Schultz Lecture

Tommy Beaudreau on “The Lords of Yesterday and the Imperatives of Now”: Challenges to Energy Transition on Public Lands

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:56:07 +0000

Tommy Beaudreau on “The Lords of Yesterday and the Imperatives of Now”: Challenges to Energy Transition on Public Lands Annie Carlozzi Thu, 03/20/2025 - 13:56

Victoria Matson and Oliver Skelly

On Tuesday, February 25th, Tommy Beaudreau, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior, delivered the Schultz Lecture, offering a sobering analysis of the structural, legal, economic, and political hurdles to the energy transition on public lands. His talk, “The Lords of Yesterday and the Imperatives of Now,” constituted a tribute to the late Charles Wilkinson's coined phrase. Harkening back to Wilkinson's work, Beaudreau traced these contemporary challenges to the legacy of westward expansion and Indigenous displacement, illustrating how outdated laws and entrenched interests continue to shape today’s energy policies.

Beaudreau framed public lands as a political flashpoint in the energy transition. While state and private lands—particularly in North Dakota and the Southwest—have played significant roles in the oil and gas boom, debates over renewables, permitting, and leasing disproportionately focus on federal lands. Ironically, legal tools once used to block fossil fuel projects are now being turned against renewables, complicating efforts to decarbonize.

Beyond regulatory hurdles, fossil fuel revenues remain deeply embedded in state economies, funding schools, public safety, and infrastructure. Many Tribal nations, too, rely on fossil fuel revenues, balancing economic interests with environmental concerns. Beaudreau stressed that a “just transition” must provide financial alternatives before communities can fully embrace renewables.

Outdated laws, like the 1872 Mining Law, remain a major obstacle to energy reform. Beaudreau highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a key step in shifting energy policy, but legal battles persist over leasing rights, mineral access, and state-federal control. He pointed to Louisiana’s lawsuit over the Biden administration’s oil and gas lease moratorium, which raised critical questions about governmental statutory and commercial contractual rights in energy development.

Economic arguments also dominate the debate. Critics claim renewables are too costly for federal subsidies, mirroring past fights over offshore oil incentives. Meanwhile, global competition—especially China’s control of solar panel and battery supply chains—adds geopolitical complexity to the transition.

Despite these challenges, Beaudreau offered a measured note of optimism. He pointed to Western landowners and ranchers, historically conservation advocates, as potential allies in sustainable land management. Their interest in wildlife migration corridors and outdoor access could foster new conservation coalitions.

Ultimately, Beaudreau underscored that energy transition requires modernizing laws, addressing economic realities, and building broad political consensus. As attendees left Wittemyer Courtroom, they carried with them a clear message: the road ahead is uncertain, but public lands remain central to shaping America’s energy future and, as Wilkinson's "lords of yesterday" remain, the imperatives of change have arrived.

The recording of the 16th annual Schultz Lecture can be found here.

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Feb 25th: Schultz Lecture in Energy with Tommy Beaudreau

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:34:45 +0000

Feb 25th: Schultz Lecture in Energy with Tommy Beaudreau Annie Carlozzi Thu, 12/19/2024 - 11:34

The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Center of the American West will co-host the 16th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy on February 25, 2025 with special guest, Tommy Beaudreau, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025
6:00-7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom

A reception will be held immediately following the lecture for all in person registrants.

Two general CLE credits have been approved for Colorado attorneys.

Register Here

“The Lords of Yesterday and the Imperatives of Now”

Beaudreau will discuss the structural, legal, and political challenges to energy transition on public lands. He will provide an exploration of the contemporary problems that must be solved for bringing public lands to bear in energy transition efforts, and how the roots of those issues rest in the legacy of American westward expansion and the displacement of Native people.

Student Lunch and Learns
Tues, February 25, 2025 at the Center of the American West
Wed, February 26, 2025 in Room 207 in Wolf Law

GWC and CWA respectively, will host a lunch and learn for students, where Tommy Beaudreau will share his professional experiences and offered advice and guidance to students and engage in a Q&A session.

Tommy Beaudreau

Tommy Beaudreau is co-chair of WilmerHale’s Energy, Environment and Natural Resources and Native American Law Practices. Mr. Beaudreau focuses his practice on a broad range of areas including conventional and renewable energy and large-scale infrastructure projects; environmental regulatory, litigation and enforcement matters; crisis management and response; and Tribal matters. In addition, Mr. Beaudreau leads internal investigations and responses to government investigations and congressional oversight.

