From the board room to the kitchen table, energy is a topic that has just about everyone’s attention. Ranging from biofuels to harnessing the wind and sun, people are looking to create energy from all available sources. And with this increase in focus on energy, there is a need for managing those resources and rights.
According to Alan Anderson, an attorney in the Energy Practice Group with law firm Husch Blackwell Sanders, energy is a growth segment in the market.
“In the last ten years, especially more recently, there has been great growth in renewable energy,” says Anderson. “There was definitely a biofuels surge and now, especially in the Midwest, you see growth in wind energy and solar is now starting to get a foothold.”
Anderson also pointed out that wind energy has had an economic advantage through start-up costs and availability; however, there are emerging advantages to the solar market.
Energy is a cornerstone practice group at Husch Blackwell Sanders representing clients across the energy spectrum on a variety of regulatory issues. This focus with traditional and renewable energy players requires the practice group go beyond knowing the issues and become a part of the energy industry. Anderson and the Energy Practice Group are dedicated to staying abreast of industry developments.
“With the growth of the industry we are putting our individual focus on a variety of areas like traditional energy, biofuels, solar, etc. to ensure that the team is well rounded and provides the best knowledge to our clients,” Anderson said. “It is critical that we not only understand the technology, but the entire process so that we can provide the best advice and service to our clients.”
Being a part of the industry, doesn’t restrict the Husch Blackwell Sanders Energy Practice Group to the United States. On behalf of a client, Anderson recently worked in Germany with A Plus F, a European based world leader in solar energy. What he saw was a glimpse of the European model where you have robust development in renewable fuels.
Anderson is very clear on what is holding the United States back.
“The U.S. has a few more obstacles with a more complex development financing structure among other issues. This creates an environment where there are fewer industry participants, in comparison to Europe where there are a number of different renewable energy companies and that creates a cluster of supporting industries.”
This fact reinforces a key component for growth in the renewable energy sector is government support, regulation and policy efforts. Anderson continues, “Without a commitment at the state or federal level, there are challenges for renewable energy, For example, you can look at the production tax credit and in the years where it was allowed to phase out before it was renewed, renewable energy all but ceased.”
Anderson did add that there is increased interest at the state and federal level in renewable energy, which should support the industry in the long term. The bottom line is there are different programs and solutions that will support the expansion of renewable energy across the grid.
Despite the challenges, Anderson sees a bright future for the renewable energy market. To find out more about the Husch Blackwell Sanders Energy Practice Group, visit them online at www.huschblackwell.com.
Alan Anderson of Husch Blackwell Sanders: 
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