Page 15 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

U.S. DOE OFFICIAL DESCRIBES NEW ENERGY JUSTICE INITIATIVE AT

UH LAW CENTER’S 5TH ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT,

ENERGY, & NATURAL RESOURCES CONFERENCE

halanda Baker discussed aspects of the Biden administration’s fellowship to study climate change, energy policy and indigenous
Sapproach to energy policy during a virtual University of Houston rights in Mexico.
Law Center presentation in May. Baker, the first-ever Deputy The conference began with a panel titled, “ESG Facts and Figures and
Director for Energy Justice & Secretary’s Advisor on Equity, was the the Renewable Bump.” Speakers included Ramanan Krishnamoorti,
keynote speaker at the 5th Annual North American Environment, the Chief Energy Officer of UH, and Blank Rome attorneys Joan
Energy, & Natural Resources Conference, “Energy, & Natural Bondareff and Stacy Louizos.
Resources Conference, Environmental Social Governance (ESG):
Major Mover Towards Sustainable Energy Future.” Another panel titled “The Status in Canada and Mexico,” featured
Baker discussed the Justice40 Initiative, which promises that 40 Elizabeth Trujillo, Chair of the UH Global Law and Policy for the
Americas and UH EENR affiliate.
percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments,
including investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, sustainable Dean Leonard M. Baynes moderated a panel that discussed ESG
housing and more, must flow to disadvantaged communities. and the Future of the Energy Business. Other panelists included Kay
“Energy justice is about enhancing energy democracy,” Baker said. McCall ’84, Executive Director, Energy Renewable Alliance; Niko
Lorentzatos ’95, Executive Vice President and General Counsel,
“We’re at a crossroads. We can keep relying on what got us into this Oasis Petroleum; William E. Turcotte ’89, Senior Vice President,
injustice, or we can choose a harder pathway but one that is more just Gen. Counsel and Corporate Secretary Noble Holding Corporation
and makes our communities more resilient.” plc; and Kason Kerr ’09, Vice President and General Counsel,
Baker discussed the origins of her involvement in fighting for energy Ultra Petroleum.
justice and how communities of color are disproportionately affected The final panel, “Connecting the ‘Social’ to Environment and
by pollution and energy injustice, and the difference between energy Climate,” featured Sophia Lee, and Susan Bickley ’84 from Blank
burden and energy insecurity. Energy burden is the percentage of Rome, Law Center professor Gina Warren and student Shreya Patel.
household income that goes to energy costs, while energy insecurity
is defined as lacking reliable access to uninterrupted energy sources The event was hosted by the Law Center’s Environment, Energy &
at an affordable price. Natural Resources Center. Sponsors included Blank Rome, LLP, UH
“The higher the burden, the higher the insecurity,” she said. “One in Energy, the Energy Transition Governance and Law Project (funded
by the European Union and with the University of Lyon III), the Law
three Americans experiences some sort of energy insecurity.” Center’s Initiative for Global Law and Policy (GLPA), the University of
Baker has spent over a decade researching the equity dimensions of Calgary Faculty of Law, the Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico
the global transition away from fossil fuel energy to cleaner energy (UNAM), Universidad Tecnologica de Monterrey, and the Universidad
resources. In 2016, she received a Fulbright-Garcia-Robles research Anuhuac. ^

UH LAW CENTER RECEIVES $300,000 GRANT FROM TEXAS ACCESS
TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION FOR CLINICAL WORK ON LANDLORD AND

TENANT ISSUES

he UH Law Foundation was awarded funding that will benefit the “COVID-19 has affected many people financially, physically, and
TConsumer Law Clinic at the University of Houston Law Center. emotionally,” said Law Center Professor of Practice and Consumer
The ERAP 1- Housing Stability Grant Funding will cover a 17-month Law Clinic Director Ryan Marquez. “With the CDC moratorium
period that began in May and will end on Sept. 30, 2022. The purpose likely ending, they could be facing a possible lack of housing. We
of the grant is to provide legal information and representation for hope we will be able to assist these people to at least quell the house
Harris County residents facing housing instability due to COVID-19. instability they face.” ^
The funding will be used to assist with evictions in Justice of
the Peace and county courts and rental assistance applications
for tenants.

law.uh.edu 15