Law Seminars International Presents: The 12th Annual Conference On

Buying & Selling Electric Power in the West
A critical annual update on new legislation, new policies and new structures

Order Download PDF Brochure

(For this past program, we offer two options for purchase: a Homestudy (DVD and written materials) or written materials alone.)

January 18 & 19, 2007
Washington Athletic Club in Seattle, WA

Who Should Order This Homestudy

Attorneys, industry executives, government officials and customer representatives involved with electric energy issues

Why Order

"The economic and political landscape for competitive energy markets continues to undergo dramatic pressure from many directions. Utilities face increased demands for reliability and price stability, while the constraints of the existing transmission system continue to make new resource development increasingly difficult.

What will the coming year bring in terms of new policies and structures? What will be the most effective strategies? Who is developing the best plans? Once again, this annual conference brings together local and national authorities to provide the critical strategic updates that everyone involved in the electric power industry needs to navigate the future."

~ Program Co-Chairs: J. Laurence Cable, Esq. and Slade Gorton, Esq.

What You Will Learn

What Attendees Said

Agenda

Thursday, January 18, 2007

8:00 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

 
8:30 am

Introduction & Overview

J. Laurence Cable, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd LLP / Portland, OR

 
8:45 am

U.S. Energy Policies for 2007

A national overview on the current state of energy and an outlook on what the future holds

Slade Gorton, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP / Seattle, WA

 
9:15 am

Special Address: The Resurgence of Nuclear Power

Frank L. Bowman, (USN ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer
Nuclear Energy Institute / Washington, DC

 
9:45 am

Break

 
10:00 am

How the Markets View Western Utilities

The overall environment for financing utilities: how the financial markets view Western energy markets

Swami Venkataraman, CFA, Director in Corporate and Government Ratings
Standard and Poor's / San Francisco, CA

 
10:30 am

Transmission Issues in the West

Update on new transmission projects and upgrades such as the Sea Breeze converter high-voltage line from BC and upgrade for Colstrip

Harvard P. Spigal, Esq.
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP / Portland, OR

Investor-owned and publicly-owned utility perspectives on transmission, including the FERC rulemaking on Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Reform

Tim Culbertson, General Manager
Grant County Public Utility District / Ephrata, WA

Pamela L. Jacklin, Esq.
Stoel Rives LLP / Portland, OR

 
12:00 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:15 pm

Western States Renewables Developments

Update on renewable portfolio standards throughout the region and the implications for finding enough of the right kinds of resources in the West

Howard V. Golub, Esq.
Nixon Peabody LLP / San Francisco, CA

Case study: Implementation of renewable portfolio standards for the Washington Power Supply System

Donald Furman, Esq., Senior Vice President of Thermal Generation and Power Origination
PPM Energy / Portland, OR

 
2:30 pm

Regional Regulatory Policy

Challenges of regional approaches to economic and environmental regulation of electricity, with Western examples

Marilyn Showalter, Esq., Moderator, Executive Director
Public Power Council / Portland, OR

Randall W. Hardy, Principal
Hardy Energy Consulting / Seattle, WA

The Hon. Mark H. Sidran, Chairman
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission / Olympia, WA

 
3:15 pm

Break

 
3:30 pm

Outlook for Natural Gas Fuel Supplies

Supplies, infrastructure and price in the Northwest as they impact power generation; evaluating the forecasts on gas prices

Edward A. Finklea, Esq.
Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd, LLP / Portland, OR

Dan Kirschner, Executive Director
Northwest Gas Association / Portland, OR

 
4:30 pm

LNG Update

Paul F. Soanes, President and Director
NorthernStar Natural Gas / Houston, TX

 
5:00 pm

Western States Renewable Energy Sources

Emerging technologies in the Northwest, and the incentives helping to drive these projects

Jonathan M. Norling, Esq.
Lane Powell PC / Portland, OR

 
5:30 pm

Reception for Faculty & Attendees

Sponsored by Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd LLP and Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP

 

Friday, January 19, 2007

8:00 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

 
8:30 am

Introduction & Overview

Slade Gorton, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP / Seattle, WA

 
8:45 am

Climate, Coal Gasification, & the Pacific Northwest

What gasification technology offers; status of proposed technology offers; and regulatory issues for utilities

Eric Redman, Esq.
Heller Ehrman LLP / Seattle, WA

 
9:15 am

Load Resources: Options to Join Consortiums

Joe Nadal, Interim President and CEO
PNGC Power / Portland, OR

PNGC and TEA: Why they were formed, how they serve their members, and what are the benefits?

