2022 Speakers

Serge Abergel

Chief Operating Officer​ Hydro-Quebec Energy Services​

Serge Abergel took office as Chief Operating Officer of Hydro-Québec Energy Services in December 2021. This subsidiary is responsible for hydropower export initiatives to the New York and New England markets.

Since joining Hydro-Québec in 2014, Mr. Abergel has held various positions in media and stakeholder relations and government affairs. He has also led information campaigns on the company’s export initiatives and is a frequent public speaker on Hydro-Québec’s clean energy generating fleet and transmission system. Prior to his most recent appointment, he served as Director – Communications.

Mr. Abergel has considerable previous experience working as a public affairs officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and the federal correctional system.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in operations management from HEC Montréal.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Kelly Armstrong

Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND​) U.S. House of Representatives

Congressman Kelly Armstrong is a lifelong North Dakotan and an advocate for making North Dakota a better place to live and work. Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree from University of North Dakota in 2001 and a law degree from the UND law school in 2003. Back home in Dickinson, Kelly, and his wife Kjersti started their family and have two kids Anna and Eli. Kelly grew his service to the community in 2012, when he was elected to the North Dakota State Senate. Kelly was elected Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party in 2015. Kelly was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing the entire state of North Dakota in 2018.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

1:45 PM – 1:50 PM ET

Brandon Arnold

Executive Vice President National Taxpayers Union

Brandon Arnold is the Executive Vice President of NTU. In this role, he helps to oversee strategic planning and government affairs efforts for NTU and its staff.

He has testified on fiscal policy before Congress and numerous state legislative committees. He has also appeared on numerous television and radio networks including C-SPAN, Fox News, Fox Business, and more. His writings have appeared in publications including Politico, the Hill, the Seattle Times, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and more.

Brandon joined NTU in 2012 as Vice President of Government Affairs. His previous positions include director of government affairs at the Cato Institute, manager of external affairs in former Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich’s energy office, senior legislative aide to Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., fiscal policy analyst at Citizens for a Sound Economy, and research analyst at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
Show Me the Money: Tax and Finance Issues Facing the Energy Industry 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

George David Banks

Senior Fellow Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions

Dave Banks is an economist, political analyst, and policy advocate, focusing on climate change, energy, and trade. He is a senior fellow at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, serving as an adviser on Republican climate policy and politics. Banks has published peer-reviewed articles, reports, and opinion editorials on a variety of issues, including climate change, civil nuclear power, and energy markets and trade.

As the inaugural CRES Forum Policy Fellow, Banks advises the organization on federal policy, communications, and external stakeholder relationships. The CRES Forum Policy Fellowship was created to feature individuals who have demonstrated expertise in public policy, climate science, and strategic communications for conservative issues.

A native southeast Missourian, Banks was most recently Chief Strategist for the Republican side of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Previously, he was Executive Vice President at the DC-based American Council on Capital Formation. He was also President Donald Trump’s Special Assistant for International Energy and Environment at the National Economic and National Security Councils, Republican deputy staff director of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, Senior Advisor on International Affairs and Climate Change for President George W. Bush, a State Department foreign service officer, and CIA economic analyst.

During his government tenure, Banks received multiple meritorious awards, including the EPA Climate Protection Award for Diplomacy, a Department of State Superior Honor Award for promoting U.S. diplomatic objectives for the environment, and a Commendable Service Award from the Central Intelligence Agency. He holds a JD from George Mason University and a MA in economics and baccalaureate degrees in history, economics, and political science from the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Sylvie Barcelo

Deputy Minister Québec Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie
Government of Québec

Sylvie Barcelo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, as well as a Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) degree. Ms. Barcelo was appointed Deputy Minister of International Relations and Francophonie on August 26, 2019. She previously held the positions of:
2015-2019: Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education
2014-2015: Deputy Minister of Culture and Communications
2012-2014 and 1993-2004: Vice President of Organizational Services at la Régie des rentes du Québec (Québec’s Pension Board)
2009-2012: Deputy Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women
2007-2009: Deputy Minister of Family and Seniors
2005-2007: Deputy Minister of Family, Seniors and the Status of Women
2004-2005: Associate Secretary of Public Service Staff at the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor (Secretariat of the Treasury Board)

She also lent her expertise to the Université du Québec for almost ten years.

In recent years, her various managerial skills have led her to sit on several boards of directors, among which those of the École nationale d’administration publique (National School of Public Administration), the Centre de services partagés du Québec (Shared Services Center of Québec), the Cégep de Ste-Foy (junior college) and Centraide Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches. She also chaired the Conseil des directrices et directeurs généraux de l’administration du gouvernement du Québec (Council of Executive Directors of the Government of Québec).

Presentation(s):

Remarks

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:20 AM – 10:30 AM ET

Warner Baxter

Chair Edison Electric Institute
Executive Chairman Ameren Corporation

Warner Baxter is executive chairman of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation, parent company of rate-regulated energy companies that serve more than 2.4 million electric and nearly 1 million natural gas customers in Illinois and Missouri. The company, which also develops regional electric transmission projects, had 2020 revenues of approximately $6 billion.

During his more than 25-year tenure at Ameren, Baxter has served in a variety of leadership roles, including chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren, a role he held from 2014 through 2021. He had previously served as chief financial officer and president of Ameren Missouri.
Before joining Ameren in 1995, Baxter served as senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ national office in New York City, serving as one of the firm’s liaisons with the major accounting standard-setting bodies in the United States.

Baxter earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has made meaningful and long-lasting contributions to higher education through his involvement with the University of Missouri System. He is a member of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellors Council and the Missouri 100 advisory board.

Today, Baxter sits on several industry boards, and he is currently the chair of the board of the Edison Electric Institute. He serves on the board of the Electric Power Research Institute (past chairman of the board). Baxter also serves on the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp and BJC HealthCare. He is a member of the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp and BJC Healthcare, and serves as vice chair of the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer Council. He was past chair of Civic Progress St. Louis and now sits on the Greater St. Louis Inc. Chairman’s Executive Council.

Presentation(s):
Opening Remarks – Day 2

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM ET

 

Dan Blondal

CEO, Director & Founder Nano One

Dan has 30+ years of experience as a professional engineer, managing high growth technology in a career that has spanned materials handling, medical devices, industrial printing, nuclear fusion and materials science. He brings significant experience in systems engineering, physics and business. As Product and Technology Manager at Creo and Kodak, he led strategically vital initiatives valued at $20M annually to leverage software, laser and chemical systems for high-quality printing. 

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Clean Energy Transition Requirements: Critical Minerals, Supply Chains and Domestic Manufacturing

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Anne Bradbury

CEO American Exploration & Production Councils

Anne Bradbury was named as CEO of AXPC in December 2019, to lead all aspects of AXPC’s federal public policy efforts, advocating for regulations and policies that will enable U.S. independent producers to continue leading the world in energy development that meets the highest environmental and safety standards.


