Monday, January 31, 2022
12:00 – 6:00 pm
Registration
LOWER LEVEL 2
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Opening VIP Reception with Networking
PROSPECT’S URBAN KITCHEN AND BAR
Join us for an informal, networking event to bring together the solar and storage community. Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and current Public Utilities Commission Chair Eric Blank will join us as the guests of honor for a fireside chat.
Other confirmed guests include Senate Majority Leader Stephen Fenberg, State Senators Hansen and Priola, Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor and the Governor’s Energy Advisor Mark Silberg, Utah’s Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Development Thom Carter and State Representative Alex Valdez.
Join these individuals and other decision-makers, developers, executives, and non-profit advocates to reconnect, share thoughts on the region’s progress toward clean energy goals, and trade business development ideas.
Fireside Chat:
- Eric Blank, Chair, Public Utilities Commission of Colorado
- Bill Ritter, Jr., Former Colorado Governor; Director, Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Registration
LOWER LEVEL 2
8:00 – 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast
LOWER LEVEL 2
9:00 – 9:30 am
Keynote Speaker: Mary Powell, Sunrun CEO
DENVER BALLROOM
Sunrun CEO Mary Powell will explain her vision for radical collaboration in the electric power sector. Formerly the CEO of Green Mountain Power, Powell’s time working in a utility has earned her the 2019 Utility Executive of the Year award and helped shape her vision to speed the clean energy transition through distributed energy resources, a flexible grid, and whole home electrification.
9:30 – 10:30 am
State Policy and the Energy Transition: How states are building the aircraft while flying it
DENVER BALLROOM
While federal infrastructure legislation may make the news, energy policy is really determined at the state level. Hear from executive directors at Mountain West state energy offices about their successes in clean energy policy in 2021 and their vision for climate goals, cleaner air, wholesale markets, electric transportation, and building electrification in 2022.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Bill Ritter, Jr., Former Colorado Governor; Director, Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University
- Thom Carter, Governor’s Energy Advisor and Executive Director, Utah Office of Energy Development
- Will Toor, Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office
10:30 – 11:00 am
Networking Coffee Break
COLORADO BALLROOM
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Net Metering: How do we modernize rates to prepare for electrification?
DENVER BALLROOM A
With rapid electrification of vehicles and buildings, consumers could double their use of electricity in the coming years. However, existing state laws are backward looking, relying on historical consumption as a yardstick to size a future solar system. Learn how rates and net metering should be modernized to meet the needs of an increasingly electrified world.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Bill Clay, Founder and CEO, Solar Power Pros
- Suzanne Leta, Senior Director, Head of Policy and Strategy, SunPower
- Tim Lindl, Partner, Keyes & Fox LLP
- Meghan Nutting, Executive Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs, Sunnova Energy Corporation
Regional Transmission Authorities: What do customers want from an RTO?
DENVER BALLROOM B
A wholesale market will fundamentally change the relationship between consumers and their electric service providers. These markets could save consumers millions of dollars but there are trade-offs with reduced state control, compromises on climate policy, and the sharing of transmission costs. Learn what large energy users hope to gain through a regional transmission organization.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Keith Hay, Director of Policy, Colorado Energy Office
- Jeff Baudier, CEO, CORE Electric Cooperative
- Larry Holdren, Interim Executive Director, Western Freedom
- Johnny Key, Director, Energy & Power Solutions, Freeport-McMoRan
Achieving Net Zero & Resiliency: Storage + Solar PV + Efficiency
PENROSE BALLROOM
Be part of the first wave who achieve a truly Net Zero Energy facility! Join Iconergy’s President, Doug Hargrave, to learn how commercial and industrial building owners can achieve a Net Zero facility by installing an optimized combination of energy storage, solar photovoltaics, and impactful energy efficiency strategies. Improving facility resiliency is an additional key goal that can also be achieved by combining these three elements, albeit via a different optimization approach. This discussion is for people who are done talking about the “why” and who are ready to start taking action for “how” to achieve net zero at their facilities.
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Ted Talk Style concurrent with lunch
Local Policy Wins: What have the SEIA chapters been doing for you lately?
DENVER BALLROOM A
In a rapid-fire presentation from three Mountain West state-level solar organizations, learn about state chapter successes in increasing markets in 2021 and what opportunities exist in 2022 and beyond.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Sara Birmingham, Senior Director of State Policy, West, Solar Energy Industries Association
- Jim DesJardins, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico
- Mike Kruger, President & CEO, Colorado Solar and Storage Association
- Court Rich, Vice President, AriSEIA; Senior Partner, Rose Law Group, PC
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Breakout Sessions
Low & Moderate Income: How do we bring everyone along in the energy transition?
