Joe Tomain: Energy, Infrastructure, and the Decisions Shaping Our Future

In this episode of Human Rights: Conversations Across Generations, we welcome Professor Joe Tomain, former Dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the Wilbert and Helen Ziegler Professor of Law, a distinguished scholar in energy law and policy and a longtime colleague and supporter of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Drawing on decades of leadership in higher education and public policy, Professor Tomain reflects on the evolving relationship between energy systems, climate policy, and democratic governance. Our conversation explores the increasing demands on energy infrastructure driven by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data centers, and the policy choices that will shape environmental sustainability and economic stability in the decades ahead. We also revisit a defining historical experience shared by Professor Tomain and Professor Bert Lockwood – traveling to South Africa in 1994 as legal observers during the country’s first democratic elections, when citizens, including hospital patients, waited patiently in long lines to cast their ballots in the country’s first democratic vote. Together, this conversation offers thoughtful reflection on leadership, public service, and the responsibilities of institutions navigating the interconnected challenges of energy, climate, and democracy. Show Notes Professor Joe Tomain: University of Cincinnati College of Law Books and Publications Referenced Energy Law and Policy (4th Edition, 2026) Joseph P. Tomain, Lincoln L. Davies, Alexandra B. Klass, Uma Outka, Hari M. Osofsky, Elizabeth J. Wilson Energy Law in a Nutshell (4th Edition, 2022) A foundational text examining the structure of modern energy systems and the transition toward clean and net-zero energy policy. Smart Energy Paths: How Willie Nelson Saved the Planet (2006) Joseph P. Tomain Institutions Referenced Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights — University of Cincinnati College of Law International Commission of Jurists