September 05, 2023

Northwest Energy Conference on 9/15

The Northwest Opportunities Conference, hosted by the Green Energy Institute and others, includes panels on the benefits and challenges of transportation electrification for environmental justice communities, western electricity market development, and a panel on careers in energy law.

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On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 the Green Energy Institute (GEI) at Lewis & Clark Law School hosts the Northwest Energy Opportunities: Transportation Electrification Markets, and Career Paths for New Lawyers Half-Day Conference from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Legal Research Center. The conference is sponsored by GEI, as well as the Energy Bar Association’s Western Chapter and the Oregon State Bar’s Energy, Telecom and Utility Section. GEI is marketing its tenth anniversary at the law school.

Panelists include energy consultants and experts from Portland General Electric, Bonneville Power Administration, and PacifiCorp, as well as Lewis & Clark law professors Melissa Powers and Dr. Lisa Benjamin.

The first panel addresses the benefits of electric vehicles (EV) for environmental justice communities, as well as Oregon’s law and rules that support EV adoption in underserved communities. A second panel discusses market-based options for improving resiliency, reliability, and climate policy objectives in a western electricity market. A final panel made up of energy law professionals from a variety of backgrounds offers insight and advice on practicing energy law. The conference concludes with a networking session to foster connections between students and legal experts.

Carra Sahler, Director of GEI and one of three staff attorneys, is pleased to welcome energy professionals and law students to GEI’s first in-person energy-focused event. “As I take the reins from Professor Melissa Powers and guide this organization into its next ten years, I am excited to meet the people who helped Oregon get where it is. But there is much more to be done; transportation electrification and market development are two key areas of energy policy we need to get right in order to achieve Oregon’s climate goals.”

The conference is free to attend for all. Attendees may be eligible for CLE credits. To learn more about the conference and register to attend, please visit our website here.