Blockchain and the Energy Sector: Applications and Implications

Molly Suda is the Associate General Counsel at Duke Energy Corporation.

Prior to coming to Duke Energy, Molly was a Partner at K&L Gates where she focused her practice on regulatory compliance, enforcement, and transactional matters involving electric utilities, electric transmission owners, independent power producers, power marketers, and public utility holding companies that are active in the electricity, capacity, and ancillary services markets in the United States.

Molly regularly represented clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), federal courts, and the Department of Justice and advises on issues before state public utility commissions.

Molly has represented clients in rule-making proceedings and complex energy litigation matters and counseled clients on matters including participation in organized electricity markets; compliance with regional transmission organization and independent system operator tariff requirements and market rules; transmission rates, cost allocation, and service agreements; interconnection procedures and agreements; and market-based and cost-based sales of energy.

Molly also focuses on the regulatory implications of integrating distributed energy resources and energy storage into wholesale energy and capacity markets, as well as issues associated with applications of blockchain technology in the energy industry.

Molly has experience in defending against investigations of alleged violations of the laws and rules administered and enforced by FERC. She also advises clients on regulatory matters associated with the acquisition, sale, and development of generation and transmission assets.

Michael Brooks focuses his practice in the areas of energy, commodities and derivatives law. He represents energy companies and commodity trading companies in a wide variety of commercial, regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters and routinely advises clients regarding federal rules and regulations governing the trading, ownership, transportation and transmission of energy commodities. His counsel includes advising clients regarding emerging technologies and related privacy, cybersecurity, commercial and regulatory issues.

In addition to actively representing clients in investigations and regulatory matters involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and designated contract markets such as CME Group and ICE Futures U.S., Michael conducts internal compliance reviews and trainings, works with clients to develop effective compliance programs and collaborates with commercial teams to structure large commodity transactions and acquisitions to comply with FERC and CFTC regulations. He also advises clients regarding compliance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) petroleum market manipulation regulations.

Ms. Elefant is founder and principal attorney in the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant (LOCE). Prior to founding LOCE Ms. Elefant worked as an associate attorney for the law firm of Duncan and Allen, a national energy boutique located in Washington D.C. from 1990-1993 and served as an attorney advisor with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 1988 to 1990. In addition, from 1994 through 1997, Ms. Elefant held an adjunct faculty position with the University of Maryland University College Paralegal Studies Program where she taught contract law.