Mr. Beaudreau served in senior leadership roles in the United States Department of the Interior for nearly a decade across two administrations. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Secretary of the Interior after being confirmed by the US Senate in June 2021 by a vote of 88-9, reflecting his strong reputation as a bi-partisan problem solver. In this role, Mr. Beaudreau was point on the most pressing and high-profile matters before the Department, including energy development on public lands and waters, water infrastructure and delivery to address sustained drought in the American west, infrastructure permitting and critical minerals development, implementation of the historic investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and a broad range of priorities relative to Indian Country.

Mr. Beaudreau previously served for nearly seven years at the Department of the Interior (DOI) during the Obama Administration, including as the first director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, and chief of staff for the Interior Department.

He is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

The Schultz Lectureship in Energy

In 2007, the Schultz Lecture in Energy was launched to support an annual lecture by renowned scholars in energy or natural resources law. This series was made possible by the generosity of John H. and Cynthia H. Schultz and allows the Getches-Wilkinson Center (GWC) to bring in thought leaders from across the country. Our speakers address emerging issues and challenges in the oil and gas, energy, and natural resources fields, providing valuable information to policymakers, practitioners, business executives, students, and the academic community.

John Schultz (CU Econ, Political. Science ‘51) (CU Law ‘53) was an oil and gas attorney whose impactful career in Colorado and the Western U.S. spanned the second half of the 20th century. John Schultz passed away on April 5, 2020, surrounded by family in the comfort of his own home in Lafayette, Colorado. Cynthia Schultz was a University of Colorado administrative staff member who served the University in many ways. She was a member of the Graduate School Advisory Council, the Graduate School Resource Committee, and on the Ad Hoc Task Force on Graduate Education. Cynthia passed away on December 20, 2011. Both John’s and Cynthia’s generosity of time with our students was exceptional.

Their legacies continue, in part, through their substantial gifts to the University of Colorado, Colorado Law, and to the GWC where we are so appreciative of the Schultz family’s generosity. The family’s continued commitment means that this lecture can be free and open to the public. The format (normally) includes a public reception following the talk, providing the opportunity to continue a lively discussion, as well as a dinner with the speaker, the extended Schultz family, the Dean, GWC faculty, and several law students.

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15th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

15th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/06/2023 - 00:00

The Getches-Wilkinson Center and American Indian Law Program co-hosted the 15th Annual Schultz Lecture: The Road to Tribal Clean Energy Transition is Paved With Sovereign Action.

On October 5, 2023, the Getches-Wilkinson Center was proud to co-host Pilar Thomas for the 15th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy in partnership with the American Indian Law Program. Entitled “The Road to Tribal Clean Energy Transition is Paved with Sovereign Action”, Pilar’s lecture provided a hopeful and practical view into Tribal development of renewable energy projects. Pilar is a partner with Quarles & Brady’s Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Group, and she has a long track record of public service with the Department of Energy, the Department of Interior, the Department of Justice, and as general counsel for numerous Tribes and related business entities.

Earlier in the day, GWC hosted a lunch and learn for the law students, and Pilar shared her professional experiences and offered advice and guidance to students who are interested in working with Tribes and promoting renewable energy. Almost 50 students turned out for the event, which included an interesting and engaging Q&A session.

Thank you to Pilar for sharing her wisdom and expertise with the Colorado Law School community! The Schultz Energy in Lecture was made possible by the generosity of John H. and Cynthia H. Schultz, and we are grateful for their family’s continued commitment to GWC and Colorado Law School.

Pilar Thomas
Partner
Quarles & Brady’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group

Thursday, October 5, 2023
5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom

The Road to Tribal Clean Energy Transition is Paved With Sovereign Actions

With records amount of federal funding, changing state policies, and new attention to indigenous equity issues, Indian tribes and tribal communities have new opportunities to equitably participate in clean energy transition and decarbonization efforts. Many challenges remain, including lack of internal capacity, lack of development support, and adverse state and utility polices. Some challenges though, tribes can resolve for themselves through the exercise of sovereign rights and authorities. This lecture will discuss these opportunities and challenges and the sovereign acts tribes can take to more fully participate in the clean energy transition for the benefit of their citizens.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y64Y7XuYXjU]

Student Q&A with Pilar Thomas

GWC hosted a lunch and learn for CU Law students, and Pilar shared her professional experiences and offered advice and guidance to students who are interested in working with Tribes and promoting renewable energy. Almost 50 students turned out for the event, which included an interesting and engaging Q&A session.

