2023 was a busy year at the EBA! When EBA President David Martin Connelly addressed the membership during the 2023 Annual Meeting, he highlighted the importance of EBA’s education and training programs and reflected on the EBA’s long tradition of producing insightful, timely content designed to enhance the practice of energy law.
Building on last year’s success, we continued to grow our in-person programs, online education platform, and member offerings. As we welcome 2024, let’s take a look at some of the best parts of 2023! Throughout the year, committees and chapters hosted regional networking events and student-focused career building opportunities.
January
The Northeast Chapter kicked off 2023 with a virtual student networking event, then hosted a successful Winter Summit in Washington, DC, hosted by White & Case. Northeast Chapter President Jennifer Tribulski noted that “With energy transition as a backdrop, we heard about the top priorities of FERC Acting Chairman Willie Phillips (pictured) and FERC Commissioner Mark Christie, and from Jeff Dennis at the DOE Grid Deployment Office. Also important in this conversation was a panel exploring the impacts of inflation on developing resources in this transition.”
EBA’s Southern Chapter hosted a law student career panel at Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, TN.
February
We were so excited to launch new websites for EBA, CFEBA, and FELJ this year! Each website has an updated modern design and features several new ways to highlight the work of each organization, with an easy-to-use interface for all visitors.
The Foundation of the Energy Law Journal hosted an Author Talk with Sebastian Luengo-Troncoso of Georgetown University Law Center regarding his article, The Chilean Case on Improving Power Transmission Within the Non-Conventional Renewable Energies Paradigm. Additionally, the Gas, Oils, & Liquids Steering Committee hosted a webinar addressing how FERC determines whether there is a “need” for new natural gas facilities.
March
Our Western and Southern Chapters gathered in-person for the first time since the pandemic for their Annual Meetings in March. In San Francisco, over 100 attendees heard from panels addressing western regionalization efforts, resource adequacy, electrification, and the water and energy nexus as well as keynote remarks from the President and CEO of California ISO, Elliot Mainzer.
Southern Chapter attendees met in Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA to learn about transactive energy solution and blockchain applications for grid modernization and to hear insights from regulatory commission directors and general counsels. The event included a keynote by The Honorable Jehmal T. Hudson of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. We ended the month by hosting the first of three live Energy Law Academy Courses in Seattle, WA.
April
Preparation was underway for our 2023 Annual Meeting and Conference, and our Midwest Chapter hosted an energizer on the role of nuclear power in the clean energy transition. FELJ released its spring edition, Volume 44.1, featuring an article by FERC Commissioner Mark Christie entitled It’s Time To Reconsider Single-Clearing Price Mechanisms in U.S. Energy Markets.
May
The 2023 EBA Annual Meeting and Conference was a sold-out success! We welcomed almost 500 attendees to the Marriott Marquis on May 11-12 for two days of networking opportunities and educational content, and we were pleased to have FERC Commissioner Allison Clements as our luncheon keynote. We enjoyed seeing connections being made, industry knowledge being shared, and appreciated the opportunity to recognize the hard work of EBA members, committees, and leadership. At the business session of the Annual Meeting, we welcomed President David Martin Connelly for the 2023-2024 year!
On the evening of the first day, the CFEBA held it’s Annual Gala to honor the 2023 Cornerstone Grant recipient, Nova Ukraine. The event brought together over 220 attendees and raised nearly $6,000 in onsite donations. We were lucky to have Kateryna Kovalenko, Nova Ukraine’s Global General Manager, attend to share the real-life impact of the CFEBA grant on those impacted by war in Ukraine. Gala attendees also enjoyed impactful performances from a Washington, DC based Ukrainian vocal group Spiv-Zhyttya.
June
It was a busy summer month with events hosted by multiple chapters, committees, councils. We hosted Energy Law Academy Course 106- Electric Industry Technology for Lawyers in Colorado, and held the Electricity Steering Committee Half-Day Event, Young Lawyers Council Happy Hour, Northeast Chapter Annual Meeting, Law Student Speed Networking, and the Rocky Mountain Chapter Annual Meeting.
July
We kicked off July with an FELJ Author Talk in which FERC Commissioner Mark Christie discussed his FELJ article, It’s Time to Reconsider Single-Clearing Price Mechanisms in U.S. Energy Markets. Next, our Louisiana and Midwest Chapters partnered up to host an informative energizer on the role of transmission in the energy resource transition. Back in Washington, DC, our Young Lawyer Council hosted their annual Summer Intern Reception.
We ended the month by launching EBA On-Demand – a new, constantly-growing platform for EBA members to explore educational content.
August
As planning ramped up for the fall’s Mid-Year Energy Forum, our Southern Chapter hosted a webinar on microgrids and sustainable residential energy, and our Texas Chapter reconnected for a happy hour in Houston. Our Chapters began their board nominations and eventual elections for the 2023-2024 year.
September
EBA’s In-House Counsel Coalition co-hosted a webinar on the ethical considerations for in-house counsel regarding artificial Intelligence, compensation, conflicts, and confidentiality. Then, the Rocky Mountain Chapter hosted a meet and greet event with Commissioner Tom Plant of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Our chapters held successful elections and new chapter board officers were appointed across the country.
October
On October 10-11, EBA members gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2023 Mid-Year Energy Forum, comprised of two days of discussions focused on all aspects of energy law, policy and trends. Events included the Women in Energy Luncheon, 11 educational sessions, special award presentations, and networking opportunities for young lawyers and chapters. We were also excited to have Matthew Christensen, General Counsel, FERC as a keynote speaker, sharing his thoughts on regulating a modern energy resource mix.
That Tuesday night, the FELJ held its annual Administrative Law Judges Reception, hosted by Baker Botts LLP, honoring the work of Administrative Law Judges and paying special tribute to longtime Office of Administrative Law Judges staff Shaun Dempsey-Miller. We ended the month with a sold-out Annual Law and Economics Forum in Alberta, Canada, where our Canadian chapter was able to gather for the first time ever in-person.
November
We started the month with a flurry of back-to-back Chapter meetings! The Texas Chapter held its third annual Texas Chapter Annual Symposium in Houston, and the Midwest Chapter hosted its Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Then, we launched a new Energy Law Academy Course on an Introduction to PURPA. Our Compliance and Enforcement and Practices Steering Committees each hosted popular webinar events. FELJ also released two fall editions of the Energy Law Journal with articles on FERC authorization and decarbonizing, with a special edition focused on RTO governance.
November was EBA’s month of service, and several members and chapters across the country supported Fisher House and donated to the CFEBA during their Giving Tuesday campaign.
December
We finished the year with two half-day events: EBA’s Professional Education Council hosted An Introduction to Energy Markets, and the Finance, Transactions & Investments Steering Committee hosted an event focused on financing the energy transition. Sessions were full of informative perspectives regarding energy transition markets, sourcing capital for related projects, and the regulatory trends affecting transition deals today.
And due to popular demand, we ended the year by launching a new online photo gallery for our major events. The first gallery is on the EBA news blog here. Thank you for your support of the EBA, CFEBA, and FELJ in 2023. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2024.
