Renewable Energy & Alternative Fuels Law 270.7 Berkeley

Growing concern for the effects of global climate change have focused public policy on promoting the development and diffusion of renewable and alternative energy technologies. This two-semester seminar will explore the broad contours of this new era of environmental and energy policy from multiple perspectives -- environmental protection, energy regulation, technology and intellectual property policy, and business finance. We will develop a framework for analyzing the interrelationship between cleantech and environmental policy. Based upon this framework, each student in the seminar will develop an in-depth case study of a major cleantech project. Possible projects include major wind initiatives, building transmission capacity in the Mojave desert, biofuels, electric vehicles, smart grid technologies, high-speed trains, and nuclear energy. Students are welcome to propose other topics as well. Students will meet with advisers -- from the faculty and legal practice -- as they explore their projects. They will also attend various presentations relating to the cleantech field. During the spring semester, students will make presentations to the seminar about their projects. In that way, there will be substantial collaborative learning as well as in-depth research and writing.

Language: English

Professors: Michael Williams

Units: 14