologist in 1967.

ProfessorDuVivier has a long history in natural resources. She worked as a field geologist before law school, and she practiced natural resources law for eight years, much at national law firms such as Sherman & Howard and Arnold & Porter, before entering academia. Her book, THE RENEWABLE ENERGY READER, was released by Carolina Academic Press in 2011. 

Professor DuVivier says, “I am most excited about making the Section more vibrant and inclusive and about using my leadership role in as prestigious an organization as the AALS to help raise the profile of the Sturm College of Law’s outstanding Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program.”