[video:https://youtu.be/ppiGdqDE1XA]

Pilar Thomas

Pilar Thomas (Pascua Yaqui) is a partner in Quarles & Brady’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group. She focuses her practice on tribal renewable energy project development and finance, tribal economic development, federal Indian Law, and natural resource development. Pilar assists clients with strategic legal advice on tribal energy policy and planning; clean energy and infrastructure project development and finance; federal and state energy regulatory, programs, and policy efforts; and federal requirements for tribal lands development. She serves as general counsel for several tribes, Section 17 and tribal business entities.

Pilar previously served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs at the US Department of Energy, where she was responsible for developing and implementing policy and program efforts within the department and federal government to promote energy development, electrification, and infrastructure improvement on tribal lands. She also is the former Deputy Solicitor of Indian Affairs for the US Department of the Interior, where she advised the Secretary, Assistant-Secretary for Indian Affairs, and other Department officials on matters related to tribes, tribal law, and federal Indian law. Ms. Thomas was Of Counsel at Lewis Roca, representing tribes on gaming and economic development matters. She also served as the Interim Attorney General and Chief of Staff for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and was a trial attorney in the US Department of Justice, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, Indian Resources Section.

Pilar serves on the NABA-AZ Board and is a past President and Secretary. She also serves on the boards for GRID Alternatives and the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law. She previously served as the Chair and Vice-Chair at large for the ABA Section on Energy, Environment and Resources Native American Resources Committee. In her spare time, Pilar teaches Indian Energy Law at both the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the University of Arizona James Rogers School of Law (but not at the same time).

She received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law, magna cum laude, with a certificate in Indian Law, and her B.A. in Economics from Stanford University.

The Schultz Lectureship in Energy

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14th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

14th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/15/2022 - 00:00

Tapestry, X’s Moonshot for the Electric Grid
Audrey Zibelman
Vice President, X’s Electric Grid Moonshot

Nations are finally committing to greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that could limit global warming. However, technical obstacles to the decarbonization of electric power could yet prevent those commitments from being realized.

The low carbon electrical grids of the future will need to be powered by millions of geographically decentralized, weather-dependent power generation assets. Today’s grids are virtually the opposite: hierarchical, centralized and concentrated. Anything less than a seamless transition from the former to the future state could significantly impact the reliability, affordability and safety of electric power that is already being challenged by climate change.

A modern data-driven grid can enable such a seamless transition. Harnessing the quadrillions of gigabytes of data generated by future connected power systems is key to real-time visibility into grid assets; to improving dispatch, reduced outages, and to our ability to simulate future scenarios optimized around the decentralized future grid.

Audrey Zibelman discusses the opportunities and challenges for governments, utilities, system operators, developers and customers of harnessing data to accelerate decarbonization policy with reliable affordable power.

14th Annual Schultz Le cture in Energy Video

CLE Accreditation Notice

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Recording of 13th Annual Schultz Lecture Now Available

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 22:18:21 +0000

Recording of 13th Annual Schultz Lecture Now Available Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/04/2021 - 15:18

13th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy: Climate Change and Innovative Paths to a Sustainable Future

Dr. Steven Chu
U.S. Secretary of Energy 2009-2013
William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Stanford University

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Multiple industrial and agricultural revolutions have profoundly transformed the world. Their unintended consequence is that we are changing the Earth’s climate. Recent data will be presented that indicates our climate is even more sensitive than previously known and is changing faster than ever before. In addition to climate risks, we face many challenges – like how to provide enough clean energy, water, air, and food to a world of 7.7 billion people (and likely to grow to 11 billion by 2100). Dr. Chu will discuss the technical challenges and potential solutions that could provide better paths to a sustainable future. How we transition from where we are now to where we need to be within 50 years is arguably the most pressing set of issues that science and innovation has had to address.

CLE accreditation notice

[video:https://youtu.be/aH7Rpb1LYI0]

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12th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 06:00:00 +0000