Rob Sirvaitis, Manager, Business Development and Governmental Affairs
The Energy Authority / Vancouver, WA

 
10:15 am

Break

 
10:30 am

Regional Challenges for Northwest Electric Industry

Perspectives from Bonneville and top executives of investor-owned and public-power utilities on Bonneville's decision for post-2011 contracts, and the other biggest issues facing their companies and customers

Randall W. Hardy, Moderator, Principal
Hardy Energy Consulting / Seattle, WA

Richard C. Helgeson, Director, Power Resources Division
Eugene Water & Electric Board / Eugene, OR

Paul E. Norman, Senior Vice President
Bonneville Power Administration / Portland, OR

Stephen P. Reynolds, Chairman, President & CEO
Puget Sound Energy / Bellevue, WA

Marilyn Showalter, Esq.
Public Power Council / Portland, OR

 
12:15 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:30 pm

Special Address: Update from FERC

FERC's view of the situation in the West and its priorities for the coming year

The Hon. Philip D. Moeller, Commissioner
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission / Washington, DC

 
2:00 pm

What California's Climate Change Policies Mean for Energy Development and Trading

New state initiatives to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions will affect energy resource development and use across the West; how California and other Western states expect to meet ambitious global warming goals, and what they mean for the region

Arthur J. O'Donnell, Executive Director
Energy Overseer / San Francisco, CA

 
2:45 pm

Power & Risk Management

Effective risk management strategies; adapting transactions to account for transmission restraints; credit, collateral and power trading

Dick Varner, Fiscal Services Supervisor
Eugene Water & Electric Board / Eugene, OR

 
3:15 pm

Break

 
3:30 pm

The Role of Independent Power in a Regulated Environment

Jason Eisdorfer, Esq., Energy Program Director
Citizens' Utility Board / Portland, OR

Robert D. Kahn, Ed.D., Executive Director
Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition / Mercer Island, WA

Scott A. Gutting, President
Energy Strategies LLC / Salt Lake City, UT

 
5:00 pm

Evaluations & Adjourn

 

Cancellation

There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders

Continuing Education Credits

This program qualifies for 13 WA CLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.

Cost

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $1005. 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

Faculty Bios

J. Laurence Cable, Program Co-Chair, partner of Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd, LLP, has focused his practice in the areas of public utility, finance, energy, and environmental law since 1971. He has also specialized in public finance law, public contracting, and complex litigation. He advises and represents clients on issues related to the formation of consumer-owned utilities, power sales, purchase agreements, and the preparation of documents dealing with electric project financing, construction, operations, and the marketing of power.

Slade Gorton, Program Co-Chair, joined Preston Gates & Ellis LLP after 18 years in the U.S. Senate. He was chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, the Commerce Subcommittees on Consumer Affairs, and Aviation, along with appointment to committee posts including Energy and Natural Resources, as Commissioner of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the U.S. He is currently on the BP US Refineries Independent Safety Review Panel.

Admiral Frank L. "Skip" Bowman, (USN ret.), Special Address, is the former Chief of Naval Personnel and former Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion for the United States Navy. On his retirement, he was appointed president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute. Admiral Bowman was also made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

The Hon. Philip D. Moeller, Special Address, Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, nominated by President Bush, was an energy policy advisor to U.S. Senator Slade Gorton where he worked on electricity policy, electric system reliability, hydropower, energy efficiency, nuclear waste, energy and water appropriations.

Marilyn Showalter, Moderator, Executive Director of the Public Power Council, was Chair of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and, during her tenure, was elected President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

Tim Culbertson, General Manager for Grant County PUD, is experienced in operations and wholesale power transactions in West Coast markets and control area management.

Jason Eisdorfer, legal counsel and energy program director for the Citizens' Utility Board, was public interest representative in work sessions of the Oregon Legislature's House Committee on Power Deregulation, and helped write Oregon's electricity industry restructuring legislation.

