Hosted by the Center for Energy Studies, the Baker Institute conference on “Water and Energy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Nexus" advanced the conversation around leading developments in water and energy in the legal, international and industrial contexts. Speakers offered unique perspectives and deep knowledge in their respective areas, providing participants with multi-disciplinary insights on the challenges confronting today’s water-energy nexus.
Leading experts explored the changing legal landscape surrounding water and energy, including industry implications of the new rule on "Waters of the United States." They also discussed how other nations are thinking about problems in the water-energy nexus, as well as advances and challenges in recycling and reusing produced water from upstream oil and gas operations.
Join the conversation online with #BakerCESNexus and #waterenergynexus.
To view the all the panels, please click below:
Panel I
Panel II
Panel III
Please note that the keynotes addresses are not available to the public.
Agenda
8:00 am
Continental Breakfast
8:30 am
Welcome
Kenneth B. Medlock, Ph.D.
James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Direct, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
8:45 am
Morning Keynote
Two Sides of the Same Coin: The Energy-Water Nexus
Kate Zerrenner
Project Manager, Water-Energy Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund
Panel I – Structuring the Field of Play: The Legal Context of Water and Energy
Moderator: Regina M. Buono, J.D., Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute
316(b): Cooling Water Intake Strategies (pdf)
Molly Cagle, J.D.
Partner, Baker Botts LLP
The Final Clean Water Rule and its Policy Considerations (pdf)
Lowell Rothschild, J.D.
Senior Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Water and Energy Implications of the Clean Power Plan (pdf)
Gina Warren, J.D.
Associate Professor of Law, Texas A&M University School of Law
Break
11:00 amPanel II – What are Others Doing? Comparative Lessons on Water and Energy
Moderator: Regina M. Buono, J.D.
China (pdf)
Libin Zhang, J.D.
Partner, Broad & Bright
Europe (pdf)
Elena López-Gunn, Ph.D.
Founder and Director, ICATALIST; Cheney Research Fellow, University of Leeds
Lunch
12:30 pmLuncheon Keynote
Introduction: Linda Capuano, Ph.D., Fellow in Energy Technology, Baker Institute
Water, Crops and Biofuels
Todd Werpy, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Company
Recipient, 2015 American Chemical Society Affordable Green Chemistry Award
Panel III – Produced Water: Keeping it in Play
Moderator: Linda Capuano, Ph.D.
The Energy Water Initiative: Part of the Solution
Roy Hartstein
Vice President, Strategic Solutions, Southwestern Energy
Produced Water in Oklahoma
Michael Teague
Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment
Case Study: Water Treatment Company Navigates Australia and Start-up Process
David Cam
President and CEO, Hydrus Technology
Break
3:00 pmAfternoon Keynote
Introduction: Linda Capuano, Ph.D.
Progress in Texas
Kathleen Jackson
Member, Texas Water Development Board