Ms. Bradbury served as one of the top legislative strategists and technicians in Congress as Floor Director to two successive Speakers of the House of Representatives and Deputy Floor Director in the Offices of both the Majority and Minority Leader. During her decade-long career on Capitol Hill, Bradbury was instrumental in the implementation and adoption of major rules packages and legislative initiatives ranging from reforms to national security and intelligence policy to health care, energy, transportation, trade, and education policy passed by the House of Representatives. Ms. Bradbury most recently served as a partner at the Duberstein Group.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Dan Byers

Vice President, Climate and Technology U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Dan Byers is vice president of climate and technology at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. With a focus on domestic and international climate policy, as well as broader environmental and regulatory issues, Byers develops and implements strategies in support of the Chamber’s broader education and advocacy efforts. Byers brings over two decades of public policy experience to his work assessing the impact of existing and emerging federal laws and regulations on the U.S. energy industry.

Before joining the Chamber, Byers was staff director of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee for the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to that, Byers served as deputy to the associate director for technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where he oversaw policy development and coordination associated with a broad suite of technology issues. From 2007 to 2009, he also worked for the White House National Economic Council, leading the development and coordination of telecommunications policy for the Bush administration.

Byers holds an M.S. in soil science from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in crop and soil environmental sciences from Virginia Tech. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife and two sons.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Innovation and Reducing Emissions in Carbon-Intensive Sectors

Wednesday, September 28, 2022
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Christine Cadigan

Senior Director American Forest Foundation

Christine Cadigan is currently the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) Senior Director at the American Forest Foundation. Established as a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Christine has led FFCP since its inception, setting the strategy from ideation to design to implementation. Under her leadership, the program validated an innovative methodology through Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard, launched a small landowner offering in the Central Appalachian region, signed almost $50 million in Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreements with major corporations, and issued its first $10 million third-party designated Green Bond, addressing Sustainable Development Goals 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17. Christine has been at the American Forest Foundation for nearly 12 years and graduated from Duke University with dual Masters degrees in Environmental Management and Forestry.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Workable Solutions for Nature

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Bill Cassidy

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) U.S. Senate

Dr. Bill Cassidy, M.D. is the senior United States Senator for Louisiana. A member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Cassidy is a leader in Congress on energy policy. He believes the United States must have a multi-pronged strategy, focused on reducing global emissions and holding high-emitting states like China accountable. Cassidy is dedicated to working towards meaningful solutions that meet at the nexus of climate, national security, energy security, and the economic security of our country and families.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:39 AM – 10:44 AM ET

Sean Casten

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) U.S. House of Representatives

As a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur and CEO, and now as a Member of Congress, Representative Sean Casten has dedicated his life to fighting climate change. In Congress, Casten draws on his two decades of experience as a business leader to reduce emissions while creating jobs, lowering energy costs for Americans, and spurring economic growth.

Casten serves on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and is the Vice Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets. He also serves as Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force and Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) Power Sector Task Force.

While working diligently in Washington on behalf of Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, Rep. Casten is also committed to keeping in close contact with his constituents. He lives in Downers Grove with his family.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

1:55 PM – 2:00 PM ET

James L. Connaughton

Chairperson Nautilus Data Technologies

James Connaughton is a globally distinguished energy, environment, and technology expert, as both a corporate leader and White House policymaker. Mr. Connaughton is the Chairman of the Board of Nautilus Data Technologies, a high-performance, ultra-efficient, and sustainable data center infrastructure company powered by its proprietary water-cooling system. Before joining Nautilus Data Technologies, he served as Executive Vice President of C3.ai, a leading enterprise AI software provider for accelerating digital transformation.

From 2009-2013, Mr. Connaughton was Executive Vice President and a member of the Management Committee of Exelon and Constellation Energy, two of America’s cleanest, competitive suppliers of electricity, natural gas, and energy services. In 2001, Mr. Connaughton was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate to serve as Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. He served as President George W. Bush’s senior advisor on energy, environment, and natural resources, and as Director of the White House Office of Environmental Policy. During his eight-year service, Mr. Connaughton worked closely with the President, the Cabinet, and Congress to develop and implement energy, environment, natural resource, and climate change policies. An avid ocean conservationist, Mr. Connaughton helped establish four of the largest and most ecologically diverse marine resource conservation areas in the world.

Mr. Connaughton is a member of the Advisory Board of the ClearPath Foundation and serves as an Advisor to X (Google’s Moonshot Factory) and Shine Technologies, a medical and commercial isotope company. He is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Resources for the Future and a member of the Advisory Boards at Yale’s Center on Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia’s Global Center on Energy Policy.

Presentation(s):
Fireside Chat

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM ET

 

Craig Cornelius

CEO Clearway Energy Group
Presentation(s):

Speaker:
Opening Remarks-Day 3

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM ET

John Di Stasio

President Large Public Power Council

John Di Stasio became president of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) in August 2014.

Di Stasio was formerly the General Manager and CEO of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) from June of 2008 through April of 2014.

Di Stasio is the past president of both the Northwest Public Power Association and the California Municipal Utility Association and the vice chair of the Large Public Power Council. He was also a board member of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and the American Public Power Association. He was a member of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Members Representative Committee.

Di Stasio was also a gubernatorial appointee to the California Workforce Investment Board. He was the Electric Light and Power Large Utility CEO of the Year in 2013. Di Stasio was also active in international energy issues in other countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Botswana, India and Jordan. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2013 by the United States Energy Association.

He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Di Stasio is a native Californian and fourth generation farmer. He is the owner of Di Stasio Vineyards, a commercial vineyard in Amador County, California. Di Stasio enjoys foreign travel, golf, fishing and Amador Zinfandels.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Show Me the Money: Tax and Finance Issues Facing the Energy Industry 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Debbie Dingell

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) U.S. House of Representatives

John Di Stasio became president of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) in August 2014.

Di Stasio was formerly the General Manager and CEO of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) from June of 2008 through April of 2014.

Di Stasio is the past president of both the Northwest Public Power Association and the California Municipal Utility Association and the vice chair of the Large Public Power Council. He was also a board member of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and the American Public Power Association. He was a member of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Members Representative Committee.

Di Stasio was also a gubernatorial appointee to the California Workforce Investment Board. He was the Electric Light and Power Large Utility CEO of the Year in 2013. Di Stasio was also active in international energy issues in other countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Botswana, India and Jordan. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2013 by the United States Energy Association.

He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Di Stasio is a native Californian and fourth generation farmer. He is the owner of Di Stasio Vineyards, a commercial vineyard in Amador County, California. Di Stasio enjoys foreign travel, golf, fishing and Amador Zinfandels.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks 

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

10:20 AM – 10:25 AM ET

Joy Ditto

President and CEO American Public Power Association 

Joy Ditto became the American Public Power Association’s president and CEO on January 13, 2020. Before that, she was the president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council, a global trade association representing electric, gas, and water utilities on their mission-critical information and communications technologies. She has testified before the U.S. Senate and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is a past member of the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee and a past chair of the National Energy Resources Organization. She is currently on the Board of the Electrical Safety Foundation International and the Center for Energy Workforce Development.

