Uma Outka

- Associate Dean, Faculty
- William R. Scott Law Professor
Contact Info
Personal Links
Biography —
Professor Uma Outka works at the intersection of energy law and environmental law. Her scholarship explores the legal context for energy transition, with particular interests in energy and environmental justice, renewable energy, electricity regulation, and decarbonization of the electric grid.
Outka joined the KU Law faculty in 2011 and assumed the role of Associate Dean for Faculty in 2019. She is an Affiliate Faculty member of KU's Environmental Studies Program, Center for Environmental Policy, and Institute for Social and Policy Research. Her scholarship has appeared in book chapters and law journals, including Vanderbilt Law Review, Ecology Law Quarterly, Wake Forest University Law Review, and the Stanford Environmental Law Journal. This work has earned her a number of distinctions - she was selected as the University of Utah's Stegner Center Young Scholar (2018), delivered the Norman Williams Distinguished Lecture in Land Use Planning and the Law at the Vermont Law School (2017), and her article, State Lands in Modern Public Land Law, was recognized as one of the five best works of environmental scholarship in 2017. In recognition of her scholarly record, she was named the William R. Scott Law Professor in 2019.
Outka teaches courses in environmental law, property, energy law, environmental justice, and climate change law and policy at KU Law, and she has also had the opportunity to teach in other settings. She has served as Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Hawaii's Summer Environmental Law Program (2019) and as a Visiting Professor at the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur, India (2018). She was recognized as a teacher by the KU Law student body with the Moreau Faculty Award (2013) and by the law school with the Immel Award for Teaching Excellence (2019).
Before coming to KU Law, Outka spent two years as a Visiting Scholar in Energy and Land Use Law at the Florida State University College of Law. Outka previously served as General Counsel for 1000 Friends of Florida, a non-profit advocacy organization focused on growth management, environmental conservation and affordable housing, and worked as a litigation attorney in private practice with a large northeast law firm, Verrill Dana, LLP in Portland, Maine. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, and holds a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from the Muskie School of Public Service.
Education —
summa cum laude
Research —
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Justice
- Property
- Climate Change Law
- Land Use Law
- Natural Resources Law
Research Interests
- Environmental Law
- Energy Law
- Property
- Climate Change Law
- Environmental Justice
- Land Use Law
- Natural Resources Law
Admitted
Maine, 2005 (inactive); Florida, 2008 (active).
Career History
Associate Dean for Faculty, University of Kansas School of Law, 2019-present; Professor of Law, University of Kansas School of Law, 2017- present; Associate Professor, University of Kansas School of Law, 2011-17; Visiting Scholar in Energy and Land Use Law, Florida State University College of Law, 2009-11; General Counsel, 1000 Friends of Florida, 2007-09; Associate, Verrill Dana LLP, 2005-07.
Teaching —
Environmental Law; Energy Law & Policy; Property; Environmental Justice; Climate Change and the Law.
