With the emergence of nuclear energy in the 1940s and 1950s came the Atomic Energy Commission and the first federally enforced energy laws and regulation. With the gas and oil embargo and energy crisis of the 1970s came the US Department of Energy and energy laws regulating the gas and oil industries. With the volatility of the gas and oil marketplace at the turn of the millennium came emerging energy resources and, as a result, an expanding number of energy law firms and lawyers specializing in the energy industry.

All of the above, in turn, have spawned types of state-specific energy laws, such as:

1. State energy statutes.
2. State Supreme Court energy law opinions.
3. State specific energy tax laws.
4. State energy municipal codes and ordinances.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Visit state government and legal organization websites to find state energy law statutes

Energy law statutes are passed by a state's legislature and signed into law by a state governor.

I recommend: If you're an energy attorney litigating in a state other than your home base, a US government federally funded project, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), is a primary information resource reporting energy standards, rules, regulations, and policies for all states. DSIRE offers access to information about state-specific energy laws and agencies via a clickable online map of the United States. This US Department of Energy website offers a clickable online map with state-by-state alternative vehicle fuel law and energy incentives.

Find interstate energy advocacy organizations and agencies for energy law information

There are interstate organizations acting in cooperation as energy law information resources and energy law support services.

I recommend: Find the regulatory utility commission for your state at the website for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). NARUC specifically offers information on federal legal filings and resolutions on behalf of state regulatory utility commissioners. NARUC also makes available white papers and other information affecting state energy laws. Supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Compliance Assistance Program (ENVCAP) is a nonprofit organization helping industries comply with environmental regulations. ENVCAP offers an extensive state-by-state environmental information resource locator feature. For additional state-specific energy law information, go to the US Department of Energy website to find DOE offices in your state.

Find state specific lawyers with energy law practices

Websites of nonprofit legal organizations should be at least a starting point for energy law information and recommendations of energy lawyers and energy law firms near your locale.

I recommend: The American Bar Association (ABA) provides information about state-specific energy laws and agencies accessible via a clickable region-by-region online map of the United States. Energy Bar Association (EBA) is a nonprofit association of energy attorneys. For those involved in litigation regarding energy law, EBA provides pro bono services from energy lawyers. FindLaw, Thomson Reuters' online legal information service, offers a nationwide list of energy law practices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  State utility commissioners oversee energy law regulation of their individual state's electricity, gas, telecommunications, water and transportation services.
• •  ABA's Environment, Energy and Resources division also offers environmental public energy law service projects.