Before joining UTC, Joy was with the American Public Power Association for 15 years, rounding out her tenure as the senior vice president for legislative and political affairs. Earlier, Joy spent seven years on Capitol Hill, as legislative assistant to two representatives from Pennsylvania, Joe McDade (R), and Don Sherwood (R), and a senator from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel (R). She was a staff assistant to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in her first job out of college. Joy advised her bosses on issues involving natural resources, agriculture, trade, tax, banking, the justice system, environment, and energy.
As a “Marine Corps brat,” Joy learned early that relationships are key to success, as are a willingness to work hard and an ability to see both “the forest and the trees.”

Joy is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a BA in history and minor in political science and has received an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.

Joy is married with two daughters. She is a competitive equestrian in the sport of eventing.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:

Exploring the Role of Utilities in the Energy Transition

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

Eric Dresselhuys

Chief Executive Officer ESS Tech, Inc.

Eric Dresselhuys is an experienced technology and market development leader with a wide range of experience working on the energy transition and the decarbonization of the economy.

Mr. Dresselhuys is the CEO of ESS Tech, Inc. and joined the company in March 2021. Mr. Dresselhuys has over 25 years of leadership experience and is an accomplished technology and market development pioneer with a demonstrated background in growing both public and private companies.

Prior to joining ESS Inc., Mr. Dresselhuys founded Silver Spring Networks, which became the leading provider of smart grid networking and data solutions, leading to an IPO in 2013 (NYSE: SSNI) and an eventual sale to Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI). Other experience includes a variety of leadership positions at Procter and Gamble and Smart Energy Water, where he helped build up the companies on a global scale.

As an active member of the energy industry, he currently serves as the Chairman of Enian, LTD. in London and on the board of directors of Autogrid, Inc. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events and author on issues related to the energy transition. Mr. Dresselhuys holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and earned an Executive Certificate from the Sloan School at MIT.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Emily Fisher

General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President Clean Energy 
Edison Electric Institute

Emily Sanford Fisher is General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Clean Energy for the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in Washington, D.C. Emily is responsible for managing EEI’s litigation and legal affairs, covering a wide range of energy and environment regulatory and policy issues, at the state and federal level. She also oversees and coordinates strategic clean energy engagement across EEI and across the federal government.

Prior to joining EEI in 2008, Emily was a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. She served at the U.S. Embassies in Bangkok, Thailand and Bogotá, Colombia. Emily also worked at the law firms Dewey Ballantine LLP and Dickstein Shapiro LLP in Washington, D.C., representing investor-owned electric companies and independent power producers in a range of regulatory proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Emily received a B.A. in international affairs with a concentration in economics from the George Washington University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was the Administrative Editor of The Georgetown Environmental Law Review. She is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. She was 2014- 2017 Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Ecosystems and is currently one of that group’s Vice Chairs for Deep Decarbonization. She is a member of the Women’s Energy Network National Advisory Council and the Keystone Policy Center Energy Board. She was appointed to the Energy Systems Integration Group’s Advisory Council in 2019.

Presentation(s):
Moderator:

Exploring the Role of Utilities in the Energy Transition  

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

1:55 PM – 2:55 PM ET

Xan Fishman

Director of Energy Policy and Carbon Management Bipartisan Policy Center

Xan Fishman is the Director of Energy Policy and Carbon Management at the Bipartisan Policy Center, working on energy and infrastructure policy and carbon management. Prior to joining BPC, Fishman worked for Congressman John Delaney for nine years, most recently as his Presidential Campaign Manager and as his Chief of Staff in Congress. He helped Congressman Delaney draft and champion priority legislation to invest in infrastructure, address climate change, and spur social impact investing.

Presentation(s):
Fireside Chat

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM ET

 

Alex Fitzsimmons

Senior Director ClearPath

Alex is Senior Director at ClearPath, where he manages a broad clean energy portfolio focused on energy storage, renewable energy, industrual innovation, and critical minerals. Previously, Alex served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, Alex led diverse programs and an R&D portfolio that included advanced manufacturing, critical mineral supply chains, and building technologies, among others. Prior to that, Alex served as Chief of Staff for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where he led strategic planning, policy, and communications for the Assistant Secretary.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Jordan Geist

Senior Director of Metals Division East Penn Manufacturing

Jordan Geist currently serves as East Penn’s Sr. Director of the Metals Division. Jordan oversees the lead battery recycling, oxide and transload operations including the company’s exclusive acid reclamation process – the first in the industry and patented to East Penn. East Penn’s closed-loop, circular economy system recovers the lead, polypropylene, and sulfuric acid from approximately 30,000 lead batteries a day for reuse in East Penn’s battery manufacturing facilities. He also oversees the procurement of all lead, polypropylene, and sulfuric acid for East Penn’s operations.

Jordan is a former commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve.

He currently serves as Supervisory Chairman and Board Member of Bellco Federal Credit Union.

Jordan joined East Penn in 2016, holding various positions. He holds a B.S.B.A in finance from Drexel University and is a graduate of Marion Military Institute.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Gene Grace

General Counsel American Clean Power Association

As General Counsel, Gene is the chief in-house legal officer for ACP and oversees the association’s legal functions related to governmental affairs. He has well over a decade of experience in the renewable energy industry. Prior to working at ACP, Gene was the General Counsel for the American Wind Energy Industry and worked in various legal positions at the federal government, private practice, and environmental organizations. Gene represents ACP in litigation, regulatory, and legislative matters of a legal nature, focusing on the following areas, among others: energy (markets and transmission), environmental (climate and wildlife), and project development (siting and permitting). He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Alexander Herrgott

President​ The Permitting Institute

Alex Herrgott is a nationally recognized infrastructure policy and project delivery expert with experience that spans a broad range of industries. He created The Permitting Institute in January 2021, after nearly two decades of creating bipartisan partnerships and common-sense reforms in Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector. His work continues to focus on needed infrastructure improvements that will deliver economic growth while ensuring a comprehensive review of policies in place to minimize impacts on the natural environment.

Executive Director – Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC)
In 2018, Alex was appointed as the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. In this role, he was empowered to work with Congress and the Executive Office of the President to streamline the Federal process and deliver unprecedented time savings for projects, including some of the largest renewable and conventional energy projects in the world.

He also served as chairman of a council of the deputy secretaries of 13 federal agencies, enforcing a principle that delivery of new jobs and critical infrastructure improvement does not conflict with providing thorough environmental project reviews that safeguard our natural and cultural resources while protecting vulnerable populations.

Director of Infrastructure, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
In March 2017, Alex was appointed to serve as the first Associate Director for Infrastructure for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) at the White House. While at CEQ Alex authored Executive Order 13807: One Federal Decision-Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects.

Deputy Staff Director, U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Prior to CEQ, Alex served as lead author and negotiator for Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94) and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-322).

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Abby Hopper

President & CEO​ Solar Energy Industries Association

Abigail Ross Hopper is the President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade organization for America’s solar energy industries. She oversees all of SEIA’s activities, including government affairs, research, communications, and industry leadership, and is focused on creating a marketplace where solar will constitute a significant percentage of America’s energy generation.

Before joining SEIA, Abby was the Director of the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, where she led the agency that oversaw the leasing and development of all offshore energy, from oil and natural gas to offshore wind.