Teaching Interests
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Property
- Climate Law
- Land Use
- Environmental Justice
- Sustainable Development
- Natural Resources Law
Selected Publications —
- Renewable Energy Siting in the Critical Decade, 69 KANSAS LAW REVIEW 101 (Symposium) (2021)
- Local Autonomy and Energy Law: Introduction, 36 JOURNAL OF LAND USE & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 1 (Symposium) (2020)
- Accelerating Energy Transition in India: A Comparative Perspective, 50 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 10459 (2020)
- “100 Percent Renewable:” Corporate Pledges and State Energy Law, UTAH LAW REVIEW (2019) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3240349
- Fairness in the Low-Carbon Shift: Learning from Environmental Justice, 82 BROOKLYN LAW REVIEW 789-824 (2017) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2989256
- State Lands in Modern Public Land Law, 36 STANFORD ENVIRONMENTAL LAW JOURNAL 147-217 (2017) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3028901
- Cities and the Low-Carbon Grid, 46 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 101-54 (2016) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2765125
- The Obama Administration’s Clean Air Act Legacy and the UNFCCC, 48 CASE WESTERN RESERVE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 1-17 (2016) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2740678
- Prospects for Public Power and Distributed Renewable Energy, 45 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 10537-42 (2015)
- Intrastate Preemption in the Shifting Energy Sector, 86 COLORADO LAW REVIEW 927-90 (2015) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2493957
- Legal Regimes for Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry in the United States, Book Chapter in G. VAN CALSTER & W. VANDENBERGHE, EDS., RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION LAW 321-343 (Edward Elgar 2015)
- Environmental Law and Fossil Fuels: Barriers to Renewable Energy, 65 VANDERBILT LAW REVIEW 1679-1721 (2012) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2130289
- Environmental Justice in the Renewable Energy Transition, 19 JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY LAW 60-122 (2012) (Inaugural Issue) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2153118
- The Energy-Land Use Nexus, 27 JOURNAL OF LAND USE & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 245-57 (2012) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1975007
- Local Promise for Climate Mitigation: An Empirical Assessment (with Richard Feiock), 36 WILLIAM & MARY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY REVIEW 635-70 (2012) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1924985
- The Renewable Energy Footprint, 30 STANFORD ENVIRONMENTAL LAW JOURNAL 241-309 (2011) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1711891
- Siting Renewable Energy: Land Use and Regulatory Context, 37 ECOLOGY LAW QUARTERLY 1041-1105 (2010) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1567077
- NEPA and Environmental Justice: Integration, Implementation, and Judicial Review, 33 BOSTON COLLEGE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS LAW REVIEW 601-25 (2006) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1559183
Selected Presentations —
Public Utility Symposium, Financial Research Institute, University of Missouri (Nov. 2020) (organized remotely due to pandemic)
- Panel Presenter, “Legal Forces Driving Public Utility Regulatory Policy Redesign and Innovation”
“Accelerating Clean Energy: The Next Decade of Reform," Kansas Law Review Symposium, University of Kansas School of Law (Oct. 2020) (organized remotely due to pandemic)
- Presenter, “Renewable Energy Siting in the Critical Decade”
Energy Law and Ethics Research Workshop, Energy Law Institute/Centre for Commercial Law Studies, University of London, Lincoln’s Inn Field Campus, London, UK (June 2020) (organized remotely due to pandemic)
- Presenter, “Ethical Drivers to Overcoming Barriers to Renewable Energy”
Association of American Law Schools, Environmental Law Section, Washington, D.C. (Jan. 2020)
- Panel Presenter, “Reversing Course on Environmental Justice Under the Trump Administration”
Renewable Energy Capstone Colloquium, University of Florida Levin College of Law (Feb. 2019)
- Presenter, “Situating ‘100 Percent Renewable’ Goals in the Low-Carbon Transition”
