What Is Energy Law?

Energy law involves the regulation of energy extraction, distribution, and production. With the increase in renewables and clean energy, energy law includes mineral rights, land use, zoning, and natural resource management.

Most energy law is practiced in-house by corporate attorneys in the gas and oil industries. Regulatory agencies interacting with the public use energy lawyers when crafting legislation.

Most small businesses and others in the public sector seldom need an energy attorney. When their business interacts with renewable energy, like municipal financing for solar panels, you may need advice from someone within the industry.

Energy Law Areas of Practice

Energy law touches more areas than oil rigs and power plants. Although the energy industry uses most types of legal professionals, people may need an energy law attorney for other reasons. These reasons may include:

  • Real estate law can interact with energy law in matters of land use, subsurface rights, and mineral leases. Zoning regulations affect where and how companies can extract and refine resources.
  • Public utilities contract to place renewable energy sources and negotiate power purchases from private companies to the public grid. Businesses need energy lawyers to help draft these contracts.
  • Project development for green energy projects. Clean energy and sustainability means projects must conform to existing zoning laws.

Terms To Know

  • Distribution: This is the act of sending gas or electric power from the city gate or plant to the customer.
  • Environmental Impact Statement: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires businesses and agencies to prepare an environmental impact statement for construction that may affect the environment.
  • Hydropower Re-License: The Commission issues this minor or major license. It authorizes the person licensed (the licensee) to get a new term of the license for an already existing licensed project. The new license term can span 30 to 50 years.
  • Fracking: Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing. It involves forcing water and chemicals, at very high pressure, into shale rock deposits deep in the ground.

Energy Attorney Jobs

Energy law attorneys assist clients with regulatory compliance and project financing. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates the interstate transmission of gas, oil, and electricity. FERC also oversees interstate mergers and acquisitions.

Each state's own regulatory utility commission oversees energy companies within state borders. The state's public utility commission determines the structuring and distribution of energy for the state. For instance, Texas has its own electrical power grid, separate from the national grid.

Small businesses should consult an energy lawyer in their area when they need legal advice in the energy sector.

Related Practice Areas

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