Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL)

The Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL) degree program focuses on law and policy governing energy use, production, and transmission. VLGS master’s degrees are one-year programs designed for those who do not seek a professional law degree. Students can complete the 30-credit program in as little as 12 months but can take up to five years to obtain their degree. Our focus is on the energy policy of the future.

Taught by faculty associated with Vermont Law and Graduate School’s highly respected Institute for Energy and the Environment, the MERL program is focused on law and policy governing energy use, production, and transmission. You will develop a broad-based understanding of the intersection of energy and law, regulation, policy, and economic analysis. You will also receive practical training in public advocacy and writing for a legal and policy audience, opportunities for independent research with support from faculty, and can participate in externships at organizations that will prepare you to address the immediate challenges and opportunities facing energy regulation nationally and across the globe. The MERL can be completed fully online. Learn more about online learning opportunities.

At a glance

• Program Center: Institute for Energy and the Environment
• Location: Online, on-campus, or a hybrid of both
• Credit Requirements: 30 credits

• Legal Literacy: Graduates will be able to evaluate energy and environmental law and policy.
• Legal Institutions: Graduates will be able to effectively engage the institutions and individuals that influence energy law and policy.
• Historical Context: Graduates will be able to apply historical context knowledge to address current issues and trends in energy regulatory policy.
• Social, Economic, and Ecological Influences: Graduates will be able to analyze the social, economic, and ecological impacts of energy law and policy.
• Problem Solving: Graduates will be able to formulate solutions to energy law and policy issues.
• Professionalism: Graduates will be able to work effectively in a professional work environment within and across diverse groups of people with varying backgrounds and perspectives in the energy sector.
• Project Management: Graduates, through exposure to applied writing, integrated project, and experiential learning opportunities, will be able to devise and implement solutions to energy law and policy issues.

Vermont Law and Graduate School master's graduates are the leaders, policymakers, and professionals our communities and our world most desperately need. Master’s alumni careers include:

• Manager, Policy Research, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
• Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs, Mass Municipal Wholesale Electric Co.
• Policy and Technology Specialist for Distributed Energy Resources, Center for Sustainable Energy
• Associate Project Manager, Solar Development, NextEra Energy Resources
• Legal and Regulatory Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Energy and Climate Specialist, Dane County Wisconsin
• Researcher/Utility Analyst, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
• Energy Analyst, Vermont Department of Public Service
• Manager of Regulatory Compliance, Stowe Electric Department
• Energy Consultant and Environmental Advocate, Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
• Senior Policy Analyst, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
• Regulatory Project Manager, Vermont Energy Investment Corp.

Degree Requirements

Required courses are subject to change.

30 credits

Required Courses

All of the following courses:

• ENV5226 Energy Law and Policy in a Carbon-Constrained World 3
• ENV5228 Energy Regulation, Markets, and the Environment 3
• ENV5220 Environmental Economics and Markets 3
• REQ7186 Legislation and Regulation Survey 3

Project/Writing Requirement

May choose one of the following courses:

• CLI9427 Energy Clinic 3-6
• CLI9437 Advanced Energy Clinic 3-6
• ENV5303 Advanced Energy Writing Seminar 2
• Independent Research Project or AWR on an energy topic 4-10
• MERL Externship 4-10
• Participation in the Institute for Energy and the Environment research associate program

Energy Electives

At least six (6) credits from the following energy elective courses:

• ENV5230 Global Energy Law and Policy 2
• ENV5344 Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy 3
• ENV5375 Global Energy Justice 2
• ENV5468 Oil and Gas Production and the Environment 2
• ENV5469 Oil and Gas Development and the Environment 3
• ENV5550 Renewable Energy Project Finance and Development 2
• ENV5510 Essentials of the Electric Grid - Engineering 1
• ENV5511 Essentials of the Electric Grid - Business 1
• ENV5512 Essentials of the Electric Grid - Legal 1
• ENV5492 Renewable Energy Law and Policy 2

The remaining electives may be chosen from the courses and experiential options listed above and from the following list of approved courses.

