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About the Series: ESIG has just completed a broad stakeholder review of the transmission implications of moving towards very high levels of decarbonization and renewable energy at a national level. The issues associated with a large transmission network spanning the continent can be generally grouped into the areas of transmission planning, permitting and paying, covered in this extended 3-part webinar. The first webinar on planning will be presented by Rob Gramlich of Grid Strategies. Rob is a well-known figure nationally in this area, and will cover the drivers for a broad, geographical approach to planning. The topic of permitting will be presented by Bret Sumner, a practicing lawyer well versed in the practical aspects of project permitting on public and private lands. The third topic to be addressed, paying, or cost allocation, will be covered by Steve Gaw, Senior Vice President of Markets and Infrastructure for the Advanced Power Alliance. 

Part 2: Permitting

Featured Speaker: Bret Sumner, Senior Partner, Beatty & Wozniak

Bret Sumner is a senior partner at the energy law firm of Beatty & Wozniak. Bret’s practice focuses on large scale development projects within the whole energy spectrum from conventional to renewable energy; with a focus on permitting and compliance issues, litigation, and corporate energy policy. Bret specializes in advising clients with projects and permitting issues involving multiple states and jurisdictions (federal, state and local) and a wide range of industry, eNGO, agricultural, local government, and other stakeholder interests.

Moderator: Charlie Smith, Executive Director, ESIG

Registration Cost: FREE

Q&A Session: We will be using the slido platform for Q&A. Please submit your questions and follow-along during the event at this link.

Webinar Abstract: Developing comprehensive and proactive permitting strategies are a must for efficient business planning, allocation of capital, and construction scheduling for large scale infrastructure projects spanning multiple states and jurisdictions. Electric transmission project proponents face significant complex permitting challenges involving a multitude of land access, environmental, regulatory, and government affairs issues at the federal, state and local levels. These issues can result in costly delays and stranded capital, and serve only to increase uncertainties with respect to obtaining required federal, state and local permits and authorizations. This presentation will provide an overview of key permitting issues that often hinder permitting, with an example on western federal land access, as well as potential strategies to minimize these risks.