2nd Conference on Renewable Project Development

Overview

This conference will explore the legal and business trends and issues facing the growing renewables sector of the energy industry. The conference will focus on renewable project development and is designed primarily for attorneys and legal consultants representing the energy industry.

Conference Co-Chairs

Becky Diffen
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Houston, Texas

J.T. Nesser
Managing Counsel, Projects – Americas
Shell USA, Inc.
New Orleans, Louisiana

Kristen Williams Golden
General Counsel
Grid United
Houston, Texas

Registration Options

• $475 - Regular Registration Fee
• $375 - IEL Advisory Board Member
• $375 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
• $375 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member
• $375 - Government Employee
• $375 - In-House Counsel
• $75 - Law Student
• $75 - Full-time Professor

Schedule and Faculty

Wednesday, April 26

8:30 a.m. - Registration/Check-In

9:00 – 9:10 a.m. - Welcome, Overview and Introductions

9:10 – 9:40 a.m. - The Complexity of Energy Transitions (Non-CLE)

Energy transitions are complex. Integrating new technologies with legacy infrastructures to achieve scalable solutions requires coordination along supply chains that involve economics, politics, and regulation. Fundamentally, appropriate market design that promotes transparency and price formation is critical for facilitating investment that is sufficient to achieve stated aspirations. Moreover, scarcity is present in many dimensions for all forms of energy, and must be reconciled with goals to achieve reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy outcomes for all.

Ken Medlock, James A Baker III and Susan G Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics, and Senior Director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute, Houston, Texas

9:40 – 10:25 a.m. - Understanding the Inflation Reduction Act and Opportunities for your Business

The IRA, enacted in August 2022, was a game changer for incentivizing the development of clean energy projects. This session will provide an overview of the changes made by the IRA, and guidance issued to date, to allow companies with ESG initiatives, or companies that contract with companies that have ESG initiatives, to understand the substantial tax benefits now available.

• Amish Shah, Holland & Knight LLP, Washington, D.C.

10:25 – 10:45 a.m. - BREAK

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. - The Latest on Renewable Project Finance

This panel will delve into current trends and challenges for project financings. The discussion will cover the feasibility of financing new technologies, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on lending and tax equity, the current state of the market and predictions for the remainder of 2023.

Moderator: Rebecca Abou-Chedid, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

• Claus Hertel, Managing Director, Rabobank, New York, New York
• Raj Narayanan, SVP, Convergent Energy and Power, New York, New York
• Matthew Nicklos, Senior Director, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, Houston, Texas
• Sonia Rajagopalan, Director - Project Finance, Akuo Energy, Chicago, Illinois

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - M&A in Renewable Energy - Buying, Selling, and JVs

Hear the latest on the state of play in M&A as Laura Caspari, ENGIE’s VP – Head of Power Marketing and Commercial Strategy, walks you through how deals are getting done in today’s market environment. Learn about trends, types of transactions, and how project attributes impact valuation.

• Becky Diffen, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Houston, Texas
• Megan Savage, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Houston, Texas

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - LUNCH

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. - Navigating the Challenges of Transmission Development

This panel of developers and lawyers will talk about the current legal, regulatory, and structural challenges involved in building the new transmission infrastructure needed to support the development of new renewable projects. Topics will include eminent domain, interconnection, siting authority, utility and developer perspectives, and stakeholder issues.

Moderator: Brant Johnson, Vice President Development, Grid United, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Kirk D. Rasmussen, Jackson Walker LLP, Austin, Texas
• Jenna McGrath, Paul Hastings, LLP, Washington, D.C.
• Adam Renz, Director of Business Development, Pattern Energy, Houston, Texas

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. - Perspectives on Challenges in U.S. Offshore Wind Development from Industry General Counsel

In this conversation, we will learn more from the legal leadership for three U.S. offshore wind companies about the headwinds that the industry is facing while it works to meet ambitious federal and state offshore wind goals and commitments to delivering a domestic supply chain, local workforce, and economic development. Our focus will be the challenges that are top of mind at this pivotal juncture for a nascent industry.

Moderator: Laura Smith Morton, Perkins Coie LLP, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

• Julia Pettit, General Counsel, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC, Brooklyn, New York
• Cynthia R. Martinez, Senior V.P. & General Counsel, energyRe, Houston, Texas
• Jennifer Simon Lento, General Counsel, Vineyard Offshore LLC, Boston, Massachusetts

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. - BREAK

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. - Mission Critical: The State of Interconnection Processes Nationwide

In order to achieve climate and sustainability goals, policymakers and regulators must drive integration of renewables, storage and transmission development at an unprecedented pace- nationwide. This session will focus on current trends, progress and challenges in interconnection processes in CAISO, SPP, MISO, PJM, ISO-NE and NYISO.