DENVER BALLROOM A
Solar and energy storage is often derided as only for the rich. That doesn’t have to be true. This panel will explore how the benefits of solar can flow to all members of society from lower energy bills to community solar gardens to cleaner air.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Andrew Bennett, Director of Advocacy, Energy Outreach Colorado
- Chelsea Gaines, Outreach Coordinator, GRID Alternatives Colorado
- Laura Geiger, Senior Manager of Community Development, Pivot Energy
- Ryan Harry, Director, Weatherization Assistance Program, Colorado Energy Office
Resi and CSG: How are customers determining value, and how can the industry create an optimal customer experience for a solar purchase from Day One to Year 20?
DENVER BALLROOM B
In these fragile economic times, convincing a customer to “go solar” can be a hard proposition. Hear from industry experts as they share their insights on customer purchasing, what sells, what motivates, and what is critical to close the deal.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Matt Fowler, Chief Marketing Manager, Atlasta Solar Center
- Corrina Kumpe, Chief Operating Officer, SunShare Community Solar
- LaToya Bowlah, Director of Lifecycle & Product Marketing, Arcadia
- Chris Worley, Director of Public Policy, Sunrun
2:30 – 3:00 pm
Networking Coffee Break
COLORADO BALLROOM
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Breakout Session
Interconnection as the Lifeblood of Solar and Storage: Best practices and process improvements
DENVER BALLROOM A
Interconnection has emerged as a major source of conflict between developers and utilities. Hear some of the battle stories as well as successes from engineering experts as they discuss interconnection best practices.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Lee Ewing, Associate Attorney, Keyes & Fox LLP
- Tripp Hyde, PE., President, Hyde Engineering Services, Inc.
- Ted Ko, Independent Consultant
- Jason Sharpe, Chief Executive Officer, Namaste Solar
Valuing Energy Storage: What is pushing utilities and consumers to buy storage in the face of economic challenges?
DENVER BALLROOM B
Hailed as the holy grail to the clean energy transition, batteries are on every developer’s mind. Yet, the cost of batteries keeps them out of reach for most consumers today. Hear from storage energy experts about the promise, and struggles, to deploy this game-changing resource.
Speakers:
- Moderator, J.W. Postal, Founder/CEO, Nikola Power
- Greg Adam, Energy Storage System Sales Manager – West, Saft
- David Millar, Managing Director, Resource Planning and Procurement Services, Ascend Analytics
- Kyle Smith, Senior Program Manager, Renewables, Ulteig
Clean Energy Strategy is Local Economic Development Strategy
PENROSE BALLROOM
Hear an interview with a New Mexico cooperative making the change to locally-generated and stored solar power. Learn the lessons from the path and hurdles to clear to get to the community rewards.
Speakers:
- Interviewer: Robin Lunt, Chief Strategy Officer, Guzman Energy
- Luis A. Reyes Jr., CEO, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Wednesday also features concurrent technical trainings. Preview all technical trainings here.
7:30 – 5:00 pm
Registration
LOWER LEVEL 2
8:00 – 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast
LOWER LEVEL 2
9:00 – 9:30 am
Featured Speaker: Colorado Governor Jared Polis
DENVER BALLROOM
Gov. Polis will speak about the progress Colorado has made toward a 100% clean energy future. He will highlight victories during his Administration and lay out plans to address continuing challenges this legislative session. These plans will shape the future of energy in Colorado and create opportunities that your business will not want to miss out on.
9:30 – 10:30 am
WMEG or SPP or CAISO- Where Is The Wholesale Future?
DENVER BALLROOM
East? West? Or something in between? Regional markets hold tremendous promise for the Mountain West region but require many compromises to bring to life. The region must assess carefully and choose wisely as it considers a wholesale market to join (or devise). Hear from panelists how they are weighing options and assessing the risks and benefits.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Steve Drew, Director of Wholesale Markets, Borrego
- Mark A. Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Power
- Bryan Hannegan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Energy
- Alice Jackson, President, Xcel Energy – Colorado
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Breakout Session
Local Solar for All: Can distributed generation really displace utility scale renewables?