She served formerly as the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), serving as acting beginning in 2012, and then as Director starting in June 2013. She also served concurrently as Energy Advisor to Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley since 2010. In those roles, she had significant engagement with the state’s electric distribution utilities on matters ranging from resiliency and reliability of the grid to multiple mergers of the state’s utilities.

Abby previously spent over two years as Deputy General Counsel with the Maryland Public Service Commission. Before embarking on a career in public service, Abby spent nine years in private practice.

Abby graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland School of Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dartmouth College. She is the very proud mom of three children and loves to read, ride her Peloton, do hot yoga and lie on the beach in her (not so free) time.

Presentation(s): 

Opening Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

10:02 AM – 10:10 AM ET

Natalie Jackson

Senior Vice President Capital Markets & Portfolio Finance, Clearway Energy Group
Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Show Me the Money: Tax and Finance Issues Facing the Energy Industry 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Lesley Jantarasami

Managing Director Energy Program Bipartisan Policy Center

Lesley Jantarasami is the Managing Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s energy program. She brings over 12 years’ climate policy experience at the state and federal levels and leads BPC’s research and policy efforts on natural climate solutions and sectoral decarbonization strategies and standards. Prior to this, she led energy and climate initiatives at the Oregon Department of Energy and the Oregon Global Warming Commission, including work on state carbon pricing legislation and climate adaptation and resilience for Oregon’s energy sector. Lesley also worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on national greenhouse gas regulations in the transportation and power sectors, as well as on climate impacts assessment and adaptation initiatives with a particular focus on environmental justice and vulnerable populations. Lesley served as lead author of the Tribes and Indigenous Peoples chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment and of multiple chapters of the U.S. Climate and Health Assessment. Her research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report volume on Climate Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Lesley has Master of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and her bacherlor’s degree from Duke University.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Workable Solutions for Nature

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

BJ Johnson

Co-founder and CEO ClearFlame

Dr. BJ Johnson is CEO and co-founder of ClearFlame Engine Technologies, a growing startup
dedicated to developing clean engine technology for heavy-duty truck, off-highway, and
industrial applications.

Together with co-founder Dr. Julie Blumreiter, BJ founded ClearFlame to develop solutions that
increase the performance of and reduce emissions from internal combustion engines using
decarbonized fuel, such as ethanol. BJ was the lead inventor on a patent filed by Stanford
University for this work, which now forms the center of ClearFlame’s intellectual property.
BJ’s passion and leadership for this work have helped him to secure investors and strategic
partners, including the support of multiple industry manufacturers, agencies like the
Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, and
world-class accelerators like StartX, I-Corps, Ameren Accelerator, and WERCBench Labs.

In 2021, BJ was named one of the Grist 50—an annual list of emerging leaders from across the
US working on fresh, real-world solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. BJ earned his BS,
MS, and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Innovation and Reducing Emissions in Carbon-Intensive Sectors

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Tom King

Managing Partner CrossRiver Capital & Founding Director at Borincana Foundation Inc.

Thomas King is Managing Partner of CrossRiver Capital LLC and Founding Director of the Fundación Borincana, a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on shaping and accelerating the transformation of Puerto Rico’s energy system infrastructure. He is an accomplished senior executive with more than 30 years of success in investment banking, private equity, consulting and investment in the alternative energy, biofuels, power and utility sectors. Leveraging extensive experience in strategy, change management, financial structuring, and risk identification, he is a valuable asset for organizations in the process of transitioning away from traditional to alternative energy. Acomplishments include: Co-Founding Partner of US Renewables Group, the first private equity group focused solely on renewable power, bio-fuels/chemicals, and related infrastructure; Teesside Power, which was, at over $2 billion one of the largest non-recourse project financings ever and a landmark in 1991; key roles on the first power and utility privatizations in Portugal, India, Australia, and Ghana (among others); and established key program elements under the FIPP created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act within the Department of Energy.

Thomas received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of California Santa Cruz. He obtained his Master of Business Administration in Finance, Energy, and International Business from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

Presentation(s):

Speaker:
Fireside Chat

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

10:10 AM – 10:30 AM ET

Frank Lucas

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) U.S. House of Representatives

Congressman Frank Lucas is a fifth-generation Oklahoman whose family has lived and farmed in Oklahoma for over 120 years. Born on January 6, 1960, in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Lucas graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1982 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election in 1994.

Lucas proudly represents Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, which includes all or portions of 32 counties in northern and western Oklahoma, stretching from the Oklahoma panhandle to parts of Tulsa, and from Yukon to Altus in the southwest. It takes up almost half the state’s land mass and is one of the largest agricultural regions in the nation. Lucas has been a crusader for the American farmer since being elected to Congress in 1994 and he has fought to protect Oklahoma values.

Lucas is the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over federal research and development activities.

Prior to his service in Congress, Lucas served for five and a half years in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, where he fought to defend the rights of private property owners and focused on promoting agriculture issues.

Frank and his wife Lynda have three children and three grandchildren. The Lucas family belongs to the First Baptist Church in Cheyenne.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

10:40 AM – 10:45 AM ET

Nancy Mace

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) U.S. House of Representatives

Congresswoman Nancy Mace grew up in the Lowcountry. She is the daughter of a retired Army General and retired school teacher.

Nancy grew up in Goose Creek, S.C. And when she dropped out of high school at the age of 17, her parents said, “If you’re going to stop going to school, you got to start going to work.” She immediately became a waitress at the Waffle House on College Park Road in Ladson (exit 203).

Nancy earned her high school diploma a few months later by taking college classes at Trident Technical College in North Charleston.

She graduated magna cum laude from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where she was the school’s first female to graduate from its Corps of Cadets in 1999. In 2004 Nancy earned a masters degree from The University of Georgia. Go dogs!

She is the author of In The Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel, published by Simon & Schuster in 2001.

In 2008 Nancy started her own company. Her background in business is in technology, PR & marketing and more recently commercial real estate before coming to Congress.

Nancy is the recipient of the 2019 Taxpayer Hero Award from the South Carolina Club for Growth; she has a 100% record of voting to lower taxes. Nancy is also the recipient of the Champion Award from Palmetto Goodwill in her efforts in education and in helping those most in need receive job training; she has a 100 percent rating with Conservation Voters of South Carolina.

Nancy is a single mom of two children ages 12 and 14. She also has two cats, Tyler and Tiger, and a puppy named Liberty

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

10:35 AM – 10:40 AM ET

Pasha Majdi

Senior Director, U.S. Policy & Government Affairs Conservation International

Pasha Majdi leads Conservation International’s engagement with the US government, particularly on global land and ocean conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable land use efforts. He works with field staff, scientists, and other Conservational International experts to develop policy proposals and analysis. With coalition partners, Pasha leads Conservation International’s advocacy efforts with the US government on legislation, policy, and strategy. Prior to joining Conservation International, Pasha worked for the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Republican Staff.

Pasha completed his undergraduate studies in public policy and philosophy (Duke University, NC) and a Juris Doctor degree (Antonin Scalia Law School, VA). He is a resident of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, an avid hiker, and a college basketball enthusiast.

