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

Presented by

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.

Interconnection as the Lifeblood of Solar and Storage: Best practices and process improvements

Sponsored by

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

Sponsored by

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

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  

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

O&M Best Practices – How do we ensure the implementation carries out the vision?

Sponsored by

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