AGENDA: Drafting Model Laws on Indoor Pollution for Developing and Developed Nations

On July 12 and 13, 2012, experts convened at Colorado Law to demonstrate the extent to which a model law could help address the global problem of indoor air pollution from inefficient cook stoves. The air pollution that results from inefficiently burning biomass as fuel for cooking has serious health and climatic consequences. The workshop produced two sets of Model Laws and commentaries to help nations solve the problem, and the commentaries were published in the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Review

Modeling EV charging demands and comparing cost-effective fleet charging strategies

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) presents significant challenges for power grid management, potentially increasing global electricity demand by 5% annually. This thesis addresses the critical need for accurate EV charging demand forecasting to optimize infrastructure and manage load variations. Utilizing real-time data from 850 EVs in the "Charge the North" program (2017-2019), we analyze charging session trends and identify key correlations to enhance predictive accuracy. We employ and compare state-of-the-art deep learning models, including N-BEATS (Neural Basis Expansion Analysis for Time Series Forecasting), N-HiTS (Neural Hierarchical Interpolation for Time Series Forecasting), and PatchTST (Patch Time Series Transformer), to forecast EV charging demands up to a month in advance. Our results demonstrate the superior performance of the PatchTST model in accurately predicting daily aggregated charging demands. Building on these findings, this thesis evaluates cost-effective fleet charging strategies by comparing public charging stations and battery swapping stations, using Amazon's last-mile electric delivery fleet as a case study. This analysis provides valuable insights for utilities and policymakers, aiding in the development of efficient and economically viable solutions for large-scale EV fleet integration. By examining load prediction, infrastructure costs, and infrastructure planning, optimal approaches are identified to manage increased EV charging demands while minimizing strain on the existing power infrastructure.Energy and Earth Resource

Coalbed Methane Development in Indonesia: Design and Economic Analysis of Upstream Petroleum Fiscal Policy

Due to increasing demand for natural gas in Indonesia, the Government now promotes exploration for coalbed methane (CBM). Currently, Indonesia has 453 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of CBM reserves. However, CBM development in the country is still in the exploration phase, with significant under-investment. To attract investors, a tailored Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) regime is required. Based on a combination of Factor Analysis (FA), Discounted Cash Flows (DCF) and Parameter Sensitivity Analysis, the research explores an optimal scenario of a company’s share of revenue that optimised CBM development contracts. We find that a combination of 5 years straight line depreciation (SLD), 5% First Tranche Petroleum (FTP), 78% Contractor Share (CS) and 35% income tax best spreads the risk of CBM development and exploitation between the government and the contractor. This combination is a more suitable PSC regime for developing CBM in an early stage of the industry. Therefore, the Government must cede some taxes during exploration to incentivise CBM development. Three PSCs regimes are thus required to fully develop and exploit CBM, including exploration, transitional and exploitation phase PSCs which better match contractor risks and returns and ensure reasonable certainty of contractor cost recovery

Watershed Planning and Management in Colorado

9 pages. Introduction -- The watershed approach in Colorado -- Moving to the next level : implementation of the BIPs -- Possible next steps -- Conclusion.https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1183/thumbnail.jp

AGENDA: A Celebration of the Work of Charles Wilkinson: Served with Tasty Stories and Some Slices of Roast

Conference held at the University of Colorado, Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom, Thursday, March 10th and Friday, March 11th, 2016. Conference moderators, panelists and speakers included University of Colorado Law School professors Phil Weiser, Sarah Krakoff, William Boyd, Kristen Carpenter, Britt Banks, Harold Bruff, Richard Collins, Carla Fredericks, Mark Squillace, and Charles Wilkinson We celebrate the work of Distinguished Professor Charles Wilkinson, a prolific and passionate writer, teacher, and advocate for the people and places of the West. Charles\u27s influence extends beyond place, yet his work has always originated in a deep love of and commitment to particular places. We honor Charles\u27s work in the same way he approached it, by starting with place and expanding to include the entire country. We will close by coming back home to Boulder, where we are fortunate to call Charles a friend, colleague, and mentor

AGENDA: Arizona v. California at 50: The Legacy and Future of Governance, Reserved Rights, and Water Transfers

The Colorado River is an economic, environmental and cultural lifeline of the southwestern United States, and the allocation of its scarce waters are a source of ongoing controversy. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. California. While the case was an important landmark in the still-evolving relationship between these two Lower Basin states, it remains most relevant today by the way in which it clarified federal rights and responsibilities. This is especially true in the areas of federal (including tribal) reserved rights, the role of the Interior Secretary in Lower Basin water management, and the ability of Congress to allocate/reallocate water. It also modified the Upper Basin/Lower Basin relationship in important ways, especially in the treatment of Lower Basin tributaries. Moving forward, several types of potential management innovations—in areas such as governance and water transfers—will hinge on the framework outlined by this decision