The William Mitchell Environmental Law Society will present the 2nd Annual Carbon Management and the Law Conference, “Climate Change Issues for 2011,” from noon to 5 pm Thursday, Feb. 10. Register.

The conference will explore how greenhouse gas pollution standards, such as those proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency in Dec. 2010, could affect commerce, the practice of law, and the quality of life in Minnesota and across the country.

Robert Kaplan, regional counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency, will present a keynote speech and William Mitchell faculty will lead panel discussions with leaders from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Cargill, National Wind, Fresh Energy, Stoel Rives, Faegre & Benson, Fredrikson & Byron, Xcel Energy, the Environmental Law Group, and Briggs and Morgan.

The event, which is made possible thanks to the generosity of AT&T, CenterPoint Energy, and Xcel Energy, is free and open to the public. Application has been made for CLE credits. Registration is required.

A complete schedule and list of speakers follows.

CHECK-IN (11:30 am – 12:15 pm)

OPENING REMARKS (12:15 – 12:30 pm)
Eric Janus, president and dean, William Mitchell College of Law

LUNCH AVAILABLE (Noon – 1 pm)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER (12:30 – 1:15 pm)

Introduction by Samuel Hanson ’65 of Briggs & Morgan

Robert Kaplan, regional counsel for EPA Region 5

Q&A with KEYNOTE (1:15 – 1:30 pm)

CORPORATE PERSPECTIVES (1:45 – 3 pm)

Moderated by Jann Olsten ’74, executive director, Center for Law and Business, William Mitchell College of Law

a)    Agriculture:  Kimberly Thorstad, environmental attorney, Cargill

b)    Energy:  Judy Poferl, president and CEO, Northern States Power Company

c)    Retail/Commercial: David Hughes, Energy Management, Target

d)    Renewable Energy:  Leon Steinberg, CEO, National Wind

LEGAL & PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS—“Practitioners’ Panel” (3 – 4 pm)

Moderated by Alex Klass, professor of law, University of Minnesota

a)    Kevin D. Johnson of Stoel Rives

b)    Daniel J. Herber of Faegre & Benson

c)    Thaddeus R. Lightfoot of the Environmental Law Group

d)    Todd Guerrero of Fredrikson & Byron

REGULATORY TRENDS—National, Regional, and Local (4 – 4:30 pm)

Moderated by Professor Colette Routel, William Mitchell College of Law

a)    Michael C. Krikava of Briggs & Morgan

b)    J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director, Fresh Energy

c)    Frank Kohlasch of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

d)   Guy Peterson, director of Community Development, Metropolitan Council

CLOSING REMARKS (4:30 – 4:45)

Bill Grant, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Energy Security

RECEPTION (4:45 – 5:30)

Register