DENVER BALLROOM A
While utilities extol large-scale renewable generation solutions to meet clean energy goals, hear how distributed solar facilitates actually facilitate large-scale generation. This panel will present modeling that demonstrates how distributed energy resources are instrumental to the clean energy transition and should not be an after-thought to utility resource planning.
Speakers:
- Kevin Cray, Mountain West Regional Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access
- Karl R. Rábago, Principal, Rábago Energy LLC
- Courtney Welch, Market Development and Policy, SunPower
ESG: How sustainability buyers evaluate their decision making process when purchasing renewables
DENVER BALLROOM B
The world of sustainability is rapidly changing. Gone are simple offsets. Corporations are being asked to construct sophisticated approaches to environmental, social, and governance sustainability concerns. Learn how sustainability professionals are tackling this challenge in 2022.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Zaki Robbins, Partner, Moye White LLP
- Phoenix Dugger, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Ardent Mills
- Brandon Rumbelow, Head of Finance, bpx energy
- Ryan Yetzer, Senior Manager of Construction & Sustainability, Physicians Realty Trust
INSTALLER DAY
Commercial Interconnection Options
PENROSE BALLROOM A
From Back Up To TOU Rate Applications, The Hybrid Inverter Covers It All
PENROSE BALLROOM B
See the full training descriptions here.
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Breakout Session
Creating YIMBYs: How to work with local jurisdictions to foster support for solar and storage
DENVER BALLROOM A
Neighbors and local stakeholders are often the loudest voices on projects. This panel will discuss how to garner public support and political force from those who are in favor of solar – YES in my backyard – and how to proactively ensure those opposed are heard and their concerns are addressed.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Roger Freeman, Roger Freeman, L.L.C. – Renewable Energy, Recycling and Environmental Law and Policy
- Erin Bibeau, Senior Associate, Logan Simpson
- Erica Forsman, Vice President, Origination, US Solar
- Taylor Henderson, Chief Energizing Officer, Outshine Energy
Incubating Innovation: How are municipal, cooperative, and tribal utilities tackling the clean energy transition?
DENVER BALLROOM B
Investor-owned utilities may get all the headlines, but smaller municipal, cooperative, and tribal utilities are often at the forefront of innovation. These smaller utilities are closer to their customers and often have more flexibility to craft creative solutions that hamstring investor-owned utilities. Hear from cutting edge municipal, cooperative, and tribal utilities about innovative projects and programs in their communities.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Kathleen Staks, President, Hahn Public
- Mark Hayden, General Manager, Missoula Electric Cooperative
- Leland Keller, Energy Services Engineer, Ft. Collins Utilities
- Tim Willink, Director of Tribal Programs, GRID Alternatives
INSTALLER DAY
2020 NEC® Changes Affecting PV and Energy Storage Systems
PENROSE BALLROOM A
ConnectDER in Colorado – Make PV installs simpler, Presented by ConnectDER
PENROSE BALLROOM B
See the full training descriptions here.
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Breakout Session
O&M Best Practices – How do we ensure the implementation carries out the vision?
DENVER BALLROOM A
Investing in solar and storage can be expensive. Greater adoption of distributed energy resources hinges on reliable operations and consistent performance. Hear from operations and maintenance professionals about new products, best practices, and how to keep maintenance bills manageable.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Amanda Bybee, CEO, Amicus O&M Cooperative
- Josh Corbitt, Director of Business Development, O&M and Asset Management, Origis Services
- Taylor Dodson, Manager of Utility Scale Interconnection, SOLV Energy
- Chris Morrissette, Service Partner Manager, SMA Solar Technology
Capturing the Money: How do we overcome challenges financing Resi and C&I projects in the Mountain West Region?
DENVER BALLROOM B
With low energy prices across the Mountain West, residential and C&I projects can be tough to finance. This panel will discuss some of the innovations in customer acquisition, reducing risk and improving processes that will lower costs and increase margins.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Heather Braithwaite, Chief Investment Officer, Colorado Clean Energy Fund
- Hunter Edberg, Project Development Associate, Solaris Energy
- Shaun Laughlin, Head of US Strategic Development Partnerships, Project Finance & Acquisition, Standard Solar
- Katherine Lillydahl, Director of Finance, Wunder Capital
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Career Fair
COLORADO BALLROOM
4:30 – 5:30 pm
INSTALLER DAY
PV Installation Best Practices
PENROSE BALLROOM A
See the full training description here.
5:00 pm
Conference Concludes
Wednesday also features concurrent technical trainings. Preview all technical trainings here.