Dear Friends,
As the end of the semester, and the end of 2014 draws upon us, we would like to share with you a short update on a few of the major Center for Law and Energy Resources in the Rockies (CLERR) initiatives from 2014, and share with you a few initiatives we are working on for 2015.
2014 Highlights
EENR Clinic is Launched
This fall, thanks to a unique partnership with the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, the University of Wyoming College of Law launched the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resource Law Clinic (EENR Clinic) in the fall of 2014.
The EENR Law Clinic is a two-semester class that is jointly managed and taught by professors from the College of Law and attorneys from the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office. The Clinic has a hybrid structure consisting of a classroom component and a clinical practice component. The clinical practice component provides students with the opportunity to work directly with attorneys from the Water and Natural Resources Division of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office on cases involving the State, State agencies, or State officials. The partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, and the opportunity for students to work directly on the State’s natural resource legal issues, sets the EENR Clinic apart from other environmental and natural resource law clinics across the country.
The 2014/2015 EENR students include: (Left to right) J. Kyle Hendrickson, Megan Ewald, Bailey Schreiber, Holly Tysse (seated), Clayton Gregersen, Brian Annes, Courtney Amerine, Quinn Lance
2014 Landscape Discussion on Energy Law and Resources on the Rockies
On October 30th CLERR, in partnership with the UW School of Energy Resources, hosted the 2nd Annual Landscape Discussion on Energy Law and Policy in the Rockies. Nearly 300 attendees participated in the conference that was hosted at the brand new Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Governor Matt Mead provided a welcome address and the conference was MC’d again this year by former Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. Topics discussed include: the EPA’s Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule for Existing Power Plants, key topics in energy transportation, emerging energy issues, and a discussion on state oil and gas conservation commission regulation revisions. The lunchtime keynote speaker was Bobby Reeves, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officers of the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
Video’s of both this year’s conference and last year’s conference are available on the SER website.
• 2013 Conference Videos, Agenda and Speakers
• 2014 Conference Videos, Agenda and Speakers
Energy and Natural Resources Field Practicum
For the 3rd year in a row, the University of Wyoming College of Law offered the Energy
& Natural Resources Field Practicum a week-long field course offered to both law students
and interdisciplinary graduate students.
The Energy & Resources Field Practicum is a week long, intensive immersion into the
production and development of Wyoming’s natural resources. During the week, students
are provided a first-hand experience of how energy development occurs in one of the
nation’s top energy producing states. Students had the opportunity to visit one of
the nation’s largest coal mines, take a tour of an oil/gas drilling rig, learn about
wind power, visit one of the largest in-situ uranium mines, as well as learn from
and explore other energy resources and issues throughout Wyoming. Many thanks to all
of companies and people that provided us with such an incredible experience last summer.
The Energy and Natural Resource Field Practicum will be offered again this year and will be taught by Temple Stoellinger and Professor Tara Righetti.
Davis & Cannon Natural Resource Moot Court Competition
Thanks to the generous support of Davis and Cannon LLP, CLERR hosted the Davis and Cannon Natural Resource Competition on campus in September. This year’s competition drew 8 teams. We had a very distinguished final round bench of judges that included: Wyoming Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Kate Fox, Wyoming Attorney General Pete Michael, and Davis and Cannon’s John McKinley.
The winning team members included: Courtney Amerine, Laurie Rogers, and Bailey Schrieber. The second place team included: Cassandra Craven and Monica Houston.
This year’s winning team has decided to participate in the National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition held at the University of West Virginia College of Law, and the second place team will be competing in the National Environmental Moot Court Competition at Pace Law School.
Upcoming Events
We are planning some exciting events in 2015. Please watch your inbox or check the CLERR website for more information.
An SER sponsored energy law focused CLE roadshow throughout Wyoming and northern Colorado
A Panel Discussion on the Future of the Endangered Species Act, planned for the end
of March 2015
CO2 Policy Focused Earth Panel, April 2015
The 2015 Landscape Discussion on Energy Law and Policy in the Rockies, October 2015
Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
Temple Stoellinger
Sam Kalen