2019 Agenda
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Welcome Remarks
Gregory Wetstone
President and CEO
American Council on Renewable Energy
9:15 - 9:45 AM
Keynote Address
Governor Jay Inslee
Washington State
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Federal Policy Priorities in Today’s Renewable Economy
Competing head to head with other generation, renewable energy is standing on its own economically as federal incentives wind down. According to ACORE analysis, renewables can fuel $1 trillion in private investment between 2018 and 2030 and help stay within striking distance of the Paris Accord. However, our aging grid infrastructure and mixed policy signals may impede this expansion. This panel will evaluate federal policy pathways to continue the recent quickening pace of renewable investment, including:
- Infrastructure policy priorities for transmission, storage and renewable generation
- Energy storage and technology-neutral tax credits
- Eased siting and permitting processes
Gregory Wetstone
President and CEO
ACORE
Moderator
Kellie Donnelly
Chief Counsel,
Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Aruna Kalyanam
Democratic Counsel, House Ways and Means Committee
Staff Director, Subcommittee on Tax Policy
Virinder Singh
Director-Regulatory and Legislative Affairs
EDF Renewable Energy
Sarah Webster
Vice President, Investor Relations,
Government Relations and Corporate Communications
Pattern Energy
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 - 11:20 PM
Keynote Address
The Honorable Jamie Raskin
United States Representative
United States Congress
11:20 - 12:20 PM
The New Climate Politics
With a new Congress, calls for a “Green New Deal,” and growing subnational efforts to limit GHG emissions, climate policy has returned to the nation’s political discourse with renewed fervor. This panel will confront the realities of today’s political environment while addressing the need for immediate action on climate change. Key topics include:
- The Impact of proposals for a “Green New Deal”
- The potential role of carbon pricing or a national renewable energy directive
- Opportunities for bipartisan collaboration on climate initiatives
Julia Pyper
Senior Editor
Greentech Media
Moderator
Alex Flint
Executive Director
Alliance for Market Solutions
Christy Goldfuss
Senior Vice President, Energy and Environment Policy
Center for American Progress
Morgan Gray
Legislative Director
U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey
Heather Reams
Executive Director
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions
12:20 - 1:40 PM
Lunch
1:40 - 2:00 PM
Keynote
Joe Balash
Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management
United States Department of the Interior
2:00 - 3:00 PM
State of the States: How Ambitious New Targets are Driving Demand for Renewables
State renewable energy directives remain an essential way to accelerate demand in an uncertain federal environment. Incoming governors and state legislators are creating new opportunities for market expansion, while current champions explore increasingly ambitious commitments. Speakers will reflect on these opportunities and also consider states that may present important challenges for future growth.
Steve Caminati
Director of Strategic Engagement
Apex Clean Energy
Moderator
Sara Bluhm
Director, Clean Energy
NJ Board of Public Utilities
Sue Gander
Director,
Environment, Energy & Transportation
National Governors Association
Angela Navarro
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade
The Commonwealth of Virginia
John Stephenson
Senior Manager,
US Public Policy
Amazon
3:00 - 3:20 PM
Break
3:20 - 4:00 PM
Keynote Addresses
Commissioner Bernard McNamee
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Nicholas A. (Nick) Brown
President and CEO,
Chairman, Corporate Governance Committee
Southwest Power Pool, Inc.
4:00 - 5:00 PM
The Renewables Revolution in U.S. Power Markets
While the grid was originally designed for one-directional delivery of power from fossil generators, as well as hydro-electric facilities in some parts of the country, renewables are changing the way power generators and consumers interact with the system. Reflecting on ongoing market design changes and resilience efforts, this panel will address how FERC and our nation’s power markets can better facilitate renewable energy’s role in grid operations.
- Efforts to increase regional grid interconnectivity, particularly in the West
- Approaches to site, finance and deploy new transmission in coordination with state regulators and FERC
- Regulatory incentives to promote investment in advanced infrastructure, renewables plus storage, and new technologies that promote system reliability
Craig Gordon
Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs
Invenergy
Moderator
Riccardo Bracho
Senior Project Leader, International Programs
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Colin Meehan
Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs
First Solar
Cheryl Mele
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
Elizabeth Salerno
Economic Advisor
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)