Firm News and Announcements
On Friday, December 7, 2018, Derek Dyson presented to the National Conference of State Legislatures Capitol Forum on Grid Modernization, with a focus on electrification and bringing water services to tribal communities. Mr. Dyson specifically addressed work with the Navajo Nation and identified opportunities for legislators to help ensure that basic electric and water services are provided to tribal communities. Founded in 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures supports state legislatures by providing tools, information and resources to allow them to craft solutions for complex problems. Mr. Dyson is shareholder at DWGP and serves as counsel to the Navajo Nation Tribal Utility Authority.
On October 8, 2018, Lisa Gast presented at the American Public Power Association’s 2018 Legal & Regulatory Conference (in Charleston, South Carolina) on NERC compliance issues. In her program, Ms. Gast took the audience on a deep dive into each of the elements that NERC and its Regional Entities are looking for in a robust Internal Compliance Program, including some helpful tips along the way to make a utility’s ICP even stronger and more useful to the utility itself. After her formal presentation, Ms. Gast fielded questions from the audience and was able to provide guidance on specific issues and concerns. For further information on NERC compliance, please contact Lisa Gast.
On November 6 and 7, 2018, attorneys from Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. led seminars hosted by the EUCI entitled FERC Electricity 101 and FERC Compliance and Enforcement in Newport Beach, California. In these comprehensive seminars, Peter Scanlon, Sean Neal, and Andrew Art discussed the evolution of FERC’s impact on the electric power industry, the substantive requirements with which utilities, and other participants in electricity markets, must comply, including NERC Reliability Standards, and how future requirements may change the shape of the energy landscape. The seminars were intended for participants with a wide-range of energy experience that have an interest in the growing importance of FERC regulation. For further information on the FERC Electricity 101 and FERC Compliance and Enforcement presentations, please contact Peter Scanlon, Sean Neal, or Andrew
On Friday, Oct. 19 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, DWGP Shareholder Matthew R. Rudolphi and Mattey Consulting Principal Carol Mattey (former deputy chief of the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau) co-presented a webinar discussion on broadband regulatory and business law considerations for electric cooperatives. The webinar was presented by the Energy Cooperative Bar Association (“ECBA”) and moderated by National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Assistant (“NRECA”) General Counsel Jessica Healy. Topics included FCC requirements, forming a subsidiary, or operating broadband as a division of your electric co-op, and more.
On July 10, 2018, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (“SEPA”) recognized Walter W. Haase, General Manager of the Navajo Nation Tribal Utility Authority (“NTUA”) as the 2018 Visionary of the Year. The award, presented by DWGP President Jeff Genzer, recognizes Mr. Haase’s efforts in developing the Kayenta Solar Project, the Navajo Nation’s first large-scale solar project with an output of 27.3 megawatts of solar-generated energy. Through the development of this project, members of the Navajo Nation have been able to gain access to renewable energy at low cost, in addition to providing them with jobs in developing, constructing and operating the renewable energy facility. The SEPA judges noted that “Wally is the right person for this tough transition from fossil fuels to renewable generation. He’s able to both see the future and has the standing within the community to ensure that this renewable project got built.”
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