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
Workable Solutions for Nature

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Katie McGinty

Former Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality  Clinton Administration
Presentation(s):
Keynote Chat

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM ET

 

Yvonne A. McIntyre

Vice President, Federal Affairs PG&E Corporation

Yvonne McIntyre is the Vice President of Federal Affairs for PG&E Corporation where she is responsible for representing the interests of PG&E before the federal government and policy groups, and for developing and implementing all aspects of PG&E’s federal engagement.

Prior to PG&E, Yvonne was the Director of Federal Electricity and Utility Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) where she was responsible for development and advocacy of NRDC’s federal power sector climate change, clean air, and clean energy policies. She has had a long advocacy career in the power sector most recently as Vice President of Federal Affairs at Calpine Corporation. She also served in government affairs roles at Mirant Corporation, Kansas City Power and Light and the Detroit Edison Company. She has worked extensively on issues relating to national energy policy, electricity markets, natural gas, climate change, the Clean Air Act, renewable energy technologies and tax incentives.

Yvonne began her professional career with Detroit Edison as an electrical engineer working in power plants and distribution systems service centers. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Oakland University in Rochester, MI and a Master of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in International Business from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Yvonne is a member of various professional and community organizations. She serves as Co-chair of the Keystone Energy Board Steering Committee and serves on the boards of the DC chapter of the Women’s Energy Network and the Washington Government Relations Group Foundation.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:

Exploring the Role of Utilities in the Energy Transition

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

Trisha Miller

Senior Director for Industrial Emissions, The White House

Trisha Miller is the Senior Director for Industrial Emissions in the White House Domestic Climate Policy Office. Her work focuses on the intersection of clean manufacturing and climate action. Previously, Trisha served as the Chief Innovation and Development Officer at Elevate, a national organization dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach those who need them most. In this role, she led Elevate’s climate policy and building decarbonization programs. She formerly served as a Senior Director at Gates Ventures and Breakthrough Energy – a network of entities and initiatives linked by a common commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Trisha developed a comprehensive climate policy framework for Breakthrough Energy, where she led industrial decarbonization, procurement, and transmission policy.

Trisha is an expert in climate and energy solutions and served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she worked to advance President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. At HUD, she oversaw the expansion of the Better Buildings Challenge to the multifamily sector and led a federal initiative to triple the amount of renewable energy reaching low-income communities. This built on her former role managing the National Green Communities Program at Enterprise Community Partners, where she helped in the development of 20,000 green affordable homes. Before joining Enterprise, she directed the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights’ Community Development Initiative.

Presentation(s):

Remarks

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

12:38 PM – 12:45 PM ET

Diana Movius

Senior Director, Global Forest Policy Climate Advisers

Diana Movius is Senior Director of Global Forest Policy at Climate Advisers, a respected DC-based climate, energy, and forests think tank. Diana has specialized in U.S. and international policies for financing and protecting tropical forests for two decades, first at Center for Clean Air Policy, then at the World Bank, and now at Climate Advisers. She has led multiple coalitions to build support for U.S. and international funding to reduce tropical deforestation. She also works to promote deforestation-free supply chains, build forest management capacity in tropical countries, and engage U.S. legislators on deforestation. Prior to beginning her career in climate policy, Movius lived and worked in the Peruvian Amazon, researching community-based ecotourism. She holds a M.A. and B.A. in environmental anthropology from Stanford University.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Workable Solutions for Nature

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Rick Murphy

Managing Director, Energy Markets American Gas Association
Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Innovation and Reducing Emissions in Carbon-Intensive Sectors

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Marc Pangburn

Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer Hannon Armstrong

Marc Pangburn is executive vice president and co-chief investment officer of Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI), a leading investor in climate solutions. He joined Hannon Armstrong in 2013 and is jointly responsible for the company’s investing activities.

Mr. Pangburn previously served as a managing director responsible for the company’s structured investments in both the Grid-Connected and Behind-the-Meter renewable energy markets. Prior to joining Hannon Armstrong, Mr. Pangburn worked at MP2 Capital, a solar development and financing company, where he was responsible for structuring the firm’s transactions. Previously, Mr. Pangburn worked in the private capital group at New York Life Investments, focusing on utilities, energy and infrastructure debt, and equity investments. Mr. Pangburn received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Drew University and is a CFA charter holder.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Show Me the Money: Tax and Finance Issues Facing the Energy Industry

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

David Paolella

Manager Breakthrough Energy

David works on Breakthrough Energy’s U.S. Policy and Advocacy team, where he helps lead the development, review, and analysis of policy proposals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Prior to joining Breakthrough Energy, David was a Research and Policy Analyst at the Clean Energy Transition Institute in Seattle, Washington. His work focused on energy and climate policy for the Pacific Northwest, and he provided technical support for the development of the Washington 2021 State Energy Strategy.

Previously, David worked at the University of Washington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he researched the drivers of exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution in the United States. David also worked as an economic consultant in the Boston office of Analysis Group. David holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University and a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College.

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Bill Parsons

Vice President, Federal and State Affairs American Clean Power Association

Bill Parsons is Vice President for Federal and State Affairs. In that capacity, he oversees ACP’s federal policy team in Washington, D.C. and state policy team across the country. Prior to joining ACP, Bill was Chief Operating Officer at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) with responsibility for managing ACORE’s day-to-day operations, including policy, programs, and strategic communications. A 14-year Hill veteran, Bill served as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman Chris Van Hollen, where his portfolio included climate, energy, tax, financial services, and the environment. He ran the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus for eight years and was a founding Board Member of the Montgomery County Green Bank. Bill is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Bethesda, MD.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Show Me the Money: Tax and Finance Issues Facing the Energy Industry

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Pedro Pizarro

CEO Edison International

In his role as Vice President, Policy and Research, Matt Porterfield works to advance the research agenda and products developed by the Climate Leadership Council. With more than 25 years experience in international economic law, particularly with respect to trade rules and environmental policy, Porterfield brings a special focus to the Council and its Center for Climate and Trade.


Prior to joining the Council, he was the deputy director of the Harrison Institute for Public Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he continues to serve as an adjunct professor. He has published a number of influential works that have advanced our understanding of international trade rules and their application to environmental issues, including on WTO-compliant border adjustments and U.S. upstream greenhouse gas taxes.


Mr. Porterfield received an LL.M. from Georgetown University, a J.D. from Vermont Law School, and a B.A. in English from University of Vermont.

Presentation(s):

Speaker:
Closing Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

2:55 PM – 3:09 PM ET

Matt Porterfield

Vice President, Policy and Research Climate Leadership Council

In his role as Vice President, Policy and Research, Matt Porterfield works to advance the research agenda and products developed by the Climate Leadership Council. With more than 25 years experience in international economic law, particularly with respect to trade rules and environmental policy, Porterfield brings a special focus to the Council and its Center for Climate and Trade.


Prior to joining the Council, he was the deputy director of the Harrison Institute for Public Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he continues to serve as an adjunct professor. He has published a number of influential works that have advanced our understanding of international trade rules and their application to environmental issues, including on WTO-compliant border adjustments and U.S. upstream greenhouse gas taxes.


