Energy Innovation

The Energy Innovation Initiative is a joint venture of the Getches-Wilkinson Center on Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment and the Silicon Flatirons Center on Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. Established in 2011, the Energy Innovation Initiative brings together leaders from government, law, finance, industry, and education to address key aspects of the energy innovation challenge and develop new approaches and solutions to today's energy challenges.

Drawing on Colorado Law’s expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, energy, and natural resources, the initiative supports research and analysis on critical policy, regulatory, and business aspects of the energy challenges; provides training for students and professionals,  as well as a series of public lectures, workshops, and conferences.

Over the last two years, the Initiative has hosted Senator Jeff Bingaman, FERC Commissioner Tony Clark, celebrated author and energy expert Daniel Yergin, former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, DOE senior advisor Lauren Azar, CEQ deputy for energy and climate Jason Bordoff, and many others to address various aspects of the energy challenge, and has convened conferences and workshops on smart grid, the role of public utility commissions (PUCs) in clean energy innovation, the changing energy mix, and financing energy innovation.

The Initiative is also supporting and participating in ongoing research collaborations on grid modernization, clean energy innovation, and unconventional natural gas development.  The Initiative has developed partnerships with NREL, JISEA, CU-Cleantech, and the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), and is supported by Holland & Hart LLP, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, Simple Energy, and Tendril.