(For this past program, we offer two options for purchase: a Homestudy (DVD and written materials) or written materials alone.)
Attorneys, tribal, industry and government representatives, energy decision makers and financial institution executives
For 20 years, Indian lands have contributed nearly 11% of the nation's onshore oil, natural gas and coal production. Given available fossil energy resources and potentially significant renewable energy resources on Indian lands, this level of contribution will likely continue or, more likely, increase. Indian tribes are exploring and evaluating energy resource potential for their own tribal facilities and commercial enterprises as well as developing tribal non-grid power generation for the wholesale market. Additionally, energy and utility companies are increasingly evaluating and forming strategic alliances or ventures with tribes to increase our nation's energy resources.
This conference will provide key information on the issues in tribal energy development. We will discuss the status of the joint Department of Interior and Energy Right of Way Study, tribal utility development, how to structure energy projects, transmission issues, marketing in a deregulated environment, partnership and grant opportunities and environmental development processes.
~ Program Co-Chairs: Karen J. Atkinson, Esq. and Susan M. Williams, Esq., Program Co-Chairs
Joe Garcia, President
National Congress of American Indians / Albuquerque, NM
Structuring corporations and minimizing taxes for native corporations; opportunities such as pipeline rights-of-way and maximizing renewable resources for energy development; inter-tribal cooperation to facilitate business opportunities
Karen J. Atkinson, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Native American Contractors Association / Washington, DC
Susan M. Williams, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Williams & Works, P.A. / Corrales, NM
New legislative and regulatory proposals, initiatives, and actions with an impact on energy development on tribal lands
Shenan Rae Atcitty, Esq.
Holland & Knight LLP / Washington, DC
New Mexico
Roy E. Stephenson
NM Public Regulation Commission / Santa Fe, NM
Arizona
Ernest Johnson, Director, Utilities Division
Arizona Corporation Commission / Phoenix, AZ
Partnerships with Tribes and Sandia National Laboratories to develop commercially viable energy technologies based on solar, wind, and geothermal resources
Sandra Begay-Campbell
Sandia National Laboratories / Albuquerque, NM
Key credit characteristics important for a bond rating; factors utilized to derive credit rating for Native American financings; case study of Southern Ute Tribe
Karl Jacob, Senior Director, Public Finance Department
Standard & Poor's / New York, NY
Overview of the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior's Rights- of- Way Study mandated by Energy Policy Act Section 1813; the negotiation process
Chris Clark-Deschene, Esq.
Schaff & Clark-Deschene LLC / Boulder, CO
Update on the Navajo/El Paso dispute and its implications for other tribes
A. David Lester, Executive Director
Council of Energy Resource Tribes / Denver, CO
Status update on the various proposals with a focus on impacts on tribal lands; how various tribes are handling requests for right of way access for transmission facilities
Sharon I. Haensly, Esq.
Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC / Seattle, WA
Practical aspects of renewable energy development for tribes
Robert Gough, Secretary
InterTribal Council on Utility Policy / Boulder, CO
Update on implementation of provisions in the EPA promoting renewable and tribal energy projects; the trend towards state renewable portfolio standards; best market opportunities for new tribal renewable energy generation
John Michael Schultz, Esq.
Ater Wynne LLP / Portland, OR
Update on what's being done to meet the energy challenges faced by remote reservations
Steven C. Begay, General Manager
Dine' Power Authority / Window Rock, AZ
Types of business structures; advantages and disadvantages of creating a separate company; getting the details right; alternative ways to finance
Russell A. Brien, Esq.
Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP / Kansas City, MO
Case study: Desert Rock coal-fired generation project and related transmission projects
Steven C. Begay, General Manager
Dine' Power Authority / Window Rock, AZ
Types of business structures; advantages and disadvantages of creating a separate company; getting the details right; alternative ways to finance
Karen L. Liepmann, Esq.
Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP / Phoenix, AZ
Thomas Whitman, Partner
The Whitman Group LLC / Columbus, OH
Project related due diligence and other issues, including arbitration clauses and limited sovereign immunity waivers, in connection with energy projects on and outside Indian reservations
Michael P. O'Connell, Esq.