12th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/31/2019 - 00:00

Energy as a Locally Desirable Land Use

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Professor Hannah Wiseman

Florida State University College of Law

Energy generation is a classic example of a locally undesirable land use (LULU). Everyone needs energy, but many residents fervently oppose proposals to build a wind farm on a local mountaintop or hydraulically fracture a gas well near their neighborhood. The response is therefore typically a “not in my back yard,” or NIMBY, argument. But changes in technology, markets, and the law are making energy different from other LULUs. These changes allow communities to make more choices about the types of energy they prefer and to better address concerns about undesirable energy development within their locality. From a technological perspective, advances in energy storage and distributed (on-site) energy generation mean that large generating equipment and transmission lines can sometimes be avoided in places where there is strong opposition to these land uses. Technological changes such as horizontal drilling also allow oil and gas companies to locate miles from the target formation, thus avoiding certain surface locations. (Pipelines are still a challenge, though.) In terms of markets, energy development is moving towards economically competitive distributed solar and mid-scale renewable generation coupled with battery storage—also aided by subsidies and mandates. Finally, a range of legal solutions, such as community choice aggregation, updated building and zoning codes, locally-applicable taxes on hydraulically fractured wells, and bonding requirements increasingly empower communities to better align energy development with residents’ preferences, or, at minimum, to better address the damages of energy development.

[video:https://youtu.be/YxZ6LAKxI4k]

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11th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2019 06:00:00 +0000

11th Annual Schultz Lecture in Energy Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/16/2019 - 00:00

Climate and Energy Law in the Trump Administration

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Jody Freeman
Harvard Law School, Archibald Cox Professor of Law
Director, Environmental and Energy Law Program

Professor Freeman discusses the major policy reversals on climate and energy during the Trump administration and describe their implications and legal vulnerabilities. Among other things, she covers the administration’s rules freezing fuel efficiency standards, rescinding and replacing the clean power plan, and rolling back methane standards.

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Schultz Lectureship in Energy – 2017

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 06:00:00 +0000

Schultz Lectureship in Energy – 2017 Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 10/22/2017 - 00:00

The State of U.S. Energy Policy Following the Paris Agreement: Who is Leading?

Colette Honorable, Former FERC Commissioner, Partner Reed Smith LLP

The 2017 Schultz Lecture focused on the evolution of energy policy in the U.S. and beyond following the Paris Agreement and the 2016 presidential election. The presentation highlighted the events following the withdrawal of the U.S. from the climate accord – in particular the incredible response from grassroots organizations, local and state leaders, and industry- and the unprecedented showing of leadership from the people.

[video:https://youtu.be/wkvwCy5b4Rc]

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Schultz Lectureship in Energy 2016

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 06:00:00 +0000

Schultz Lectureship in Energy 2016 Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 09/25/2016 - 00:00

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Electrical Power Sector with Paul L. Joskow, President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, 2016

Electricity generation accounts for about 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While emissions have declined by about 20% in the last ten years, much of this reduction is due to the fortuitous availability of cheap natural gas which has provided incentives to substitute less CO₂ intensive natural gas for coal as a generation fuel. The sector faces many challenges to meet long-run 2050 goals of reducing emissions by as much as 80% from 2005 levels. These challenges include the diversity of federal, state and municipal regulation, the diverse and balkanized structure of the industry from state to state and region to region, the failure to enact policies to place a price on all carbon emissions, the extensive reliance on subsidies and command and control regulation to promote renewables and energy efficiencies, uncertainties about aggressive assumptions about improvements in energy efficiency beyond long-term trends, pre-mature closure of carbon-free nuclear-generating technologies, integrating renewables efficiently into large regional grids, methane leaks, and transmission constraints. The lecture discussed these challenges and suggests policies to reduce the costs and smooth the transition to a low carbon electricity sector.

[video:youtu.be/lLKCmaiY2ig]

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Schultz Lectureship in Energy – 2016

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 06:00:00 +0000

Schultz Lectureship in Energy – 2016 Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 09/25/2016 - 00:00

Schultz Lectureship in Energy – 2016Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Electrical Power Sector

Paul L. Joskow, President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, 2016

Electricity generation accounts for about 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While emissions have declined by about 20% in the last ten years, much of this reduction is due to the fortuitous availability of cheap natural gas which has provided incentives to substitute less CO₂ intensive natural gas for coal as a generation fuel. The sector faces many challenges to meet long run 2050 goals of reducing emissions by as much as 80% from 2005 levels. These challenges include the diversity of federal, state and municipal regulation, the diverse and balkanized structure of the industry from state to state and region to region, the failure to enact policies to place a price on all carbon emissions, the extensive reliance on subsidies and command and control regulation to promote renewables and energy efficiencies, uncertainties about aggressive assumptions about improvements in energy efficiency beyond long-term trends, pre-mature closure of carbon free nuclear generating technologies, integrating renewables efficiently into large regional grids, methane leaks, and transmission constraints. The lecture discussed these challenges and suggests policies to reduce the costs and smooth the transition to a low carbon electricity sector.

[video:https://youtu.be/lLKCmaiY2ig]

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