(For this past program, we offer two options for purchase: a Homestudy (DVD and written materials) or written materials alone.)
Attorneys, industry executives, public officials, and consultants interested in geothermal development as a low carbon emission technology and as a way for meeting renewable portfolio standards
As western states increasingly adopt high targets for electric energy from renewable sources with low or zero carbon emissions, interest in geothermal energy is at an all time high. This coincides with technological developments that make geothermal generation feasible at sites that formerly would not have been economically viable.
While demand is increasing, there are challenges for developers and distribution utilities to overcome before additional geothermal generation can become a reality. This first-of-its-kind conference brings together leading federal and state policy makers, attorneys, developers, utility managers and financial players to address regulatory, legal and business issues in geothermal development. These high-level speakers will address the present status and prognosis for federal and state policies, the next wave of technology that will make a difference and necessary preconditions for increased growth in this sector. The pace of development is impressive and demand is rising. There is a genuine need to "ground truth" the heady promises of geothermal energy.
While the conference provides an excellent overview of the pertinent law, policy and economics, our goal is to convene a sophisticated, focused faculty and audience, in order to stimulate new insights and discussions that will affect the future direction of geothermal energy as it continues to rise in regional importance.
~ Edwin F. Feo, Esq., William H. Holmes, Esq. and Kevin McSpadden, Esq., Program Co-Chairs
Edwin F. Feo, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP / Los Angeles, CA
William H. Holmes, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Stoel Rives LLP / Portland, OR
Kevin R. McSpadden, Esq., General Counsel, Program Co-Chair
Vulcan Power Company / Bend, OR
Resource and reservoir assessment
Gene Suemnicht, Chief Geologist
EGS Inc. / Santa Rosa, CA
The hydrology of water resources in the Great Basin
Clay Cooper, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor, Division of Hydrologic Sciences
Desert Research Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno / Reno, NV
New approaches with the potential to produce energy from geothermal resources that traditionally would not be economical due to lack of water and/or permeability; where the research is leading us
B. Alexander Sifford, lll, Principal
Sifford Energy Services / Neskowin, OR
Current binary technology available to geothermal developers
Phillip H. Messer, PE, Sr. Division Manager
PBS&J / Phoenix, AZ
Existing transmission availability; transmission studies and expected new capacity from projects in the works; interconnection queues and open seasons; applicability of access and integration problems of wind developers (baseload vs. intermittent)
Daniel N. Schochet, Executive Vice President
Ram Power Inc. / Reno, NV
Changes in the first 100 days of the Obama administration and what to expect going forward
The Hon. Marc Spitzer, Esq., Commissioner
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission / Washington, DC
Needs and wants, negotiating processes and primary issues to resolve
David Spielberg, Esq., Moderator
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP / San Francisco, CA
Purchasing utility perspective
Thomas R. Fair, Vice President, Renewable Energy
NV Power / Las Vegas, NV
Daniel Chase, Contract Negotiator; Renewable & Alternative Power
Southern California Edison / Rosemead, CA
Producer perspective
Thomas King, Managing Director
US Renewables Group / White Plains, NY
Sponsored by Stoel Rives LLP
Federal: Laws and agencies; BLM's new leasing policies and processes; royalty levels and structures; results of the December 19 auction and what they imply for the future
Kermit Witherbee, National Geothermal Program Manager
U.S. Bureau of Land Management / Washington, DC
Tribal: Working with Indian Tribes; dealing with cultural resources issues
Michael P. O'Connell, Esq.
Stoel Rives LLP / Seattle, WA
California's new one-stop permitting process: Renewable Energy Action Team; new renewable targets; priority areas for development; concurrent review of permit applications; coordination with federal BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service
Alan C. Waltner, Esq.
Law Office of Alan Waltner / San Francisco, CA
How water rights work in the western states including processes for acquiring new water rights; critical issues in water use and injection; recent legislative activity and prospects for change
Kathleen Callison, Esq.
Law Office of Kathleen Callison, P.S. / Tumwater, WA
What to do when water needed for geothermal exploration and operation is limited; water markets and leasing/use transactions; typical deal terms
Steven D. King, Esq.
