GridNEXT 2019 Speaker

Over 32 years of his career, Scott has focused his practice on energy and the environment.  As a partner in nationally known large law firms, he has worked with clients to solve regulatory challenges and to capitalize on emerging technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, blockchain, artificial intelligence and energy storage. He now has his own law firm.

Scott graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and was the Articles Editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review.  He taught Climate Change Law at the University of Texas Law School for four years and published a book entitled Carbon Trading Law and Practice.

In the energy context, Scott has worked with clients on electricity generation projects totaling more than $5 billion, including over 55 solar projects, wind projects, distributed solar leases, power purchase agreements, energy efficiency and storage contracts, over 45 ground leases for solar farms, anaerobic digestion projects, and landfill gas to energy projects.

Back to GridNEXT 2019 Dallas Agenda

NOVEMBER 2019: TREIA Members Answer Real Questions

Q&A with Scott Deatherage

By Peter Kelly-Detwiler - Storyteller in Residence

We are starting a new section in our newsletter this month: a Proust Questionnaire-type segment that focuses on Texas and cleantech. And we couldn’t think of a better member to have answer the questions first than Scott Deatherage of TREIA member Deatherage Law in Dallas. He not only was selected Chair of TREIA’s new Dallas Chapter, he is showing his leadership skills by heading up efforts to gel next week’s GridNEXT event in Dallas on November 12. Moreover, his law firm was recently elected among the “Best Law Firms 2020” by U.S. News & World Report.

Below Scott reveals his admiration for Greta Thunberg, Texas’ role as a beacon for other states, and his love of family.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 100% renewable energy of course! As we face the current and future threat of climate change, we all should be working toward a low carbon future. Renewable energy and energy storage and their declining prices are leading to cheaper, cleaner energy. With electric vehicles in terms of passenger cars and now trucks on or coming on the market, we can use renewable energy and energy storage to produce 100% renewable energy for transportation. 

What is your greatest fear? That we won’t reach 100% renewable energy for my children and grandchildren. If you have not watched or listened to Greta Thunberg’s challenge to those at the United Nations or her general challenge to the generations that preceded hers that we need to act now and address the causes of climate change, you really need to listen to her as a speaker for the younger generations and all those to come.

When you think of Texas, what do you think? I think of a growing and dynamic place, economy, and society. With our “can do” spirit we can be a beacon for the world in the transition to a renewable society and economy and electrified transportation.

What was your worst job? Working at big law firms where fellow partners questioned climate science and adopted the denialism of the fossil fuel industry. One of the reasons I left large law firms as I perceived the difficulty in pursuing a career in law and business based on environmental, climate action, and renewable principles. As I continue to practice law and engage in entrepreneurial work in renewable energy, electric vehicle charging, and other areas in this area, I am convinced at some point in your life you have to “damn the torpedoes” and pursue your passion and purpose in life.

Which talent would you like to have? To convince the world of the urgent need to transform our economy from a “fossil fuel” capitalism to a “renewable capitalism.” We need to move capital into the low carbon technologies that are already available and invest in new ones that will address the need to become a low carbon economy

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Marrying my wife and having two wonderful children. I hope to show them how passion, purpose, and career can go hand in hand, especially my children.

What is your greatest wish for Texas? That we can use all the talent, resources, and capital available to use to not only be the biggest wind state but become the largest solar and energy storage state and a leading electric vehicle state.

What trait do you value most in a friend? Loyalty and honesty.

What would be your ideal job within the Renewables & Environment sector? To form a renewable private equity fund that provides capital to those sectors of renewable energy and business that are not being served with capital providers. To help environmental, renewable energy, and energy storage companies and technologies establish themselves to bring low carbon technologies to development and distribution in our economy.

Which technology will ultimately win: wind or solar, and why? Neither or both. Both bring certain advantages to an economy. Texas is blessed with both large wind and solar resources. As energy storage becomes cheaper, predicted to drop from $187 to $87 per kWh, we’ll see this technology spread to wind and solar farms and to distributed resources in terms of solar plus storage. The economic growth and job creation will be massive. We’ll see that cheaper, cleaner electricity and transportation will continue to contribute to economic growth.

How long have you been a Texan – and do you miss anything from your home state? I moved to Texas in 1987 after graduating from Harvard Law School. I grew up in Oklahoma City. I miss the kind and wonderful people that made up the state and the skies that are not cloudy all day.

What’s your profession, and what differentiates you from your competition? I am an environmental and energy attorney. I think creative problem solving and understanding problems holistically. I have a broad education in science, history, philosophy, and literature that preceded my legal education. Combining that education with 32 years of experience in law and the business world helps me work with clients to solve sometimes what appear to be intractable problems.

Why did you become a member of TREIA? I joined TREIA because it is the leading voice for the future of energy in Texas from renewable energy and storage but also just the evolution of the grid, the introduction of distributed energy at scale, and electric vehicles to replace polluting vehicles. The people who manage the organization to its members are a great support system for those of us in the industry and who are looking to get into the business.