Energy and Climate Law Committee

The energy sector is undergoing a great transition of technology and policy, driven by both economics and the increasing global focus on climate change. To help its members navigate the risks and opportunities that these changes present, the Business Law Section has officially renamed the Public Utility Committee to the Energy and Climate Law Committee.

The Energy and Climate Law Committee will explore the legal, regulatory, policy and financial dimensions of Energy and Climate Law and how they intersect, with the goal of educating NYSBA members and the public. To achieve this goal, the Committee will provide CLE programming, convene meetings, and adopt a legislative agenda that shall, among other things:

• Provide Section members with opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise in areas of law relevant to energy and climate issues;
• Assist Section members in understanding the impact of these areas of law on clients and organizations that are not in the energy sector;
  • Notify Committee members as to new legal and regulatory developments that impact the practice of law in these areas; and
• Assist in educating its members as to best practices and methodologies in the practice of energy and climate law.

Issues that the Committee is excited to engage with in 2021 will include:

• New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act (AREGBA)
  • New York City and state rules and regulations relating to climate change, renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Trends in renewable and distributed energy project development and financing
  • Trends in renewable energy technology development, such as offshore wind, solar and energy storage
  • Trends in transmission and distribution development
• New York Public Service commission order and proceedings related to renewable and distributed energy and initiatives and policies of the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission orders and rulemakings related to renewable and distributed energy and the energy markets
• Energy and climate initiatives of the Biden administration and related federal legislation and agency rulemakings, and notable federal court proceedings

The Energy and Climate Law Committee is looking forward to exploring these issues with its members and encourages interested attorneys to join the Section’s Energy and Climate Law Committee.