DC Green Scene

U.S. News & World Report’s National Issues Briefing, “Going Green: America’s Cities and the Role of Government,” will evaluate the current relationship between federal, state and local governments over issues in sustainable development and energy efficiency.  The Briefing will consider how the federal government, through stimulus funds and other efforts, are helping states and cities adopt green initiatives and technologies and examine how cities, working with federal agencies, can better convert old-line industries into advanced-energy businesses, encourage green construction and better allocate goods and services that will strengthen prospects for a more sustainable society.  The Briefing will also address how governments at all levels can reduce impediments to free market, or private, efforts to create green buildings and increase energy efficiency.

Carlos Pachon of EPA's Superfund Office will provide an overview of EPA's work in the emerging area of green remediation, including an overview of the core elements of the Agency's green remediation program, its short and long-term goals and strategies, as well as its partnerships with other federal agencies, states and the private sector. As part of his presentation, Mr. Pachon will discuss EPA's efforts to develop a voluntary green remediation clean-up standard, its recently released Superfund Green Remediation strategy, and other related programs.

This seminar will address the implications of federal climate legislation for existing and future common law claims and cases as well as actions under the Clean Air Act, NEPA, Endangered Species Act, and state statutes. In particular, panelists will discuss what new litigation is likely to arise from climate and energy reform along with related siting and land use issues.

The 2010 National Electricity Forum (2010 Forum) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and is held annually in conjunction with the NARUC Winter Committee Meetings. The 2010 Forum is planned by the 2010 National Electricity Forum Working Group, which is an ad hoc volunteer group consisting of a broad cross section of stakeholder representatives.

The annual Platts Nuclear Energy conference is the leading forum for a strategic view of nuclear energy in North America. Now in its sixth year, the conference explores the opportunities and challenges for the growth of nuclear power, with a focus on the U.S. and Canada.

Installed solar photovoltaic (“PV”) capacity in the United States continues to be dwarfed by wind generating capacity. In fact, solar lags behind all other established forms of renewable power generation, including biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal power. However, current circumstances suggest that our most ubiquitous resource may be about to come into its own in the renewable energy arena.   

Many estimates have been floated for the average cost of likely federal climate and energy regimes, and they differ by 40 fold. This seminar will analyze the real drivers behind these cost estimates and the likely costs and benefits to particular industries. An overview of the economics of climate regulation and the future economic landscape will be provided.

A conference for students and members of the environmental community to learn about the future of eneryg and the law.

Today, the most important environmental law and policy disputes are shaped in the crucible of constitutional law. This symposium will convene an impressive range of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore topics at the confluence of constitutional and environmental law. Expert panels will analyze and discuss current trends in the federal courts that affect the future of environmental protection.

The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 2010 will convene the key players in the nation’s energy innovation community to spur the networks that will bring about the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies, in the way the U.S. has led previous revolutions in life sciences and information technology.