MEDIA ADVISORY

  

For release       August 15, 2008

 

Contact:           Diane Lancaster Gibes, Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario,

702-792-7024 or dgibes@kkbrf.com

 

Nevada Utility and Energy Lawyer Kathleen Drakulich To Provide

Luncheon Address at UNLV Renewable Energy Symposium on Aug. 20

 

Energizing Renewable Technology: Policy, Permitting and Politics

 

WHAT:  Longtime Nevada utility and energy attorney Kathleen Drakulich will be the luncheon speaker at the 2008 UNLV Renewable Energy Symposium in Las Vegas on August 20 presenting on the topic Energizing Renewable Technology: Policy, Permitting and Politics.  

 

Drawing on 12 years of experience as a utility lawyer for Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Resources and currently working with clients worldwide to bring renewable energy projects to the U.S. market, Drakulich will discuss the regulatory and political landscape and how it intersects with the many facets, processes and stakeholders involved in moving forward a renewable energy project from the early stages of development to a fully operational power generation facility.   

 

WHO: Kathleen Drakulich works with local, national and international entities that are developing renewable energy facilities including biomass, biogas, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and solar resources. She is experienced in all aspects of the construction of utility facilities including the negotiation of contracts for the purchase and supply of gas, water, energy and renewable energy. She provides counsel on a wide range of utility matters including electric rate case applications, resource plans filings, deferred energy filings, environmental permitting and line extensions. (Expanded biography for Drakulich is available on page two.)

 

WHEN:  August 20, 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

 

WHERE: The Stan Fulton/IGI Building located on the UNLV campus at the corner of Flamingo

 Road and Swenson Road. 

 

PARKING: Media may park in the lots surrounding the Stan Fulton/IGI Building and the

nearby Boys and Girls Club. Overflow parking will also be available in the garage off of Cottage Grove Avenue, adjacent the Foundation Building.  For a map, please visit http://osep.unlv.edu/Esy2008/map2.jpg

 

Drakulich Luncheon Speaker/2

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEDIA:  The conference is sold-out, however, there are still media passes available.  Please RSVP to Diane Gibes at 702.792.7024 or Megan Hutsell of UNLV at 895.5883 to register for the luncheon.  If you would like to schedule an interview with Kathleen, please contact Diane who will help with the arrangements.  Please advise of any special technical requirements. 

 

CONFERENCE BACKGROUND:  In its second year, the symposium (http://osep.unlv.edu/Esy2008/) is presented by UNLV’s Office of Strategic Energy Programs and co-sponsored by the Division of Research and Graduate Studies.  Focusing on renewable energy production in Nevada, the U.S. Southwest and renewable research projects nationwide, the symposium is expected to again draw researchers, educators, students, policy makers, the private sector, and general public for a full day of presentations and discussions on renewable energy sources.

 

DRAKULICH BACKGROUND:  Kathleen M. Drakulich is a partner of the statewide law firm of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario (www.kkbrf.com). She has been practicing law in excess of 20 years. Immediately prior to coming to the firm, Drakulich served as assistant general counsel for nearly 12 years for Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company, Nevada’s two largest utility companies. With more than 15 years in the utility industry, Ms. Drakulich counsels clients on matters related to the procurement, supply, pricing, permitting and construction of facilities related to energy, renewable energy, gas and water.

 

Drakulich currently represents clients that require legal support on all aspects of the construction of utility facilities including the negotiation of contracts for the purchase and supply of gas, water, energy and renewable energy. She provides counsel on a wide range of utility matters including electric rate case applications, resource plans filings, deferred energy filings, environmental permitting and line extensions. Her clients also include entities seeking assistance with transactions that involve water service and water rights and local, national and international entities that are developing renewable energy facilities including biomass, biogas, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar resources. She also represents entities in Nevada seeking permits from local, state and federal governmental entities and counsels the firm’s legislative team at each legislative session on water, gas and energy issues.

 

As associate general counsel for Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company from 1993 through 2004, Drakulich served as lead counsel for the utilities’ general rate cases, large customer open access applications, environmental permitting applications, renewable energy initiatives and a large variety of other regulatory matters. In addition, Drakulich served as lead in-house legislative counsel for both utilities and was actively involved in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 Nevada legislative sessions.  Drakulich is a member of the Board of Directors, Audit and Finance Committees for Renown Health. She also is on the Board of Directors for their South Meadows facility.  Drakulich is a member of the Clark County and Washoe County Bar Associations and the State Bar of Nevada.