Advocacy Training: Coal Finance 2014
The Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis jointly offered a three-day training program for environmental advocates and attorneys on financial issues involving coal-fired power plants, export terminals, and mines. Panels addressed the major dynamics driving the coal market in the United States and around the world; making the economic transition from coal; and the current economics of solar, wind, and energy efficiency alternatives. Continuing Legal Education credit was available for attorneys.
Day 1: Monday, March 17
1:00-1:15 Welcome: Richard Revesz, Institute for Policy Integrity; and Sandy Buchanan, Institute for Energy and Economics and Financial Analysis
1:15-2:45 Panel 1 – The current global market for coal—what are the dynamics driving the major changes underway in the world coal markets?
Moderator: Abbie Dillen, Vice President of Litigation: Climate & Energy, Earthjustice
Presenters: Michael Parker , Senior Analyst, Bernstein Research; Tom Sanzillo , Director of Finance, IEEFA
2:45-4:00 Panel 2 – What are the international institutions funding new coal mining, export and power plant projects? And what are the handles for advocating against such funding?
Introductions: David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA
Moderator: John Coequyt, Senior Washington Representative, Energy and Global Warming Program, Sierra Club
Presenters: Ailun Yang , Senior Associate, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute; Calvin Quek , Head, Sustainable Finance, Greenpeace East Asia; Ibrahim Ciftci , Finance Campaigner, Greenpeace Mediterranean
4:15-5:30 Panel 3 – Proposed coal projects in India and Australia
Moderator: Suzanne Mattei, Director, New Yorkers for Patient and Family Empowerment
Presenters: Tim Buckley , Director of Energy Resource Studies, Australasia, IEEFA; Ashish Fernandes , US-India Climate Advisor, Greenpeace
Day 2: Tuesday, March 18
8:45-9:00 Welcome – Richard Revesz, Director, Institute for Policy Integrity and David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA
9:00-10:15 Panel 4 – Problems facing the U.S. coal industry and coal-fired generators in 2014 and coming years – What are the current financial risks for coal mining companies and for merchant, public and regulated utility plant owners?
Moderator: Sarah Brennan, Program Officer, The Robertson Foundation
Presenters: Abbie Dillen, Vice President of Litigation: Climate and Energy, Earthjustice; David Schlissel , Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA; Tom Sanzillo , Director of Finance, IEEFA
10:30-12:15 Panel 5 – Making the economic transition from coal – How communities can survive, and indeed, gain from, the closing of existing coal plants
Moderator: Lisa Hamilton, Regulatory Consultant, IEEFA
Presenters: Erin Heaney, Executive Director, Clean Air Action Coalition of Western New York; Jean Pogge, Executive Director, Delta Institute; Phoebe Selden, Senior Vice President, Acacia Financial Group; Burt Lauderdale, Executive Director, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
1:00-2:00 Panel 6 – Perspectives on the future price of natural gas and whether gas is a viable long-term economic alternative to coal
Moderator: Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director, Environmental Integrity Project
Presenters: Jonathan Barrett, President and Portfolio Manager, Luminus Management; David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA; Deborah Rogers , Founder, Energy Policy Forum
2:00-4:30 Panel 7 A & B The current economics of solar, wind and energy efficiency alternatives to coal (domestic U.S. and international perspectives)
Moderator: Robert Ukeiley, attorney, Berea, KY
2:00-3:15 A) Renewables
Presenters: Tim Buckley , Director of Energy Resource Studies, Australasia, IEEFA; Paul Coster, Executive Director, Equity Research, J.P. Morgan; David Feldman , Senior Financial Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
3:30-4:30 B) Energy Efficiency
Presenters: Maggie Molina, State, Utilities, and Local Policy Program Director, American Council foran Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE); Jeff Pitkin , Treasurer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
4:30–5:45 Panel 8 – Recent developments in the Powder River Basin
Introduction: Larry Shapiro, Associate Director for Program Development, Rockefeller Family Fund
Moderator: Heidi Binko, Associate Director, Special Climate Initiatives, Rockefeller Family Fund
Presenters: Margie MacDonald, Regional Organizer, Western Organization of Resource Councils; Tom Sanzillo , Director of Finance, IEEFA; Leslie Glustrom , Research Director, Clean Energy Action
Day 3: Wednesday, March 19
8:30-8:45 Welcome – Richard Revesz, Director, Institute for Policy Integrity; and Sandy Buchanan, Executive Director, IEEFA
8:45-10:15 Panel 9 – Why have plant owners decided to retire existing coal plants and what are the prospects for future retirements?”
Moderator: David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA
Presenters: Julien Dumoulin-Smith, Executive Director – Equity Research, UBS Securities, LLC; Bruce Biewald , President, Synapse Energy Economics
10:30-11:45 Panel 10 – Perspectives on fossil fuel divestment and shareholder action
Moderator: Larry Shapiro, Associate Director for Program Development, Rockefeller Family Fund
Presenters: Tom Sanzillo, Director of Finance, IEEFA: Dan Bakal, Director, Electric Power Programs, Ceres; Phil Aroneanu , US Managing Director and Co-Founder, 350.org
12:30–1:30 Panel 11 – How state PSC’s and the Independent System Operators subsidize the continued operation of existing coal plants
Moderator: David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis, IEEFA; Presenters: Cathy Kunkel , Fellow, IEEFA; Christophe Courchesne , Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation
1:30-3:00 – Concurrent panels/workshops on:
1) Panel 12 – Recent developments in proposed coal export terminals
Introduction: Lisa Hamilton, Regulatory Consultant, IEEFA
Moderator: Al Armendariz , Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign
Presenters: Clark Williams-Derry , Director Research and Communication, Sightline Institute; Grace Morris , Coal Campaign Organizer, Gulf Restoration Network; Tom “Smitty” Smith , Texas Director, Public Citizen
2) Panel 13 – Proposals for regulating CO2 emissions from existing coal plants
Moderator: Larry Shapiro, Associate Director for Program Development, Rockefeller Family Fund
Presenters: Chris Van Atten , Senior Vice President, MJ Bradley and Associates; Bruce Buckheit, Environmental Consultant; Dan Lashof , Director, Climate & Clean Air Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
3:00-3:30 – Wrap Up: Sandy Buchanan, Executive Director, IEEFA; and Richard Revesz, Director, Institute for Policy Integrity