Energy Law and Policy, a new casebook co-authored by Professor Lincoln Davies (along with Hari Osofsky, Joe Tomain, and Elizabeth Wilson) was published in October 2014 by West Academic Publishing and is available in hard copy and in electronic form.
The book is designed to account for the complex, interrelated energy systems that buttress society, while addressing the grand energy challenges humanity faces today. It seeks to break away from the traditional approach of examining energy resources one at a time to try to provide a more holistic view. The book is organized into three parts that introduce students to the fundamental aspects of the energy sector, energy law, and the most pressing energy topics of the 21st century.
Part I presents an overview of energy resources and markets. It identifies the book’s primary themes: (1) the relationship between regulation, markets, and technological innovation; (2) the federalism issues that arise from the interaction of key regulatory actors; and (3) the transition to cleaner energy. This Part also introduces the major sources of energy and the evolving law governing their extraction.
Part II discusses energy in terms of the electricity and transportation sectors that rely upon these energy resources. This Part introduces traditional regulation in both of these sectors, and the ways in which law and policy for transportation and electricity are now in transition.
Part III turns to the pressing energy challenges of the day. It presents case studies on the Smart Grid, the electrification of vehicles, the role of nuclear energy in a clean energy future, and new and expanding energy extraction technologies such as deep water drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
The book contains cases, sample statutes and regulations, and pertinent excerpts from energy law and policy experts. These policy-oriented, often empirical materials offer the necessary building blocks for a public law course, particularly one that covers a rapidly transitioning field. The book is intended to provide an introduction to energy law and policy both for students who seek to practice in the field and for those interested in better understanding this fascinating, critical area of law.
Additional information from the publisher is available online at http://www.westacademic.com/Professors/ProductDetails.aspx?NSIID=3220.