10th Annual Energy Law Symposium, Texas A&M University School of Law (Feb. 2019)
- Presenter, “Between Markets and Regulation – Electricity Governance in Transition”
Faculty Speaker Series, University of Minnesota Law School (Jan. 2019)
- Presenter, “100 Percent Renewable: Corporate Pledges and State Energy Law”
Association of American Law Schools, Open Source Program Panel, New Orleans, LA (Jan. 2019)
- Panel Presenter, “Contributions of Energy Justice to Energy Reform Discourse”
Stegner Young Scholar Lecture, Wallace Stegner Center, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (Nov. 2018)
- Plenary Lecture, “State Energy Law for a Modern Low-Carbon Grid”
Self Graduate Fellows Lecture, University of Kansas (Apr. 2018)
- Plenary Lecture, “Recent Developments and Ongoing Litigation in Energy Law”
Just Transitions Workshop, University of South Carolina School of Law (Mar. 2018)
- Presenter, “Coal Ash at the Intersection of Energy and Environmental Law” and Discussant
Association of American Law Schools, Natural Resources/ Energy Law Section, San Diego, CA (Jan. 2018)
- Presenter, “Corporate Demand for Clean Power in the Energy Transition”
Association of American Law Schools, Environmental Law Section, San Diego, CA (Jan. 2018)
- Panel Presenter, “Collaboration Across Disciplines in Empirical Environmental Research”
Hall Center for the Humanities Nature & Culture Seminar – University of Kansas (Oct. 2017)
- Presenter, “Fairness in the Low-Carbon Shift: Learning from Environmental Justice”
Norman Williams Distinguished Lecture in Land Use Planning and the Law - Vermont Law School (April 2017)
- Plenary Lecture, “Shifting Energy Landscapes”
Environmental Law Workshop – University of Denver Sturm College of Law (Feb. 2017)
- Presenter (remote), “Intrastate Preemption in the Shifting Energy Sector – Recent Developments”
“Environmental Law in the Administrative State” Conference – Center for the Study of the Administrative State, George Mason University School of Law (Sept. 2016)
- Panel Presenter, “Energy Institutions and Analysis”
“Finding Justice in the Low-Carbon Transition” Symposium – University of Kansas (Apr. 2016)
- Co-organizer and introductory speaker for national symposium featuring academic, advocacy, and regional perspectives on opportunities for advancing social justice in the low-carbon shift
Faculty Workshop Series – University of New Mexico School of Law (Apr. 2016)
- Presenter, “Cities and the Low-Carbon Grid”
Environmental Law Workshop – University of Denver Sturm College of Law (Mar. 2016)
- Presenter, “Cities and the Low-Carbon Grid”
“The Post-Carbon World: Advances in Legal and Social Theory” Symposium – Brooklyn Law School (Feb. 2016)
- Presenter, “Fairness in the Low-Carbon Energy Transition”
- Translated and re-broadcast at the St. Petersburg Int’l Law Forum - St. Petersburg, Russia (May 2016)
“The Past and Future of Civil Rights Movements: Race and Reform in 21st Century America“ Conference – Duke Law School (Nov. 2015)
- Panel Presenter, “The Future of Environmental and Energy Justice”
“The Road to Paris: Multidimensional Action to Address Climate Change” Works-in-Progress Workshop – American Society of International Law/University of Minnesota Law School (Oct. 2015)
- Presenter, “Cities and the Low-Carbon Grid”
The International Legacy of the Obama Administration” Conference - Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Sept. 2015)
- Panel Presenter, “Obama’s Dual-Track Approach to Climate Change: Regulatory Incrementalism and International Engagement
Sabin Colloquium on Innovative Environmental Law Scholarship – Columbia Law School (May 2015)
- Competitive selection, junior/senior peer-review for works in progress
“Fracking and the Law” Conference – University of Connecticut School of Law (Apr. 2015)
- Panel Presenter, “State-Local Dynamics in Fracking Governance”
Faculty Workshop Series – University of Missouri School of Law (Feb. 2015)
- Presenter, “Public Electric Power in the New Energy Transition”
Environmental Law Colloquium Series – University of Florida Levin College of Law (Feb. 2015)
- Presenter, “The Energy-Land Use Nexus”
Association of American Law Schools Annual Conference, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Plenary Program, Washington, DC (Jan. 2015)
- Panel Presenter, “Prospects for Public Power and Distributed Generation”