• Colette D. Honorable, Former FERC Commissioner, Reed Smith LLP, Washington, D.C.

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. - ‘Forever the Twain Shall Meet’ – Insurance and Construction Attorneys on Renewables Projects

This presentation will consider how and why construction and insurance attorneys need to work together to properly manage risk and maximize recovery on Renewables Projects. This session will focus on three major Project risks—weather, workmanship/design, and delay—and how these areas of expertise intersect and need to be coordinated to best mitigate risk and preserve claims.

• Ashley B. Jordan, Reed Smith LLP, Los Angeles, California
• Antoine K.F. Smiley, Reed Smith LLP, Austin, Texas

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. - Networking Reception

Thursday, April 27

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. - ERCOT New Market Design and Renewable Energy: Where Are We Headed?

This panel will explore the latest on the adoption of a new ERCOT market design and the potential impacts on renewable energy.  The panel will update the latest on the interplay between the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature, explore the process and timing for its expected implementation, and engage in a debate on the proper impacts of the new market design on the renewable energy industry in ERCOT from the perspectives of a renewable energy generator, a major transmission provider and large commercial and industrial consumers.

Moderator: Michael J. Tomsu, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Austin, Texas

Panelists:

• Phillip Oldham, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Austin, Texas
  
• Jason M. Ryan, Executive Vice President, Regulatory Services and Government Affairs, CenterPoint Energy, Houston, Texas
• Caitlin Smith, Senior Director, Regulatory, External Affairs & ESG, Jupiter Power LLC, Austin, Texas

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. - Emerging Legal and Commercial Issues across Lower Carbon Hydrogen Value Chains

Moderator: A.J. Davitt, Counsel, Chevron New Energies, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Jason Lemann, Senior Counsel, Chevron, Houston, Texas
• Omar Samji, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Houston, Texas
• Nathan Duckworth, Associate General Counsel, Air Liquide, Houston, Texas

10:30 – 10:40 a.m. - BREAK

10:40 – 11:25 a.m. - Trends in Siting and Permitting: Focusing on the “S” in ESG

Panelists will speak to trends, developments, and related considerations with respect to siting and permitting projects. Topics include the impact of social and environmental justice factors on offtake and valuation and auditing compliance with such commitments; tribal relations; Justice 40 and federal permitting; and emerging local legislative activity both supporting and restricting project development.

Moderator: Stephany LeGrand, General Counsel, ConnectGen, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Ram Sunkara, Holland & Knight, Houston, Texas
• Maranda Compton, Founder and President, Lepwe, Missoula, Montana
• Dana Clare Redden, Founder and CEO, Solar Stewards, Atlanta, Georgia

11:25 – 12:25 p.m. - Hot Button Ethics Issues in the Renewables Industry

This session will look at some under-the-radar ethical issues affecting companies and the lawyers who represent them.

• Geoff Gannaway, Beck Redden LLP, Houston, Texas
• Madison Young Moore, Beck Redden LLP, Houston, Texas

CLE Credit

This course is approved for 9.0 hours of MCLE credit, including 1.0 hours of ethics, by the State Bar of Texas. Course ID 174193273.

IEL will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following additional states: California, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states, which may require you to pay an additional fee. Credit hours vary depending on the jurisdiction. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states. Please review your jurisdiction’s MCLE regulations for more information on the ability to obtain credit for this program.

Overnight Accommodations

IEL has not arranged a hotel block for this conference, but there are numerous hotel options near the Norris Conference Center. A partial list of potential hotels or motels is included by clicking on the button below. (Note that descriptions and services may have changed for the hotels). 

Download Surrounding Hotel Information

Sponsorship Opportunities

Day 1 Breakfast Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)

• Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
• Recognition at the event
• 5 complimentary registrants at the Conference
• A table for display of company/firm materials at the conference

Day 2 Breakfast Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive) - SOLD

• Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
• Recognition at the event
• 5 complimentary registrants at the Conference
• A table for display of company/firm materials at the conference

Networking Luncheon Sponsor - $4,000 (Limited to 4)

• Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
• Recognition at the event
• 4 complimentary registrants at the Conference
• A table for display of company/firm materials at the conference

Conference Silver Sponsor - $2,500

• Recognition in all marketing, which will be sent to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure, final program and conference break slides
• Recognition at the event
• Does not include an exhibitor table
• 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference

Exhibitor (Non-law Firms Only) - $2,500 (Limited to 2)

• Space to display company/firm materials at the conference.
• Name/logo on Conference website with link to company page

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lilly Hogarth, Sponsorship Director at lhogarth@cailaw.org or (972) 244-3424.

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