MacKedon McCormick & King / Fallon, NV
Issues in geothermal project financing: The money that people want to see before investing; structuring the deal to fit today's tight financial markets; ways to make effective use of tax credits and tax equity
Kevin McSpadden, Esq., General Counsel, Program Co-Chair
Vulcan Power Company / Bend, OR
Edwin F. Feo, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP / Los Angeles, CA
Geothermal development leases: How does geothermal leasing differ from oil and gas leasing? Title issues-what do to for a good geothermal lease? Minerals? Surface? Water rights?
Jerry R. Fish, Esq.
Stoel Rives LLP / Portland, OR
How to sell to the California market; whether a utility must buy energy and a green tag together, or can assemble them into a package; getting the power to the purchaser without losing the green designation
Dan Kalafatas, President
3Degrees Group Inc. / San Francisco, CA
There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders
Law Seminars International is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for 13 California MCLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.
Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $1255. 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
Edwin F. Feo, Program Co-Chair, partner in the international law firm of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP, is a co-chair to the firm's project finance and energy practice. He focuses on renewable energy projects for sponsors and investors. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, the Top 100 Lawyers and Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer magazine.
William H. Holmes, Program Co-Chair, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, focuses on energy law, with an emphasis on wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal and ocean power, and other forms of renewable energy. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and is the Energy and Telecommunications practice group leader at the firm.
Kevin R. McSpadden, Program Co-Chair and General Counsel for Vulcan Power Company, focuses on matters related to structuring, development and financing of energy infrastructure and power generation projects involving a wide range of fuels.
The Hon. Marc Spitzer, Special Address, Commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), focuses on supplies of electricity and natural gas, wholesale energy markets and transmission systems. Previously he was Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
David Spielberg, partner and member of the Energy and Finance Group at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP focuses on project financing of conventional power plants and renewable energy, development, construction and acquisition. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA.
Kathleen Callison, Attorney at Law at The Law Offices of Kathleen Callison, P.S., focuses on water rights, water supply, reclaimed water and geothermal resources.
Dan Chase, Contract Negotiator at Southern California Edison's Renewable & Alternative Power Department has worked in many aspects of the energy industry including project development, analysis, finance, and operations.
Clay Cooper, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno, focuses on analysis and simulation to understand transport phenomena and fluid dynamics in multiphase, multicomponent systems above and below the land surface.
Thomas R. Fair, Executive of Renewable Energy at NV Power and Sierra Pacific Power is responsible for the procurement and development of renewable energy including geothermal, solar and wind for both companies.
Jerry R. Fish, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, focuses on natural resources law, with an emphasis on matters relating to oil and gas exploration and storage, hydroelectric project and relicensing and compliance. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Dan Kalafatas, President of 3Degrees Group Inc., a national carbon and renewable energy marketing and services firm, serves 30 Fortune 500 firms and business and utility costumers with a variety of climate mitigation products and services.
Steven D. King, partner at MacKedon McCormick & King, focuses on basic water rights and geothermal energy.
Thomas King, Managing Director at US Renewables Group provides strategic and financial advice and execution on multi-billion dollar structured, project, cross-border and acquisition financings in the power, utility, environmental and energy sectors.
Philip H. Messer, PE, Sr. Division Manager at PBS&J, focuses on consulting, operations, maintenance, construction and management related to mineral processing, petroleum, power and geothermal energy projects in the USA, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Michael P. O'Connell, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, focuses on natural resources, environmental, energy and Indian law. Previously he was General Counsel to the Hopi Tribe and was in the Office of Reservation Attorney for the Quinault Indian Nation.
Daniel N. Schochet, Executive Vice President at Ram Power Inc., is a current Member of the Board of the Geothermal Resources Council, and has served on the Peer Review Committee of the U.S. D.O.E.'s "Geo Powering the West" program.
Alex Sifford, Principal at Sifford Energy Services, works with private sector, government and electric utilities in the areas of power supply and demand-reduction services. He provides geothermal outreach, coordination and technical assistance services to the Oregon DOE.
Gene Suemnicht, Chief Geologist at EGS Inc., focuses on geothermal exploration and development throughout western North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Alan C. Waltner, principal at the Law Offices of Alan Waltner, focuses on federal and state regulatory programs that apply to major private development and public infrastructure projects.
Kermit Witherbee, National Geothermal Program Manager at U.S. Bureau of Land Management, has had staff and supervisory responsibilities in the energy minerals program, including geothermal and oil and gas leasing and management, permitting, compliance, reservoir management, evaluations, as well as national level policy development.
