SMNR: Texas Wind Law

Semester: Spring 2016
Course ID: 397S
Credit Hours: 3
Unique: 28880

Course Information

Course Type: Seminar
Grading Method: Pass/Fail Not Allowed

Registration Information

Upperclass-only elective

Meeting Times

Day	Time	Location
MON	3:45 - 5:35 pm	TNH 3.142

Evaluation Method

Type	Date	Time	Location
Paper

Description

This seminar will provide an in-depth study of all aspects of Texas wind law, as well as other states, including the history of wind energy, wind farm fundamentals, the major elements of the wind energy lease, conveyances and easements, severance of “wind rights,” government tax incentives, litigation, transmission issues, permitting and FAA requirements, the sale of wind energy, the impact of wind development on the environment and wildlife, and offshore wind projects. Course materials will include Smith, DeWolf, Wetsel, Diffen and Powers, "Wind Law" (Lexis Nexis Matthew Bender 2015), as well as other readings and materials posted on Canvas or distributed in class. Attendance and participation in seminar discussions are mandatory. Each student will be required to write a seminar paper of 30 to 50 typewritten pages, double spaced, including footnotes. A list of topics will be posted on Canvas and distributed in class. You may either choose from this list or decide on another topic with the consent of the instructor. Roughly the first three-fourths of the course will consist of lectures and question and answer format, whereas the last quarter will focus on the presentation by each student of his or her topic, along with class discussion and analysis. Student grades will be based primarily on the paper, but also upon class attendance and participation.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

Wind Law *

Smith, Wetsel, Diffen & Powers

Lexis Nexis Matthew Bender , edition: 2015
ISBN: 9781422482865

Instructors

Wetsel, Roderick E.