ELULS

The Environmental and Land Use Law Section of The Florida Bar

Energy Committee

The Energy Committee’s goal is to provide a forum for interested practitioners across the full spectrum of energy law—from utilities regulation and facility siting to the intersection with climate change and greenhouse gas regulation—to network and generate opportunities of common interest. With this initiative, ELULS hopes to create a niche for a group of attorneys who may have felt “homeless” within The Bar up to this point. All ELULS members (attorneys and affiliates) are welcome to participate.

Contacts George Cavros, Co-Chair Cavros Law 120 E Oakland Park Blvd Ste 105 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334-1106 (954) 295-5714 george@cavros-law.com Malcolm Means, Co-Chair Ausley McMullen PO Box 391 Tallahassee, FL 32302-0391 (850) 224-9115 mmeans@ausley.com   Mailing List

Click here to join the Energy Committee Listserv.

The Energy Committee observes the rules and protocol established by ELULS for its general email list. Current Projects The Energy Committee has hosted a number of educational opportunities on broad range of energy topics over the years. It most recently offered on February 11, 2016, the lunchtime Webinar “Taking Stock of the Clean Power Plan” – as part of the Environmental and Land Use Law Audio Webcast Series. The featured panelists were Justin Green (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and Robert Manning (Hopping Green & Sams, P.A.).  Participants learned the latest on the mechanics of EPA’s new Clean Power Plan, Florida’s response and current CO2 trends, and the status of various legal challenges. On January 28, 2016, the Committee sponsored a panel, as part of the ELULS Section CLE program entitled “Florida’s Developing Oil and Gas Law and Regulation,” which featured Dr. Thomas Herbert (Lampl Herbert Consultants) and Timothy Riley (Hopping Green & Sams). More information on the Energy Committee Webinars can be found below. The Committee has been very active on the publications front with the December 2013 Section Reporter providing three unique perspectives on the Florida Energy Summit, and a special energy-focused edition of the December 2012 Section Reporter, featuring the following three articles:  “Determinations of Need in Florida Electrical Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Proceedings,” by Robert Scheffel Wright; “Update on Pace One Year Later:  Litigation, Legislation and New Initiatives,” by Erin L. Deady, Herb Thiele, Ed Steinmeyer & Chad Friedman; and “From Sawgrass to Switchgrass,” by Sharon J. Walker. In addition to the articles in the December 2012 edition of the Reporter, if you missed them, please check out “Florida’s Electrical Power Plant Siting Act: Helping To Keep the Lights On For 30 Years,” by Douglas S. Roberts in the October 2012 edition of the Section Reporter; the lead article in the June 2012 Section Reporter by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ General Counsel Lorena Holley entitled, “The 2012 Energy Bill: A Modest Step for Florida’s Energy Policy;” George Cavros’ article “Florida’s 35 Year-Old Renewable Energy Policy: Moving Beyond ‘Avoided Cost’” in the March 2012 issue; and a collaborative piece, “The Inaugural Florida Energy Summit:  Three Perspectives,” in the December 2011 edition. The Energy Committee made its first contribution to the Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Treatise in July 2013 with “Determinations of Need in Florida Electrical Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Proceedings” authored by Robert Scheffel Wright. Authors are hard at work on future Reporter articles and submissions in 2014 for the Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Treatise.  Please consider joining their ranks!   Recorded Webinars
  • Taking Stock of the Clean Power Plan
Featured as part of the ELULS 2016 Audio Webcast Series, the Energy Committee hosted a Webinar whose featured panelists included Justin Green (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and Robert Manning (Hopping Green & Sams, P.A.). Attendees learned the latest on the mechanics of EPA’s new Clean Power Plan, Florida’s response and current CO2 trends, and the status of various legal challenges.
  • Renewables in Florida’s Backyard
As part of the Florida Bar and ELULS Audio Webcast Series for 2015, the Energy Committee hosted a lunch and learn webinar on “Renewables in Florida’s Backyard” Thursday June 11, 2015 from 12-1pm. The discussion focused around the historical and current role of renewable energy sources in Florida, as well as regulatory and permitting challenges facing both individuals and companies looking to generate renewable energy. The panelists noted an increasing trend towards renewables in Florida and shed light on the potential role of solar energy for the Sunshine state. The panelists included: James Dean- Director of the Division of Economics at the Florida Public Service Commission George Cavros- Law Office of George Cavros Douglas Roberts- Hopping Green & Sams, P.A.
  • Exploring Florida’s Oil & Gas Law
The Energy Committee hosted a webinar, “Exploring Florida’s Oil & Gas Law,” on October 30, 2014. The event provided an overview of oil and gas issues affecting Florida.  Speakers addressed the basics of the exploration process; the history of oil, gas, and mineral rights and regulation in the state; current litigation in the field; and how Florida’s approach compares to other states in the Southeast that are addressing these issues. The program featured the following speakers: Robert Angerer (Angerer & Angerer) Timothy Riley (Hopping Green & Sams) Hannah Wiseman (Florida State University College of Law).  
  • Air Quality Regulation: Developments, Trends, and Impacts to Energy Generation in Florida
The Energy Committee hosted a webinar, “Air Quality Regulation: Developments, Trends, and Impacts to Energy Generation in Florida,” on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 from 12-1:30. It was a dynamic discussion of the numerous air quality regulatory developments over the last year. The panelists will discuss the recent developments, trends they’ve identified, and the  impacts to air quality, the regulated community, and energy generation in the State. The panelists were: Brian Accardo, Director of Florida DEP’s Division of Air Michael Kennedy, Progress Energy Florida Robert Manning, Shareholder, Hopping Green & Sams, PA

 

  • The Basics of State Licensing of Power Plants and Electrical Transmission Lines in Florida

This webinar provided an overview of licensing power plants and electrical transmission lines in Florida. The speakers will cover Florida’s Electrical Power Plant Siting Act (PPSA) and Transmission Line Siting Act (TLSA); the Florida Public Service Commission’s review of the need for new electrical generation; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Siting Coordination Office’s role in licensing power plants and transmission lines; and practical aspects of licensing power plants and transmission lines.

This free program was held on April 5, 2012 from 12-1:30 pm

Please note – to play this GoToMeeting slideshow & audio, you will need to install the GoToMeeting software from GoToMeeting website. First, download the slideshow/audio file and then install the GoToMeeting software (hitting cancel when it asks for a meeting ID). You should then be able to play the slideshow/audio file. If you have preciously viewed a GoToMeeting program on your computer, you should not have to download their software.

Presenters:

Douglas S. Roberts, Hopping Green & Sams, P.A. Robert Scheffel “Schef” Wright, Gardner, Bist, Wiener, Wadsworth & Bowden, P.A Cindy Mulkey, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Siting Coordination Office Richard Zwolak, Golder Associates
 

  • Energy Regulation in Florida – Preview of the 2012 Session

A free webinar offering a pre-session glimpse at the legislative landscape related to energy and was broadcast in December, 2011. Right-click here to download the GoToMeeting slideshow/audio file of the presentation.

Please note – to play this presentation, you will need to install the GoToMeeting software from GoToMeeting website. First, download the slideshow/audio file and then install the GoToMeeting software (hitting cancel when it asks for a meeting ID). You should then be able to play the slideshow/audio file. If you have preciously viewed a GoToMeeting program on your computer, you should not have to download their software.

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