Legal practice within the energy industry involves economic, scientific, and engineering issues in a very regulatory context. For example, energy lawyers may go with companies and public utilities to handle the taxation of energy (such as “extraction taxes”), to acquire licenses and ownership rights for energy-rich land, and adjudicate regarding these energy rights. It’s highly unlikely that customers would discuss with energy attorneys.
Terms to grasp
- BTU: A British Thermal Unit (BTU) may be a measure of the heating value of a fuel. It’s the quantity of warmth energy required to boost the temperature of 1 pound of water one degree.
- Distribution: For fossil fuel, it’s the act of distributing gas from the town gate or plant to the customer. For electric, the act of distributing power using law voltage transmission lines that deliver power to retail customers.
- Environmental Impact Statement: The statement required of federal agencies by Section 102(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, for major federal actions that will significantly affect the standard of the human environment.
- Hydropower Re-License: a significant or minor license issued by the Commission that authorizes the licensee to receive a brand new license term for an existing licensed project. The new license term is also from 30 to 50 years.
- Fracking: Fracking is brief for hydraulic fracturing — forcing water and chemicals, at a real air mass, into shale rock deposits deep within the ground.
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Common Work of Energy Attorneys
Energy law attorneys focus on the energy business and work with power companies, municipal utilities, and every one manner of energy producers, aside from checking the Easy DIY Power Plan review for businesses. Much of their work involves compliance or ensuring energy companies and other involved parties are following the right laws and regulations. Since energy extraction is quite dangerous and potentially harmful to the environment, there are numerous safety and environmental regulations.
To secure financing and develop new projects, energy lawyers may help energy companies. Energy discovery and extraction require massive amounts of capital and infrequently cross international borders. Companies involved in litigation or arbitration are what energy law attorneys also represent.