As AAPL continues its efforts to broaden educational offerings to include emerging energy sources, the Education Committee recognized the importance of addressing this request with neutrality, accuracy and a focus on what energy professionals need to know. The committee developed this seminar in direct response to an AAPL member’s request for a clear, fact-based discussion on the realities of renewable energy — beyond the hype and headlines.
The session begins with an informative presentation by Woody Rickerson, senior vice president and chief operating officer at ERCOT. His recent talks on ERCOT’s fuel mix offer a grounded look at how electricity is truly generated and dispatched in Texas. From natural gas to wind, solar and other resources, he will explore what keeps the lights on, what it costs and what rising grid demand — driven in part by rapid data-center growth — means for the future.
Following this session, a panel featuring Jared Ware, Railroad Commission of Texas and Ben Sebree, General Counsel for the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance, will examine how regulation is evolving for geothermal energy — the emerging resource that resonates most strongly with AAPL’s historically petroleum-focused membership. Their discussion will highlight permitting considerations, anticipated commission approaches, spacing and allocation concepts and early legal questions surrounding geothermal as a surface-based interest with dominant-estate characteristics.
The program will conclude with an open Q&A, bringing Mr. Rickerson back together with the panelists for a practical, forward-looking conversation on where Texas energy is headed — and what land professionals need to understand as the resource mix and regulatory landscape continue to evolve.
Woody Rickerson
Benjamin Sebree
