Established in 2011, Energy & Conservation Law is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to providing ongoing, free, experienced, and specialized legal services to communities in the western United States grappling with various environmental threats, such as uranium mining and milling, alongside other activities linked to the non-renewable energy sector. Over the years, they have represented over 20 clients in notable cases against uranium exploitation on public lands, especially in Colorado, where they have successfully thwarted all proposed uranium mining plans to date. By initiating legal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other relevant laws, Energy & Conservation Law has secured several injunctions against miners, protecting both local communities and the natural environment of the western region.
Energy & Conservation Law has been fighting against the reopening of uranium mills in Colorado. In the picture, a former uranium mill in the state. (Photo: Flickr/Sarah Kanouse – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Energy & Conservation Law features one full-time attorney on staff who often collaborates with nonprofit law firms and co-counsels with other attorneys within client organizations to advance their cases. The organization has participated in notable cases, including litigation over the reopening of uranium mines in western Colorado and efforts from organizations such as Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste to shut down a uranium mill in Canyon City. They also support clients with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by presenting a credible threat of litigation to enhance their chances of obtaining information from government agencies for their environmental campaigns. Energy & Conservation Law demonstrates a long-term commitment to the organizations they support, as environmental court cases can last 15 to 20 years. Their work is essential for small organizations and communities to pursue the legal procedures needed to achieve their goals of protecting people and nature.
Travis Stills, founder of Energy & Conservation Law, is the sole staff member of the organization. Photo: Courtesy of Travis Stills