Energy Decarbonization Seminar

Energy Decarbonization Seminar - Professor Melissa Powers

• Course Number: LAW-237
• Course Type: Highly Specialized
• Credits: 3
• Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
• Description:  This course will provide students with an opportunity to write and workshop a substantive paper (30-45 pages) focused on energy decarbonization.

The class will meet as a group for the first 6 weeks of the semester to discuss the reading materials. The primary purpose of these meetings will be for students to become familiar with existing scholarship and laws relevant to the students’ paper topics and to begin critiquing legal and policy arguments. Students will lead the class meetings. For each class, the designated student discussion leader must prepare questions to focus and guide the discussions about the reading. Students must attend all classes unless they have a medical reason or family emergency that prevents their attendance.

During the first six weeks, the class will also discuss various topics related to paper writing, including topic selection and refinement; effective research and note-taking for paper writing; structuring the paper and developing an outline; writing the introduction; and tackling the substance. We will also discuss writing techniques and skills.

Students will then spend the next four weeks working on their draft papers. During this time, the class will not meet.

During the two weeks following spring break, students will present their papers to the rest of the class in a workshop-style format, in which other students and (potentially) professionals will offer their feedback and suggestions.

• Deliverables and Deadlines:  Students will submit the following documents or complete the following tasks according to the schedule below (for the spring 2026 semester). Students should not enroll in the class if they do not have the ability to meet these deadlines, because requests for extensions will not be granted absent extraordinary circumstances outside of a student’s control and a demonstration that the student would have, but for the extraordinary circumstance, met the respective deadline. In no event will students be allowed to submit their final papers after the deadline.

   

December 1, 2025: 1-paragraph topic description

January 28, 2026: Topic selection confirmation and annotated bibliography

February 11, 2026: Paper introduction and outline

March 18, 2026: Draft paper

March 30 – April 8, 2026: Presentations and workshopping of student papers

April 22, 2026: Final papers due

Class meetings: January 7 through February 18 and March 30 through April 8, 2026.

• Prerequisite: One course from the following: Energy Law: Electricity Regulation (LAW 336); Energy Law: Energy Resources (LAW 236); Energy Law in the West (LAW 406); or Climate Change Law. 

Students who can demonstrate familiarity with legal issues underlying their paper topics may enroll with prior approval of the instructor.

Students who plan to write about an administrative law topic should take Administrative Law prior to taking this course.

• Evaluation Method:   Seminar paper, with mandatory rewrite; leadership of and participation in class discussions; class presentations and feedback. JD students must take this class for a letter grade and will not be allowed to receive an extension to complete the class.
• Capstone: yes
• WIE: yes