Mr. Porterfield received an LL.M. from Georgetown University, a J.D. from Vermont Law School, and a B.A. in English from University of Vermont.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Judith Pryor

First Vice President and Vice Chair Board of Directors
US. Export-Import Bank

Judith DelZoppo Pryor was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as First Vice President and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for a term expiring on January 20, 2025. Her portfolio includes Latin America & Caribbean.

Ms. Pryor has spent most of her career working with multinational businesses, primarily in emerging markets with over 30 years of leadership experience spanning global trade and development finance, public policy, marketing, sales, and communication. From international start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, her work has focused on the broadcast, satellite communications, and international finance sectors.

Ms. Pryor served on EXIM’s Board of Directors from May 2019 to July 2021. She also served during the Obama Administration as Vice President, Office of External Affairs, at OPIC, now the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). She was responsible for all external engagement including congressional relations, public affairs, communications, and U.S. small business development. She was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and held a seat on the Agency’s Investment Committee.

Before entering public service, Ms. Pryor spent nearly a decade with WorldSpace Inc., a multibillion-dollar satellite radio start-up company, servicing developing markets worldwide. As Senior Vice President for global corporate affairs, her work included establishing marketing and communications functions in 11 international offices, taking the company public, serving as corporate spokesperson, and spearheading the strategy and execution for the company’s global brand. She held similar positions with COMSAT and Orion Network Systems and has worked with respected advertising and public relations firms. She began her career in the Washington offices of Gray & Company, continuing with the firm after its acquisition by Hill & Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide.

Ms. Pryor holds a B.A. in Communications from Bowling Green State University and studied at the Universidad de Madrid.

Presentation(s):

Administration Remarks

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

12:15 PM – 12:25 PM ET

Heather Reams

Chair, National Clean Energy Week
President, Citizens For Responsible Energy Solutions 

Heather Reams is the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) a right-of center non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that engages policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge. She leads the CRES team and oversees the core activities of the organization, ensuring the successful expansion of conservative clean energy policies across the nation.

Heather serves as Chair of National Clean Energy Week and on the board of directors for the American Conservative Coalition. She is a frequent commentator on the politics and policy of clean energy and the environment having been featured on MSNBC, NPR, and Newsmax TV, and in The Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Politico, Newsweek, Time, Real Clear Energy, Roll Call, The Hill, Morning Consult, and The Atlantic, among others.

Heather is a 25-year veteran in strategic communications, public affairs, and advocacy and has held a number of senior nonprofit positions. Prior to her non-profit work, she spent a decade at several top D.C.-based public affairs firms. She started her career as a staffer in the offices of Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) and Congressman Gerald Weller (R-IL11), and earlier as an intern for Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) while pursuing her degree. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science, Heather is active in Republican local and state affairs in her home state of Virginia, where she resides with her husband and two children.

Presentation(s):

Opening Remarks – Day 1

Tuesday, September 27, 2022
10:00 AM – 10:10 AM ET

Executive Fireside Chat

Thursday, September 29, 2022
12:15 PM – 12:35 PM ET

Closing Remarks – Day 3

Thursday, September 29, 2022
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Abigail Regitsky

Manager American Breakthrough Energy

Abigail works on Breakthrough Energy’s U.S. Policy and Advocacy team, where she helps implement Breakthrough Energy’s climate policy priorities, focusing on industrial decarbonization, embodied carbon in buildings and other materials, and clean electricity standards.

Prior to joining Breakthrough Energy, Abigail worked on Capitol Hill, most recently as professional staff for the majority on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Her work focused on climate change mitigation, primarily developing policy recommendations for the industrial and manufacturing sector, buildings, and clean energy innovation. Previously, Abigail was a AAAS Congressional Science Fellow for Senator Tina Smith, where she helped develop and introduce the Senator’s Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019, among other energy and environment work.

Before working on the Hill, Abigail earned a PhD in materials science and engineering from MIT, where her research tried to better understand biomineralization for future applications in sustainable materials processing. Originally from Indonesia, she grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and received a BS from Georgia Tech. Abigail lives in DC with her husband, Ross, and their dog, Luna, and enjoys playing board games, baking, and photography.

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
Innovation and Reducing Emissions in Carbon-Intensive Sectors

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Maria Duaime Robinson

Director, Grid Deployment Office U.S. Department of Energy

Maria Duaime Robinson was the first Korean-American elected to the Massachusetts General Court, where she served in the House of Representatives from 2019-2022. While in office, she led the bicameral Clean Energy Caucus, was the Massachusetts state lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators where she also served on the board, and was the only state legislator on the U.S. EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. She also served on faculty at Tufts University’s School of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, bringing her expertise in energy policy to graduate students. Prior to her election in 2018, Maria led Advanced Energy Economy’s Wholesale Markets Program, including engagement at FERC and the regional transmission organizations. Previously, she focused on regulatory issues relating to energy and air, including a 27-state campaign with Governors’ offices, legislatures, and energy and environmental regulators. She also managed AEE’s report development and data-driven analysis at both the state and national level. She worked for Navigant Consulting in the renewable energy practice, supporting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in analyzing and procuring contractors for statewide renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Maria is a proud lifetime Girl Scout. She holds an S.B. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Energy Law from the University of Tulsa.

Presentation(s):

Administration Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

10:35 AM – 10:45 AM ET

Catrina Rorke

Senior Vice President, Policy and Research Climate Leadership Council

Catrina Rorke is senior vice president for policy and research at the Climate Leadership Council and executive director of the Center for Climate and Trade. In her role at the Council, she develops the details of the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends proposal, manages the Council’s research program, and supports its advocacy and outreach activities.

Prior to joining the Council, Ms. Rorke founded the energy and environment program at the R Street Institute, a free-market and limited government public policy organization where she served as director of energy policy and senior fellow. She also founded the energy program at the center-right American Action Forum, an economic, domestic, and fiscal policy think tank. As a legislative assistant to former U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina, Ms. Rorke helped develop the first Republican-sponsored carbon tax bill. She began her career as a presidential management fellow with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Ms. Rorke has been recognized for her leadership in energy and climate policy by E&E News, The Hill, National Journal, and Grist, and her work has been published in national, local, and trade media. She supports center-right policy work by serving as a board member and advisor to several policy-focused organizations.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
The American Advantage: Strengthening US Competitiveness

Thursday, September 29, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Phil Rosetti

Resident Senior Fellow, Energy R Street Institute

Philip Rossetti conducts research on energy, climate, and environmental policy to identify low-cost and free-market opportunities to improve environmental outcomes.

Before joining R Street, Philip was a fellow working with the minority staff of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. This position supported Congressional staff through policy and data analysis to brief legislators, and supported the Congressional mandate of producing policy recommendations for Congressional climate action.

Prior to that, he was the director of Energy Policy at the American Action Forum, a center-right economically focused think tank. He was responsible for conducting economic analysis on federal energy and environmental policy, with over 50 publications. Philip had his work featured in notable outlets such as the Washington Post, Axios, Politico, The Hill and others.

Philip received a Master of Arts in international relations and diplomacy from the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University. He also received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Mexico, where he was also a National Security Studies scholar.

Philip lives in Virginia with his wife.

Presentation(s):

Moderator:
Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Jigar Shah

Director​, Loan Programs Office U.S. Department of Energy

Jigar Shah was most recently co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing. After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Originally from Illinois, Shah holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois-UC and an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park.

