Albany Regional Energy Symposium

Sponsored by the Vermont Law & Graduate School Institute for Energy and the Environment and the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Join us for a free Continuing Legal Education program exploring the evolving intersection of energy policy, climate strategy, housing, and public health. This timely program will bring together legal, regulatory, and industry perspectives to examine how states can accelerate offshore wind development, navigate energy decision-making in times of uncertainty, and align affordable housing policy with public health and climate goals. Ample time will be reserved for networking, allowing participants to connect with peers, policymakers, and industry professionals engaged in these critical issues. This program is ideal for attorneys practicing in energy, environmental, land use, real estate, regulatory, and public policy law, as well as professionals working at the intersection of climate and community development.

Topics:

1. How States Can Advance Offshore Wind

The 2024 federal election brought a dramatic shift in the federal government’s opinion of and support for offshore wind. The transition from unified support for the expansion of offshore wind to a multifaceted attack on existing and proposed projects has changed the industry. This panel discusses the role of states in sustaining and expanding efforts to construct offshore wind projects before and after 2029. Attendees will learn about federal efforts to pause leasing processes, rescind permits, and remove key support programs and what states are doing to protect their nascent offshore wind sectors. Attendees will also learn about the efforts that states can and are undertaking to address transmission needs, streamline permitting processes, drive interregional cooperation, and improve community engagement.

2. Affordable Housing, Public Health, and Climate Change 

Climate change, rising energy prices, increasing demand, and aging infrastructure are stressing the region’s affordable housing stock and its residents. Most affordable housing was built in the mid-1900s, making the residents particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. This panel will discuss the unique challenges facing low-income households and how climate change resilience and energy affordability can be incorporated into capital and operational budgets. Panelists will discuss changes in the availability of federal funding, the design of energy assistance programs, and the role of state support in reducing energy insecurity. Attendees will learn about how housing quality affects public health outcomes and how different states are approaching this challenge.

Lunch Keynote Presentation

This presentation will focus on EPRI’s work on decarbonizing the built environment and how to center flexibility and affordability as guiding principles.

3. Energy Decision-Making in Uncertain Times

The transformation of New York’s energy systems is an ongoing and unfinished process. Over the past two decades, New York legislators and regulators have made multiple decisions that significantly impact the direction and pace of New York’ energy transition. Attendees will hear a discussion of major decision points and their unplanned impacts as part of a larger goal of understanding how we can make better decisions. Amongst the topics of discussion will be how the closure of Indian Point continues to affect New York’s energy system, the creation and reshaping of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting to improve renewable energy permitting processes, and how the passage of the All-Electric Buildings Act, and its subsequent delay, is emblematic of the struggles to advance decarbonization initiatives. 

Speakers:

• Mark James, LL.M., Interim Director, Institute for Energy and the Environment, South Royalton, VT
• Alicia Gené Artessa, JD/MELP, Director, New York Offshore Wind Alliance, Albany, NY
• Barbara Beblowski, MELP, Coalition Manager, New England for Offshore Wind, Boston, MA
• Gregory Lampman, Director, NYSERDA, Offshore Wind program, Albany, NY
• Christopher Casey, JD/MELP, Utility Regulatory Director, New York / Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY
• Jenny Carter, JD/MSL (Moderator), Professor and Senior Attorney, Institute for Energy and the Environment, South Royalton, VT
• Lisa A. Hart, MSEd, BSN, RN, CCM, CHES®, Public Health Analyst/Grants Manager, Syracuse Housing Authority, Syracuse, NY
• Chris Coll, Project Director, New York State Department of Public Service, Albany, NY
• David Westman, Director of Regulatory and State Agency Affairs, Efficiency Vermont, Winooski, VT
• Alex Summe, Director of Electrification & Customer Solutions, Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC
• Jaclyn A. Brilling, JD (Moderator), Secretary, NYS Public Service Commission (retired), Albany, NY
• Jim Muscato, Esq., Renewable Energy Practice Leader and Partner, Young/Sommer, LLC, Troy, NY
• Meave Tooher, Esq. , General Counsel, NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission, Albany, NY
• Laurie Wheelock, Esq. (JD/MELP), Executive Director and General Counsel, Public Utility Law Project, Albany, NY

Program Location:

St. Anne Institute | 160 North Main Avenue | Albany, NY 12206 | Catena Conference Center

Parking is available. The parking lot can be accessed from North Main Avenue and is adjacent to the Catena Conference Center.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. If you do not have a NYSBA account, you must create one to register for the program, or register by calling our Member Resource Center at 800-582-2452.