10:30 am – 6:30 pm

Expo Hall Open

COLORADO BALLROOM

9:00 – 9:30 am

Keynote – The Clean Energy Transition: Seize the Opportunity

DENVER BALLROOM

10:30 – 11:00 am

Coffee Break and Networking

COLORADO BALLROOM

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch and Networking

COLORADO BALLROOM

CSGs: Lessons Learned from Other Jurisdictions

DENVER BALLROOM A

Colorado was an early mover in the community solar garden market but that momentum has slowed in recent years.  What lessons can Colorado learn from other jurisdictions that are surging ahead?  Hear from industry experts about their experiences elsewhere and key next steps for Colorado.

Speakers: 

• Moderator: Kevin Cray–Regional Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access
• Ross Abbey–Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, US Solar
• Kacie Peters–Director of Industry Relationship, Pivot Energy
• David Sandbank–VP of Distributed Energy Resources & Clean Transportation, NYSERDA

Energy Storage in Regulated Markets: case studies in successful deployment

DENVER BALLROOM B

Battery storage is the golden ticket that ties the renewable energy system together and opens the door for the clean energy future our industry is working hard to accomplish. One big question remains – what does fair compensation for energy reserves look like? This panel will share real-world examples of commercially viable projects that support renewable energy integration and incentive structures that make the dollars and cents work for everyone. 

Speakers:

• Moderator: J.W. Postal–Founder and CEO, WATTMORE
• Peter Cavan–Director of Market Development, Convergent
• Darleen D. DeRosa–VP of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Stem, Inc
• Jennifer Jachym–Manager of Origination, Plus Power

Breakout Sessions

3:30 – 4:30 pm

Energy Justice for All – Reaching income-qualified, disproportionately impacted and energy communities

DENVER BALLROOM A

Distributed energy programs are increasingly merging with public policy goals to support income-qualified customers.  What considerations should the industry consider to reach this unique customer segment?  Hear from industry experts about identifying, communicating, and acquiring customers that are income qualified and/or live in disproportionately impacted communities.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Annie Lappé–Vice President of Policy, Pivot Energy
• Jason Barrett–Senior Vice President of Sales, GAF Energy
• Crestina Martinez–Director or Strategic Outreach & Advocacy, Xcel Energy
• Cameron Patterson–Development Officer, GRID Alternatives

Land Use and Permitting Success Stories

DENVER BALLROOM B

Deploy, deploy, deploy!  Those are the marching orders for solar and storage post-IRA.  But local land use policies, or lack thereof, can get in the way.  Hear from developers and consultants who have successfully sited large-scale projects and navigated local permitting practices.  Learn what works, and what doesn’t, to get your large-scale project permitted.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Emily Brumit–Business Development Manager, Enel Green Power
• Erin Bibeau–Senior Environmental Planner, Logan Simpson
• Rebecca Halford–Manager of Stakeholder Relations, AES Clean Energy
• Max Jabrixio–Director of Public Engagement, Apex Clean Energy

10:30 am – 5:00 pm

Expo Hall Open

COLORADO BALLROOM

9:00 – 9:30 am

Energy, water, and preserving natural resources in the Mountain West

DENVER BALLROOM

Featured Speaker: KC Becker–Region 8 Administrator, EPA

10:30 – 11:00 am

Coffee Break and Networking

COLORADO BALLROOM

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch and Networking

COLORADO BALLROOM

Breakout Sessions

1:30 – 2:30 pm

State Resource Planning and Competitive Procurement – is the gold standard still working?

DENVER BALLROOM A

Colorado’s competitive procurement process is often held up as a best in nation practice.  It has resulted in some of the lowest cost generation seen in the industry nationwide, yet some projects have floundered after winning awards.  Does Colorado’s process generate healthy competition and successful projects?  Or is it a race to the bottom that doesn’t support project viability?  Does it meet all energy buyers’ needs? Hear from developers and regulators who must navigate competition, transmission access, and resource adequacy.

• Moderator: Mark Detsky–Attorney, Dietze & Davis, P.C.
• David Flory–EVP Global Head of Project Finance, Sonnedix

Financing Issues – how has the IRA changed the rules of the game?

DENVER BALLROOM B

The IRA is a game changer for financing solar and storage projects.  Hear from experts about emerging  financial products,  types of rebates available for energy and electrification projects, and how best to capture the benefits of the new federal tax policy.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Courtney Welch–Senior Manager of Policy and Strategy, SunPower Corporation
• Bryen Alperin–Managing Director, Foss & Company
• Heather Braithwaite–Chief Investment Officer, Colorado Clean Energy Fund
• Nick Perugini–Co-Owner and VP of Partners and Projects, Solaris Energy

2023 NEC® Changes Affecting PV and Energy Storage Systems

PENROSE BALLROOM

Join Solar Energy International for a discussion of changes in the 2023 NEC®. Regardless of the version of the National Electrical Code enforced in your jurisdiction, the Code drives industry-wide best practices and product development cycles of manufacturers; it is critical for installers, designers, manufacturers, engineers, developers, and building officials to stay current. This presentation will focus on critical updates and changes that impact PV system design and installation for all types of applications – including energy storage systems – ranging from off-grid, to interactive PV systems on buildings, up to utility-scale solar farms. There are some great updates that will help reduce system cost while maintaining safety – you need to know what they are to take advantage; and there’s some updates that may end up adding cost – and you need to know the best ways to deal with them. Bring questions if you have them and be ready for some fun talking Code.

Breakout Sessions

3:00 – 4:00 pm

Supply chain, domestic content, and other pressing equipment issues for solar and storage

DENVER BALLROOM A

Waiting on an equipment delivery delayed at the border?  You’re not alone – a pandemic, material shortages, and the Commerce investigation have all contributed to a major supply chain disruption for the solar and storage industry.  Join equipment manufacturers as they discuss problems and solutions ahead.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Louis Villaire–Atlasta Solar Center
• Cary Hayes–President, REC Americas

Coops and Munis – resource acquisition post-IRA

DENVER BALLROOM B

Production tax credits? Transferability? Non-profit eligibility?  With the passage of the IRA in August of 2022, cooperative and municipal utilities are looking at very different financing arrangements for future large-scale projects.  Join utility executives as they opine about how the IRA has changed their thinking on resource acquisition.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Rich Krauze–Managing Director, K2Renew
• Susan Hunter–VP of Energy Resources, Tri-State G&T Association
• Jessica Matlock–CEO, La Plata Electric Association

Worker Safety – NFPA 70E

PENROSE BALLROOM

Most of us are familiar with the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), but did you know this document is part of a trilogy of standards – intended to be used together – to ensure maximum safety for electrical installations? In this one-hour course focused on worker safety, we will look into a different and perhaps lesser known part of this trio: the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (NFPA 70E). Using this standard as our guide, we will discuss how to identify and assess electrical hazards and risks, and we will review the “Hierarchy of Risk Control Methods” to understand different strategies for hazard risk reduction. We will also review lockout-tagout principles, shock and arc flash boundaries, and we’ll discuss how to select the right PPE for the task at hand. There are many strategies and opportunities for reducing hazards and maintaining a safe working environment for employees, and understanding NFPA 70E is the key to creating safe working areas.  

4:30 – 5:30 pm

A Look at Lithium-ion Battery Types and Considerations

PENROSE BALLROOM