Association of American Law Schools Annual Conference, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Plenary Program, Washington, DC (Jan. 2015)
- Panel Organizer and Presenter – “Evolving Geographies in Energy Transition”
- Panel Moderator – “Risky Land Use, Climate Change, and Disaster Justice”
Concurring Opinions “Economic Dynamics of Law” Symposium (online) (Mar.-Apr. 2014)
- Invited Contributor, online symposium for David Driesen’s The Economic Dynamics of Law
“Bringing the Rockies to the Bayou” Lecture – Louisiana State University Law Center (Mar. 2014)
- Plenary Lecture, “Intrastate Preemption in the Shifting Energy Sector”
“Energy-Water Nexus” Symposium – University of Richmond School of Law (Oct. 2013)
- Panel Presenter, “Regulating the Energy-Water Nexus: Coal Ash After the TVA Kingston Disaster”
Second Annual Sustainability Research Symposium – University of Kansas (Oct. 2013)
- Presenter, “Regulating the Energy-Water Nexus: Coal Ash After the TVA Kingston Disaster”
Faculty Workshop Series – University of Oregon School of Law (Sept. 2013)
- Presenter, “Intrastate Preemption in the Shifting Energy Sector”
“Legal and Policy Pathways for Energy Innovation” Conference – University of Minnesota Law School (Apr. 2013)
- Presenter, “The Shift Away from Coal: Energy Governance Diversity and Innovation”
“Legal Aspects of Hydraulic Fracturing” Symposium – University of Idaho College of Law (Mar. 2013)
- Panel Presenter, “Energy Land Use for Hydraulic Fracturing”
Roundtable, “Environmental Markets” - George Mason Law and Economics Center (Oct. 2012)
- Respondent for manuscript-in-draft, “Environmental Markets”
Faculty Workshop Series - University of Notre Dame School of Law (Sept. 2012)
- Presenter, “Environmental Law and Fossil Fuels: Barriers to Renewable Energy”
Junior Environmental Scholars Workshop - University of Washington School of Law (July 2012)
- By-invitation senior/junior scholar peer review workshop for works in progress
“Practically Grounded: Engaged Scholarship” Symposium – Pace Law School (May 2012)
- Planning committee member and participant; by-invitation academic symposium for environmental and natural resource scholars
Faculty Workshop Series - Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Apr. 2012)
- Presenter, “Environmental Law and Fossil Fuels: Barriers to Renewable Energy”
“Environmental Justice Issues in Sustainable Development” Symposium - University of Missouri School of Law (Mar. 2012)
- Panel Presenter, “Renewable Energy Goals and Local Impacts”
“Supply & Demand: Barriers to a New Energy Future” Symposium - Vanderbilt Law School (Feb. 2012)
- Panel Presenter, “Environmental Law and Fossil Fuels: Barriers to Renewable Energy”
Guest Lecture Series, Land Use Planning Course - Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (Oct. 2011)
- Guest lecture to PhD, Masters, and Masters-JD students, “Energy Sprawl”
“Law and Sustainability Symposium: The Energy Land Use Nexus” – Florida State University College of Law & Institute for Energy, Economics, and Sustainability (Feb. 2011)
- Primary symposium organizer and panel moderator
Interdisciplinary Seminar Series - Florida Climate Institute (Nov. 2010)
- Presenter, “The Renewable Energy Footprint”
First Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship - Vermont Law School (Oct. 2010)
- Panel Presenter, “The Renewable Energy Footprint”
Faculty Workshop Series - Florida State University College of Law (June 2010)
- Presenter, “The Renewable Energy Footprint”
“U.S. Energy Policy in Transition” Conference - University of Florida (Mar. 2010)
- Presenter, “Facility Siting for Renewable Energy: Land Use and Regulatory Context”
Faculty Research Series - Sustainable Energy and Governance Center, Florida State University (Sept. 2009)
- Presenter, “Siting Renewable Energy Infrastructure in Florida: Regulatory Barriers and Considerations”
Environmental Law Forum - Florida State University College of Law (Apr. 2009)
- Panel Presenter, “Growth Management in a Shrinking Economy”
Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference - University of Florida College of Law (Feb. 2009)
- Panel Presenter, “Land Use 101: The Land Use Approval Process”
Memberships —
American Bar Association; Florida Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association; American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Sections on Scholarship, Energy and Natural Resources Law, Environmental Law; Society of American Law Teachers; Center for Progressive Reform