NEWS
News Sustainable Energy Initiative: An Energy Law Research Hub
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hrough the Sustainable Energy Initiative, GW Law seeks to help move the needle through research and engagement. A high value is also placed on collaboration across disciplines. Foundations for Improving Resilience in the Energy Sector Against Wildfires on Alaskan Lands (FIREWALL) is a multi-disciplinary collaborative project that has been exploring the intersection of wildfires, electric systems, and health. The project’s first workshop on September 15, 2021 capped a year of investigative meetings and presentations
designed to generate new ideas for understanding, navigating, and adapting to the increased impact of wildfires on Alaska. Donna Attanasio, Senior Advisor for Energy Law Programs, is part of the project’s lead team. Austin Himes, Class of 2’2, assisted by developing a detailed background paper on the Alaskan electric system and regulation. The project team members are afliated with Sustainable GW (representing multiple GW schools); the University of Alaska, Anchorage; and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Navigating the New Arctic program. Sustainable GW’s energy equity project is entering its second year. This project, also funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to deepen knowledge of energy inequity issues in Washington, D.C., and of the means through which technology, such as solar
Energy Law Advisory Council GW Law’s Energy Law Advisory Council (ELAC) recently welcomed three new members. The new members are Jane Rueger, a partner at Perkins Coie; Kenneth Minesinger, JD ’90, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig; and Karen M. Hardwick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for WGL Holdings, Inc. and Washington Gas. The council is now chaired by J. Andrew Murphy, JD ’87, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Edison International. ELAC is the program’s primary source of ongoing strategic and financial support.
Chairman J. Andrew “Drew” Murphy, JD ’87, Edison International
Council Members Noel W. Black, Southern Company Charles A. Berardesco, JD ’83 George “Chip” D. Cannon, Jr., JD ’94, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Douglas E. Davidson, JD ’71 Emily S. Fisher, Edison Electric Institute Kevin C. Fitzgerald, JD ’91, Plymouth Investments LLC Daniel Hagan, White & Case LLP Emma F. Hand, Dentons U.S. LLP
Karen M. Hardwick, WGL Holdings, Inc. and Washington Gas Kenneth Minesinger, JD ’90, Greenberg Traurig Todd Mullins, JD ’89, McGuire Woods Earle H. O’Donnell, JD ’75 Daniel J. Oginsky, JD ’99, Heartmonics Holdings LLC Jane E. Rueger, Perkins Coie LLP Daniel F. Stenger, JD ’80, Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP ▪
2 THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
and microgrids, can promote equity. Ms. Attanasio is a lead participant in this project as well. The work has been facilitated through an advisory group composed of community representatives. Priya Patel, Class of 2’2, has been working with Ms. Attanasio on a parallel project comparing the success of government-led solar programs in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Los Angeles in relieving excessive energy burdens and promoting energy equity. During the 2020-21 academic year, Ms. Attanasio also served as a consultant on a project investigating the hurdles to realizing results from New Jersey’s ambitious town center microgrid program. ▪
Alumni and Student Appointed to Energy Bar Association Board
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ongratulations to Nina Wu, 3L, on her election as student representative to the Energy Bar Association’s (EBA) Board of Directors at the Nina Wu, Class of 22 EBA’s annual meeting in May. Also new to the board were GW Law alumni Donna Byrne and Mark Kalpin, as well as Emily Fisher, who received undergraduate and master’s degrees from GW and serves on GW Law’s Energy Law Advisory Council. The new EBA Treasurer is LLM grad Rick Smead. We also congratulate GW Law Energy Law Advisory Council members Emma Hand (ABA delegate) and Jane Rueger (ex-ofcio, past-president). EBA is an ABA-afliated international association of energy law attorneys and other energy professionals. ▪
