Environmental Review of Energy Facilities in Minnesota

Please note that this is event is on the FIRST Wednesday of March.

Deadline to Register:  Monday, February 27, 2017

John Wachtler recently became the Director of the Energy Environmental Review and Analysis Group at the Department of Commerce.  Mr. Wachtler will give an overview of the environmental review required under Minnesota law for proposed energy facilities in Minnesota.  Mr. Wachtler will detail how the type of review varies depending on the type and size of project involved, including a summary of the current large pipeline permitting process and the recent complications.

Please join us for lunch beginning at Noon, followed by the program from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Box lunch will be provided.  Special meal requests need to be received no later than Monday, January 16.

Presenter:

John Wachtler

John is the Director of the Energy Environmental Review and Analysis Group at the Minnesota Department of Commerce.  The Public Utilities Commission is responsible for reviewing permit applications for large new natural gas and oil pipelines, transmission lines, fossil-fuel fired power plants, as well as large wind and solar projects in Minnesota.  The Department of Commerce is responsible for preparing the environmental impact statements and other environmental analyses required for these permits on behalf of the Public Utilities Commission.  John has a degree in civil engineering and a law degree from the University of Minnesota. Prior to starting his current position at the Department of Commerce in February 2016, John was a Vice President at Barr Engineering Company.