Elective Courses

• ADR6405 Arbitration 2
• ADR6410 Alternative Dispute Resolution 3
• ADR6412 Mediation 2
• ADR6415 Environmental Dispute Resolution 3
• ADR6420 Negotiation 2
• ADR6450 Advanced Dispute Resolution Writing Seminar 2
• BUS6262 Social Enterprise Law 2
• BUS6305 Non-Profit Organizations 3
• BUS6350 Non-Profit Management 2
• CLI9302 Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic (JD or LLM students only) 6
• CLI9326 Advanced Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic (JD or LLM only) 6
• CLI9405 Dispute Resolution Clinic I 4
• CLI9427 Energy Clinic 4
• CLI9428 Food and Agriculture Clinic 4
• CLI9437 Advanced Energy Clinic 4
• CLI9450 Land Use Clinic (JD or LLM students only) 6
• DIV7620 Native Americans and the Law 3
• DIV7628 Indian Tribes as Government Stewards of the Environment 2
• ENV5105 Administrative Law 3
• ENV5108 Introduction to Agriculture and Food Law and Policy 3
• ENV5112 Science for Environmental Law 3
• ENV5115 Environmental Law 3
• ENV5125 Land Use Regulation 3
• ENV5205 Air Pollution Law and Policy 3
• ENV5209 The Law of Toxics and Hazardous Substances 3
• ENV5210 CERCLA Liability and Cleanup 3
• ENV5212 Climate Change and the Law 3
• ENV5220 Environmental Economics and Markets 3
• ENV5223 Environmental Governance in the Developing World 2
• ENV5226 Energy Law and Policy in a Carbon-Constrained World 3
• ENV5228 Energy Regulation, Markets and the Environment 3
• ENV5229 Environmental Issues in Business 3
• ENV5230 Global Energy Law and Policy 2
• ENV5235 Natural Resources Law 3
• ENV5239 Land Transactions and Finance 3
• ENV5245 Water Resources Management 3
• ENV5246 Water Quality 3
• ENV5250 Watershed Management and Protection 3
• ENV5303 Advanced Energy Writing Seminar 2
• ENV5305 Environmental Ethics 2
• ENV5306 Comparative Environmental Law Research 2
• ENV5310 Environmental Health Law 2
• ENV5335 Extinction and Climate Change 2
• ENV5336 Climate Change, Extinction and Adaptation 2
• ENV5342 Legal Adaptations to Global Warming 2
• ENV5343 Climate Change Adaptation in Human Systems 2
• ENV5344 Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy 2
• ENV5346 New Frontiers in Environmental Policies 2
• ENV5349 Regulating the Marine Environment 2
• ENV5350 Risk Assessment 2
• ENV5356 Scientific Controversies 2
• ENV5365 Climate Change: the Power of Taxes 2
• ENV5375 Global Energy Justice 2
• ENV5380 Food Regulation and Policy 3
• ENV5381 Local Farm and Food Law in Practice 3
• ENV5383 Food Justice & Sustainability 3
• ENV5401 Agriculture and the Environment 3
• ENV5405 Ecosystem Conservation Strategies 2
• ENV5406 Animal Rights Jurisprudence 2
• ENV5408 The Law of Animals in Agriculture 2
• ENV5410 The Farm Bill 2
• ENV5411 Federal Regulation of Food and Agriculture 2
• ENV Representing Farmers and Food Producers
• ENV5423 Ocean and Coastal Law 3
• ENV5430 Ecology 3
• ENV5446 Environmental Justice 2
• ENV5449 Environmental Litigation Workshop 2
• ENV5462 Public Lands Management: Montana Field Study 3
• ENV5468 Oil and Gas Production and the Environment 2
• ENV5474 Land Conservation Law 2
• ENV5478 Global Food Security and Social Justice 2
• ENV5479 Law and Policy of Local Food Systems 2
• ENV5500 Environmental Aspects of Business Transactions 2
• ENV5510 Essentials of the Electric Grid: Engineering 1
• ENV5521 Earth Law 2
• ENV5540 Public Health and Food and Agriculture Policy 2
• ENV5561 Environmental Enforcement and Compliance 2
• ENV5564 Peace, War and the Environment 2
• ENV5561 Environmental Enforcement and Compliance 2
• ENV Animal Welfare Law
• GPP7819 Environmental Issues in Business Transactions (JD students only) 2
• INT7412 Law of the European Union 2
• INT7414 European Union Law Trento 2
• INT7421 International Environmental Law and Policy 3
• INT7440 Comparative U.S.-China Environmental Law 2
• INT7445 European Community Environmental Law 2
• INT7446 International Trade and the Environment 2
• INT7450 International Investment Arbitration and the Environment 2
• JUR7307 Culture and the Environment 2
• JUR7330 Moral Philosophy for Professionals 2
• JUR7333 Animal Law and Ethics 3
• PUB7510 Legislation 3
• PUB7525 Legislative Clinic 6
• WRI7380 Advanced Environmental Legal Research 1