Edward A. Finklea, partner at Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd, LLP, specializes in natural gas, electricity regulation and litigation. He practices before FERC and state Public Utility Commissions in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada.

Donald Furman, Senior Vice President of Thermal Generation and Power Origination for PPM Energy, is responsible for thermal asset management, power origination, and oversees clean gas resources in PPM's portfolio, including the Klamath Cogeneration Plant in Oregon.

Howard V. Golub, partner at Nixon Peabody, LLP, has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, and serves a wide range of clients on distribution, transmission, power sales, generation and new generating technologies issues. He has been nationally recognized for environmental leadership and identified as a "Super Lawyer" by "Law & Politics".

Scott A. Gutting, President and Founder of Energy Strategies, LLC, coordinates the efforts of a team of economists, engineers, business strategists and financial analysts in all of Energy Strategies' consulting activities.

Richard C. Helgeson, Director, Power Resources Division for Eugene Water & Electric Board, Oregon's largest customer-owned utility providing electricity, water and steam to more than 83,000 customers in Eugene, OR.

Pamela L. Jacklin, partner at Stoel Rives LLP, focuses her practice on transmission of electricity & restructuring of electric transmission, and resolution of insurance claims & disputes.

Robert D. Kahn, Ed.D., Executive Director at Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition, consults with independent power producers in permit assistance, policy advocacy, and energy resource development.

Dan Kirschner is Executive Director of Northwest Gas Association, a trade organization representing the natural gas industry in the Pacific Northwest, was Chief of Staff for the Majority Caucus of the Washington State House of Representatives, and spent four years as Regional Director for U.S. Senator Slade Gorton.

Joe Nadal, Interim President and CEO of PNGC Power, has managed long-term power supply and transmission contract arrangements with BPA, provided technical related services to PNGC's member cooperatives, and represented PNGC in regional policy forums while overseeing the PNGC finance and accounting group.

Jonathan M. Norling, shareholder at Lane Powell PC, focuses on regulatory and transactional matters involving electric and telecommunications utilities. He assists clients in deals involving renewable energy resources, and drafted asset and power purchase agreements for renewable energy projects.

Paul E. Norman, Senior Vice President at Bonneville Power Administration, heads its Power Business Line. He is responsible for the generation, marketing and sale of power, producing revenues around $2 billion per year.

Arthur J. O'Donnell, an independent journalist who specializes in energy and the environment, is contributing editor for "Land Letter," a Washington DC-based natural resources information service, and a columnist for California Energy Circuit. He also contributes to Greenwire.com and other energy-specific news services.

Eric Redman, shareholder at Heller Ehrman LLP, serves as lead lawyer for electric utilities, power and gas marketers, end-users, and independent power producers in a variety of power supply and rate matters. He wrote, "The Dance of Legislation" and writes for the Washington Post, the New York Times, Legal Affairs, and Open Spaces, among others.

Stephen P. Reynolds, Chairman, President and CEO of Puget Energy and its utility subsidiary, Puget Sound Energy, is experienced in both the natural gas and electric power business. Prior to PSE, he was the CEO of Reynolds Energy International.

The Hon. Mark H. Sidran, chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, is on the NARUC Board of Directors and NARUC Committee on Electricity. He was a deputy prosecutor before being appointed Chairman by Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Rob Sirvaitis, manager, Business Development and Governmental Affairs for The Energy Authority, is experienced in electric power pricing, sales, marketing, and regulatory/government affairs. He assists public utilities and other clients in improving their power supply and power management.

Paul F. Soanes, president and director of NorthernStar Natural Gas, since its inception, was director, business development for CMS Energy, and founding member of Organic Fuels, LLC.

Harvard P. Spigal, partner at Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, in its Energy and Utility Law Practice Group, emphasizes power transactions in his practice. He joined the firm after serving as senior vice president and general counsel at BPA, where he provided executive management and legal expertise.

Dick Varner, fiscal services supervisor for Eugene Water & Electric Board, manages its Power Risk Management function, and is responsible for compliance with EWEB's Power Risk Management Policies and Guidelines.

Swami Venkataraman, director in Corporate and Government Ratings at Standard & Poor's, is a member of the Utilities, Energy, and Project Finance Ratings Group. He is a frequent speaker on Standard & Poor's rating criteria and is a part of its energy trading and marketing focus team.