Schedule and Faculty

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

What’s the "Energy Synergy"?

Seminar Chair Brad Lehrman of Lommen Abdo will offer a bird’s eye view of what’s happening on the national and state fronts with the green economy – and what that information means for energy related businesses and those who represent them.

– Bradley H. Lehrman

9:15 – 10:25 a.m.

Wind Energy

Part I: Wind Energy Development – the Ultimate "Chicken and Egg" Process

This irreverent and fast-paced presentation will cover, in top line fashion, many of the especially challenging "chicken and egg" issues that wind developers face. Several of the key wind development steps are intertwined and dependent on other steps, necessitating changes and accommodations during the process. This presentation will offer helpful advice as to how to make the best of these challenging situations and how to prioritize resources and activity.

– Jeff Wright

Part II: The Anatomy of a Wind Deal – Panel Discussion

With a panel of wind experts from development, construction, finance and legal, this panel will explore in depth many of the critical aspects of successfully completing a wind project. The panel will review such early stage steps as land control, environmental issues and local and state permitting. Later stage development steps to be discussed will include interconnections, Power Purchase Agreements, and turbine selections. Project finance will be covered with a special emphasis on lender and investor requirements. Finally, post-construction issues such as operations and maintenance will be discussed.

– Sean Flannery, Thomas P. Harlan & Clayt Tabor
– Mason V. Sorenson, moderator

10:25 – 10:40 a.m.

RE-ENERGIZING TIME! (15-minute break)

10:40 – 11:10 a.m.

Federal Cap and Trade: Macro Overview and Primer on the Elements

A title-by-title summary of the federal cap and trade legislation, describing the components and their possible impacts. Ms. Hamilton will also provide a compilation of the best analyses of the legislation and outline the leading items being negotiated by the United States and 192 other nations at the international climate change conference of parties in Copenhagen, December 6 – 16.

– J. Drake Hamilton

11:10 – 12:00 p.m.

Funding Sustainable Development: Avoid the Top 10 Mistakes Others Make

From green jobs to smart grids and from solar incentives to energy efficiency, there may be a financial program out there for your clients. Federal, state, and local policy makers are focusing on initiatives to promote the creation of sustainable development practices and renewable energy adoption. We will present strategies on how to package a project, where to look for financial support and provide a "top ten" list of common mistakes that clients are making as they pursue government support.

– Jeremy Kalin & Teresa Kittridge
– Richard G. Overmoyer, Jr., moderator

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

RE-FUELING TIME! (Lunch – on your own)

1:00 – 1:55 p.m.

Clean and Green: A Sensible Approach to IP Protection for New Energy Innovation

The need for clean and green energy has driven technical innovation – and the new technologies are bearing fruit. While these improvements surely benefit society with more efficient power generation, management and delivery, companies generating the tech (whether startup or major utility) need cost-effective and nimble strategies to protect the resulting intellectual property. We will walk through common sense patent strategies for energy tech initiatives and look at real world stats in the areas of wind, solar and smart grid IP protection.

– Ernest W. Grumbles III & Robert A. Kalinsky

1:55 – 2:35 p.m.

Governing Green – The Use of "Green Policies" in Corporate Strategy
(Or…Did Your Client Make the Newsweek 100 Green Rankings?!)

Companies both large and small are engaging in efforts to look at their environmental footprint and are adapting board level "green policies" to demonstrate their commitment to energy efficient practices. This discussion will highlight the benefits and challenges of these eco-friendly policies and provide tips for implementing an organization wide sustainability strategy.

– Robert P. Abdo & Bradley H. Lehrman

2:35 – 2:50 p.m.

RE-ENERGIZING TIME! (15-minute break)

2:50 – 3:35 p.m.

Cleantech Investments – The Role of Private Equity

The purpose of this panel discussion will be to address investments in clean technology and renewable energy from three different perspectives: that of the entrepreneur and business person, that of the venture capitalist, and that of the investment banker. Panelists will each offer their thoughts, followed by questions from the moderator and then questions from the audience.

– Doug Cameron, Mike Jerstad & Jim Millis
– Bradley H. Lehrman, moderator

3:35 – 4:30 p.m.

Taxing Alternative Energy Investments

This presentation will provide an overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with an emphasis on the tax aspects of alternative energy investments. What qualifies, what are the limits, what guidance is available and what are the open issues? A case study incorporating the application of these issues will also be presented.

– Thomas F. Dougherty & Lawrence H. Mohr