Stoel Rives LLP / Seattle, WA
Building tribal equity in natural resource exploration; how tribal businesses, oil and gas developers can work together off the reservation
Chris Clark-Deschene, Esq.
Schaff & Clark-Deschene LLC / Boulder, CO
Native corporations doing business on- reservation
Roman Bitsuie, Executive Director
Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office / Window Rock, AZ
Native corporations doing business off- reservation
Odes Armijo-Caster, Chief Operating Officer
Sacred Power Corporation / Albuquerque, NM
Update on who has been doing what in the formation of tribal utilities; primary challenges to overcome in becoming self-sustaining and lessons learned
Susan M. Williams, Esq.
Williams & Works, P.A. / Corrales, NM
Case study: Tribal utility installation of solar facilities in remote areas of the reservation
Larry Ahasteen, Renewable Energy Specialist
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority / Fort Defiance, AZ
There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders
This program qualifies for 12 NM CLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.
Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $905. The written course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your Homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy
Karen J. Atkinson, Program Co-Chair, is Executive Director of the Native American Contractors Association. Previously, she was a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Deputy Director of the National Park Service and Senior Counsel to the United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
Susan M. Williams, Program Co-Chair, is a shareholder in Williams & Works, P.A., and focuses on legislative affairs, water law, litigation and business negotiations. She successfully argued the Big Horn case before the U.S. Supreme Court and is the national Co-Chair of the Tribal Sovereignty Initiative.
Larry Ahasteen is the Renewable Energy Specialist with Navajo Tribal Utility Authority.
Odes Armijo-Caster is co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Sacred Power Corporation, a Native/Indigenous/Aboriginal renewable energy system company. I has worked with and on over 30 different reversations and tribes.
Shenan Rae Atcitty, partner in Holland & Knight LLP's Federal Indian Law Practice Group, focuses on Indian tribal governments in litigation, business and economic development, energy and federal governmental relations.
Steven C. Begay is General Manager for the Dine' Power Authority, an enterprise of the Navajo Nation in a business partnership to develop the Navajo Transmission Project and a partnership with Steag Power to develop a coal-fired power plant.
Sandra Begay-Campbell, Principal Member of the Technical Staff of Sandia National Laboratories, leads their technical efforts in the Renewable Energy Program to assist tribes with renewable energy development. Previously, she was a Regent for the University of New Mexico.
Roman Bitsuie, Executive Director of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office, heads the Navajo entity responsible for dealing with Navajo and Hopi land-disputed matters.
Russell A. Brien, partner and practice leader at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP's Indian Law/Tribal Governance Group focusing on tribal and federal Indian Law with an emphasis on economic development, significant transactions and issues related to doing business in Indian country.
Chris Clark-Deschene, partner at Schaff & Clark-Deschene LLC, works for tribal governments and their energy enterprises and utilities. He has helped tribal leaders negotiate energy agreements including rights-of-way, leases, and development contracts. He is the in-house attorney for Dine' Power Authority.
Joe Garcia is President of the National Congress of American Indians. He was Governor of Ohkay Owingeh and is Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council.
Sharon I. Haensly, of counsel with Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC's Tribal Law Practice Team, advises tribal governments and businesses in environmental, land use and natural resources and cultural resources protection. Previously she was a staff attorney with the Swinomish Tribe and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Karl Jacob, director in the Standard & Poor's Public Finance Department, is a lead analyst and serves as sector leader for Native American tribal ratings for S&P's Public Finance Department.
Ernest Johnson, Utilities Director for the Arizona Corporation Commission, has over 20 years of public utility regulatory experience. Previously, he was Staff Attorney, Deputy General Counsel at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
A. David Lester, Executive Director of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, is on the Board of Trustees with the Institute of American Indian Arts and a Board Member of Americans for Indian Opportunity.
Karen L. Liepmann, partner at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, focuses on representation of private, public and tribal companies in connection with mergers, acquisitions and leveraged buyouts.
Michael P. O'Connell, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, advises on permitting for energy and other projects on and outside Indian reservations, leases, construction contracts, and other business transactions with Indian tribes. Previously, he was General Counsel to the Hopi Tribe.
Thomas Whitman, founding partner of The Whitman Group LLC, specializes in tax-exempt and taxable bond financing for Native American Tribes, manufacturing companies and not-for-profit organizations.