Presentation(s):

Speaker:
Fireside Chat

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

10:10 AM – 10:30 AM ET

Lauren Sher

Director of Sustainability and Environmental Policy NextEra Energy, Inc

Lauren Sher is Director of Environmental Policy and Sustainability for NextEra Energy, Inc. In this role, she leads the policy team for all environmental and natural resources policy in state capitols, the Congress, and the Executive Branch and directs the environmental inputs for NextEra’s Corporate ESG program. In her previous role with the company, Lauren was a Director for Federal Government Affairs in Washington, DC, where she represented NextEra Energy on tax policy and climate legislation and regulations.

Before joining NextEra Energy in 2015, Lauren worked in the United States Senate for 7 years. Most recently, she served as Senator Bill Nelson’s energy and environment advisor. Prior to that, she worked for Senator Jeff Bingaman in several capacities, including Professional Staff Member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Lauren Sher received her B.A. from Newcomb College at Tulane University. She also has a Masters in Global Environmental Policy from the School of International Service at American University. She lives in Jupiter, Fl with her husband and two children. In all of her free time, she likes to run and swim.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:

Exploring the Role of Utilities in the Energy Transition

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

Kyrsten Sinema

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) U.S. Senate

Kyrsten knows firsthand the challenges everyday Arizonans face. Born in Tucson, Kyrsten went through some tough times growing up. Her family struggled to make ends meet, and for a while they were even homeless. But they got by thanks to family, church, and hard work. Kyrsten’s childhood experience showed her the power of hard work and the importance of helping others.

Education was Kyrsten’s ticket to a better life. With the help of student loans, academic scholarships, and financial aid, she went to BYU and then ASU, where she now teaches as a proud Sun Devil.

After graduating, she worked with students and families in Arizona who faced some of the same challenges she did. Kyrsten’s commitment to service led her to the Arizona Legislature, where she passed a law to help veterans get in–state tuition at all Arizona public universities, cracked down on sex trafficking, and advocated for children’s health care and education.

Now as Arizona’s senior Senator, Kyrsten works every day to deliver for Arizona families – helping veterans get the benefits they’ve earned, creating good–paying jobs for Arizonans, and keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.

Kyrsten feels a duty to serve and give back to the communities and country that gave her so much. She got her shot at the American dream, and she’ll keep working to make sure all Arizonans get theirs too.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

12:05 PM – 12:10 PM ET

Jasjit Singh

Executive Director SelectUSA

Jasjit Singh is the Executive Director of SelectUSA, a U.S. government-wide program that works to attract foreign direct investment to the United States. In this role, he  leads the strategy and implementation of SelectUSA’s mission to create jobs, spur economic growth, and promote American competitiveness. He also oversees the SelectUSA Investment Summit, an annual event where U.S. officials make the case to global companies that the United States remains the top destination to do business.

Prior to joining SelectUSA, Jasjit was a Senior Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council. There, he was the Head of the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Logistics Committees as well as States Engagement and Capitol Hill outreach. Jasjit was also a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama Administration, former Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and a Senior Consultant with Deloitte.

Jasjit received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In his personal time, Jasjit is an avid tennis player, travel enthusiast, and mocktail aficionado.

Presentation(s):

Speaker:

Administration Remarks

Thursday, September 29, 2022

10:10 AM – 10:20 AM ET

Samantha Sloan

VP – Global Policy, Sustainability & Marketing First Solar, Inc.

Samantha Sloan is a vice president at First Solar, Inc., the only American company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers.

Based in North Carolina, Ms. Sloan advocates for the creation of durable solar industrial policies in key global markets that align value chains with efforts to re-shore manufacturing; drive domestic content purchasing; and support smart trade policies across a multi-year horizon with the goal of ensuring a level playing field, while supporting domestic energy independence and security.

In her role, Ms. Sloan sets global marketing, media and public sentiment programs linked to corporate strategies and goals. She also oversees First Solar’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability programs, research, disclosures and communications.

Before joining First Solar in 2009, Ms. Sloan served as the head of global strategic marketing of the semiconductor segment at Applied Materials, the world’s leading materials engineering solutions company.

Presentation(s):

Petra Smeltzer

Executive Director Heat is Power

Petra Smeltzer serves as the Executive Director of the Heat is Power Association. Petra has three decades of state and federal level government affairs experience spearheading strategic and practical results for key government and energy trade organizations, including Governor Bob Taft (OH), the American Petroleum Institute, the National Electrical Manufacturing Association, the Electric Power Supply Association and the National Association of Water Companies. Her skills include building industry coalitions, negotiating and brokering agreements between government and industry and raising the profile of trade associations through collaboration.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Innovation and Reducing Emissions in Carbon-Intensive Sectors

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

John Smirnow

General Counsel & Vice President of Market Strategy Solar Energy Industries Association
Presentation(s):

Mary Streett

Senior Vice President of U.S. Communications & External Affairs BP

Mary Streett is bp’s senior vice president Americas, communications & external affairs. She leads a team from across the Americas, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States. In this role, she is responsible for public policy, government relations and communications in the Americas region. Mary joined bp in 2014 as vice president and head of U.S. government affairs. In this role, she oversaw federal, state and local government relations and played a central role in bp’s strategic planning.

Prior to bp, Mary served as the vice president of federal government affairs at Exelon, one of the nation’s leading consumer electricity and gas providers. From 2002 to 2010, Mary, an attorney, practiced with law firm Mayer Brown LLP, where she was a partner in the government and global trade group and focused on government and regulatory matters. Streett also previously worked on several presidential campaigns. She served in the Clinton Administration on the White House staff and as deputy general counsel for the Commerce Department.

Mary currently serves as Board Chairman and President of the bp foundation as well as a board member of bp America. She also serves as a board member of the Middleburg Film Festival.

Mary received her J.D. from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas and was a visiting student at Georgetown University Law Center. She graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and attended the Institute of European Studies in Vienna and London to study international business and economics.

Presentation(s):

Executive Fireside Chat

Thursday, September 29, 2022
12:15 PM – 12:35 PM ET

Jordan Stone

Vice President The Association of American Railroads

At the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Jordan Stone supports the industry’s government affairs and advocacy efforts in Washington, with a particular focus on energy and trade policy. Jordan is also responsible for the development of the policy and advocacy strategy surrounding annual Congressional appropriations. Additionally, Jordan helps guide AAR’s efforts to advance railroads’ ongoing work to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and further research and demonstration projects on alternative fuels and emerging technologies that can be applied to rail operations.

Prior to joining AAR in 2019, Jordan served for 4 years as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee. During that time, Jordan served as the lead staffer for 14 agencies funded through the THUD Appropriations bill, totaling over $52.4 billion in annual budgetary resources. A proud Louisiana native, Jordan received his Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Vassar College. He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Renae, and dog, Kingston.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022


10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Erik Takayesu

Senior Vice President, Asset Strategy and Planning Southern California Edison

Erik Takayesu is senior vice president of the Asset Strategy & Planning at Southern California Edison. He leads the company’s business and asset management strategy, electric system planning, technology demonstration and development, and wildfire safety. Since joining SCE in 1991, he led a number of organizations responsible for grid operations, the construction and maintenance of some of SCE’s largest projects, grid modernization, and distributed resource integration to enable the clean energy transition for the 21st century.

