This course examines the federal regulation of the natural resources used in the production, distribution and consumption of energy. It explores the basic ideas behind government regulation and the basic concepts of energy law and policy in the context of decision making and policy-making processes. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and considers the economic, legal, political and ethical dimensions of energy law.

The course is comprised of three parts. Part I is Decision-Making and Policy-Making Structures and presents the necessary background for the course. It presents basic economic and political concepts and analyzes the legal framework in which energy law and policies are made. Part II is Decision-Making Methodologies and examines two analytic tools, rate making and cost-risk-benefit analysis, which are used to make decisions involving public policy. Part III is Energy Resources and applies the concepts in the first two parts to specific natural resources. A detailed examination is made of oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear power, hydropower, electricity and alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal and synthetic fuels.