Energy Law

All modern industrial economies, including that in the U.S., require massive energy infrastructure and a coherent legal framework to ensure that energy services are provided to consumers of all types in a manner that is safe, reliable and affordable. Because of climate change, it is also increasingly clear that our energy sources must be sustainable. The focus of this course is on the electricity and natural gas industries, which operate in the U.S. under a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework involving extensive interplay between federal and state authorities. This course provides a strong grounding in the governing legal principles. It draws upon case-law, primarily decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, to bring these principles into focus. We will examine the respective roles of regulation and market forces in this field. Students who complete the class will gain a historical understanding of how economic regulation of the energy industry has evolved since its origins in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, a durable conceptual understanding of current energy law and policy debates, and a practical grasp of the legal and regulatory framework for the energy industry in the US. Non-law students interested in energy issues are welcomed and encouraged to take this course, as an understanding of the legal framework is essential to careers in the energy sector. Elements used in grading: class participation, in-class group presentations, and a final exam.