Environmental & Energy Law Section

Event Overview

Renewable Energy in New York State, Brownfield and Superfund Developments and Significant Environmental Changes to New York Programs

New York State’s dynamic renewable energy program is leading the country in offshore wind initiatives and solar development. Hear about these important developments.
The Brownfield and Superfund program are subject to changing legislative requirements and DEC emerging contaminant requirements are changing the remedial landscape with increased costs for investigation and remediation. These new requirements are altering the practice of environmental law.
New environmental initiatives in New York State involving the Green Amendment and increased reporting obligations in financial transactions will be addressed.
Ethics: Should you, your client or the consultant report findings from an investigation?

Agency Update

Representatives from multiple government agencies will provide an update during this session as to Agency policies, important cases, enforcement initiatives, new guidance documents and internal regulations. There will also be a discussion of the impact of the pandemic, and a year in review. Join us for our Annual Agency Update!

Environmental Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Support

The Environmental and Energy Law Section is happy to host this fundraising event, with proceeds from the registration going towards the Section’s Diversity Fellowship.

Learn more about this Virtual Reception and register

The Evolving New York Environmental and Energy Law Landscape - Renewable Energy, Economic Impacts of the Brownfield Program, the Green Amendment Impacts and the Ethics Associated with New Spill Reporting Obligations

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

4.0 MCLE Credits
1.0 Ethics, 3.0 Areas of Professional Practice

This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those newly admitted.

Environmental & Energy Law Section Chair

Linda R. Shaw, Esq.
Knauf Shaw LLP
Rochester, NY

Program Chair and Vice Chair

James P. Rigano, Esq.
Rigano PLLC
Melville, NY

8:30 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.

Welcome and Introduction

Section Chair Linda R. Shaw, Esq. Knauf Shaw LLP Rochester, NY

8:35 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Renewable Energy

New York State's dynamic renewable energy program is leading the country in offshore wind initiatives and solar development. Hear about these developments in the areas of wind, solar and battery storage.

Moderator:

Section Vice Chair James P. Rigano, Esq. Rigano PLLC Melville, NY

Speakers:

Fred Zalcman, Esq. Director, New York Offshore Wind Alliance Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc. Albany, NY Paul Curran Managing Director BQ Energy, LLC Wappinger Falls, NY William Acker, Ph.D. Executive Director NY Best – New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium Rexford, NY

1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

The Economic Benefits of the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program and Legislative Update

Hear from speakers around the State about the importance of the BCP in their communities and why the Tax Credits must be extended to continue the brownfield redevelopment momentum in New York.

Moderator:

Robert E. Knoer, Esq. The Knoer Group, PLLC Buffalo, NY

Speakers:

Linda B. Whitehead, Esq. McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt LLP White Plains, NY Thomas H. Forbes, P.E. President Benchmark Environmental Engineering & Science, PLLC Buffalo, NY Amy E. Fisk, AICP Brownfield Program Manager Niagara County Department of Economic Development Sanborn, NY

1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

10:30 a.m.– 10:40 a.m.

Break

10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The Impact of the New Green Amendment

Join us for a panel discussion about the impact the new Green Amendment is likely to have on the practice of environmental and energy law.

Moderator:

Professor Michael B. Gerrard Director, Sabin Center of Climate Change Law Columbia Law School New York, NY

Speakers:

Professor Nicholas A. Robinson Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law White Plains, NY Kevin M. Young, Esq. Senior Partner Young / Sommer LLC Albany, NY Rebecca M. Bratspies Professor, CUNY Law School Director, Center for Urban Environmental Reform Queens, NY

1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Ethics: What You, Your Client and Others Should Report After Learning About Environmental Investigation Results

Melissa M. Valle, Esq. Petroleum Spill Committee Co-Chair Knauf Shaw LLP Rochester, NY Jeffrey C. Stravino, Esq. Petroleum Spill Committee Co-Chair Hodgson Russ LLP Buffalo, NY Patrick T. Martin, P.E., BCEE Senior Consultant Golder Associates, Inc. Buffalo, NY

1.0 Credit in Ethics

Agency Update

Friday, January 28, 2022

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

1.0 MCLE Credit
1.0 Areas of Professional Practice

This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those newly admitted.

Environmental & Energy Law Section Chair

Linda R. Shaw, Esq.
Knauf Shaw LLP
Rochester, NY

Program Chair and Vice Chair

James P. Rigano, Esq.
Rigano PLLC
Melville, NY

4:00 p.m. – 4:05 p.m.

Welcome and Introduction/Section Business Meeting

Section Chair

Linda Shaw, Esq. Knauf Shaw LLPC Rochester, NY

4:05 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Business Meeting and Election of Officers Nominating Committee Report

Presenter:

Section Secretary Michael Hecker, Esq. Hodgson Russ LLP Buffalo, NY

4:15 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Environmental & Energy Law Section Council’s Certificates of Merit

Presenter:

Awards Committee Chair Nicholas M. Ward-Willis, Esq. Keane & Beane P.C. White Plains, NY

4:20 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.

Environmental & Energy Law Section Social Media Tutorial

Presenters:

Social Media Committee Co-Chairs Drew V. Gamils, Esq. Keane & Beane, P.C. White Plains, NY Rachel L. Partington, Esq.

4:25 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Agency Updates

A panel of speakers from various agencies will provide an update as to Agency policies, important cases, enforcement initiatives, new guidance documents and internal regulations. There will also be a discussion of the impact of the pandemic, a year in review and what to look for in 2022.

Speakers:

Tom King, Esq. Senior Counsel New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Albany, NY Michael C. Murphy, Esq. Senior Attorney, Office of General Counsel New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Albany, NY Paul Simon, Esq. Acting Regional Counsel U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 New York, NY

1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice