The Jurisprudence of Underground Energy & Law (JOULE) group conducts innovative legal research that advances the understanding of the rules and relationships governing the use of the subsurface and development of energy and natural resources. JOULE engages in theoretical and applied research together with its partners from industry, government, non-profit organizations, and academia.
To achieve its mission, JOULE:
Collaborate on trans-disciplinary research exploring the intersections of law, technology, social science, and the humanities
Present scholarly research to academic, government, and industry audiences
Publish innovative research in peer-reviewed journals and law reviews
Develop community resources and outreach materials
Research and Projects
JOULE is primarily focused on research regarding energy sources that require use of the subsurface or subsurface natural resources including carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, nuclear, and fossil energy as well as the production of critical minerals.
ReSources and Publications
JOULE provides resources to help inform decision-making for landowners, policy makers, industry, as well as federal, state and local government.
The Jurisprudence of Underground Law & Energy research group invites proposal for interdisciplinary and comparative law papers exploring on social, spatial, and legal research related to subsurface implications of the transforming energy sector. Contributions from doctoral students, early career researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are encouraged.
Selected proposals will be invited to present their work at a symposium at the University of Wyoming in Laramie to be held on October 21-22, 2025.
The complied work will be published in by an international publisher.
This event is organized as part of a joint research project, Transatlantic Exploration of Strategies for Decarbonization of Energy and Industrial Sectors, between the University of Wyoming and the University of Pau and the Pays de L’adour (UPPA).