Takayesu serves on the boards of directors for several organizations, including the College of Engineering for California State University, Long Beach and Pomona, the North American Transmission Forum, the Western Energy Institute and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics. He’s also on the Executive Advisory Council to the IEEE Power and Engineering Society.

Takayesu earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of California.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:

Exploring the Role of Utilities in the Energy Transition

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

John Thune

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) U.S. Senate

John Thune grew up in Murdo, South Dakota. His interest in politics was sparked at a young age after making five of six free throws during a freshman high school basketball game. He was later greeted by a spectator who said, “I noticed you missed one.” That spectator happened to be a well-known sports enthusiast and then-South Dakota U.S. Rep. Jim Abdnor. The introduction was the start of a friendship that ignited John’s career in public service.

John received his undergraduate degree at Biola University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota. Upon completion of his master’s degree in 1984, he married Kimberley Weems, a native of Doland, South Dakota.

John’s attraction to public service took him to Washington, D.C., to work for that sports enthusiast and then-U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor. He then served at the Small Business Administration under an appointment from President Ronald Reagan.

In 1989, John and his family returned to South Dakota, where he served as the executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party. In 1991, then-Gov. George S. Mickelson appointed him to be state railroad director, a position he held until 1993, when he became executive director of the South Dakota Municipal League.

In 1996, with a shoestring budget and the support of family and friends, John won his first term as South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives. John was re-elected to a second term by the largest margin in South Dakota history. He returned again to Washington in 2001 to serve his third term in the House.

John then honored his 1996 campaign pledge to serve only three terms in the House. After a narrow loss in a U.S. Senate race in 2002, he won his current Senate seat in 2004, when he made history by defeating a sitting Senate party leader for the first time in 52 years.

In 2010, John was elected to serve a second term in the Senate in a rare unopposed race. He was only the third Republican and the only South Dakotan to run unopposed for the Senate since direct elections were created in 1913. John was elected to a third term in 2016.

For the 117th Congress, John serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Finance Committee. He serves as ranking member of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband and ranking member of the Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. He also serves as the Senate Republican whip, the number two position in Senate Republican leadership, and has previously served as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2009–2011 and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference from 2012-2018.

John and his wife Kimberley live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and they have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his family, pheasant hunting, and running.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

12:35 PM – 12:38 PM ET

Jennifer Tyler

Director of Government Affairs Citizens Climate Lobby

Jennifer Tyler serves as Director of Government Affairs for Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). With a focus on bipartisan climate initiatives, she helps to oversee and guide the strategic policy and government affairs efforts of CCL. Previously, Jennifer has spent over 8 years as Congressional staff. Most recently, she was Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman John Katko (NY-24), where she handled a broad policy portfolio including natural resources, environment, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:

Workable Solutions for Nature

Thursday, September 29, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Bruce Westerman

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman is a Hot Springs native currently serving his fourth term as representative from the Fourth District of Arkansas, having first been elected in 2014. Westerman serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and as Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources. Westerman also serves on the Minority Whip Team under the leadership of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise.

Prior to serving in Congress, Westerman was elected to two terms in the Arkansas General Assembly, where he was the state’s first Republican House Majority Leader since Reconstruction following the 2013 GOP takeover of the Arkansas House of Representatives.

An engineer and forester by trade, Westerman worked for 22 years at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers in 2013.

A 1990 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Westerman was a four-year walk-on member of the Razorback football team. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2005 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012. Westerman is also a graduate of Yale University, earning a Master of Forestry degree in 2001.

Westerman lives in Hot Springs with his wife, Sharon, and their four children. He enjoys hunting and fishing.

Presentation(s):

Member Remarks

Thursday, September 29, 2022

12:35 PM – 12:40 PM ET

John Wieland

Chief Development Officer Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC

John Wieland leads Leeward Renewable Energy’s (LRE) development team, overseeing the strategic growth of over 20 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage development spanning over 100 projects. He has more than 17 years of energy, real estate development and construction management experience.

Mr. Wieland joined the LRE team in 2019, and prior to his CDO appointment, led solar and energy storage development efforts across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast United States, which included the day-to-day management of a multi-gigawatt solar and energy storage development portfolio.

Prior to joining Leeward, Mr. Wieland held real estate and energy development positions with Meta, Lendlease, Infigen Energy, and Lincoln Clean Energy (NKA Ørsted).

Mr. Wieland earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

Brian Wolff

Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and External Affairs Edison Electric Institute

Brian Wolff manages the Government Relations, Customer Solutions, Political and External Affairs, and Communications and Member Engagement departments for EEI. These groups are responsible for and integrate EEI’s direct lobbying, grassroots outreach, coalition building, and strategic communications functions. Wolff also is the Executive Vice President of the Edison Foundation.

Prior to joining EEI in 2009, Wolff was a strategist for the U.S. House of Representatives and served under Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Robert T. Matsui (D-CA), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). He also served as finance and taxation legislative aide to former Senator David H. Pryor (D-AR). Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, he worked in business development at Cassidy & Associates and as an advisor to countless state and federal campaigns. He began his career in Washington as a producer and copy editor for the Washington Bureau of CNN.

An Arkansas native, Wolff earned a BA from the University of Arkansas with a major in Economics and a minor in Journalism. In addition, he completed the Mastering Negotiations Program in Executive Education at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also completed the Senior Executive Program from Stanford University, Graduate School of Business in 2014 and Stanford University’s LEAD Program in 2017. He is a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar.

He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Public Affairs Institute Board of Directors. In addition, he serves on the University of Arkansas Alumni Board and is a member of the Chancellor’s Society. Wolff serves on the boards of the Capital Area REACH program and on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Institute. In 2020, Wolff began serving as an Equity in Energy Ambassador with the Department of Energy.

Presentation(s):

Closing Remarks – Day 2

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

1:45 PM – 1:59 PM ET

Jeremy Woodrum

Senior Director of Congressional Affairs Solar Energy Industries As

Jeremy Woodrum is Senior Director of Congressional Affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association. He lobbies Congress on a range of policies impacting the solar industry with a focus on tax and financing as well as overall legislative efforts. Jeremy previously served for nine years as Legislative Director and then Deputy Chief of Staff for a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and former Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Joe Crowley.

Prior to his time on the Hill, Jeremy co-founded and led the U.S. Campaign for Burma, a non-partisan advocacy organization which lobbied Congress and successive Administrations. A graduate of American University, Jeremy grew up in Northern Colorado and lives Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and two children.

Presentation(s):

Heather Zichal

CEO American Clean Power

Heather Zichal has had a long career battling climate change and brings deep experience in the public and private sector. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the Blue Prosperity Coalition, a global network of governments, NGOs, scientists and ocean experts working to advance sustainable, blue economy goals. She previously served as the Vice President of Corporate Engagement for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), coordinating engagement with multilateral corporations to advance innovative approaches to some of the world’s most complex sustainability challenges. In government, Zichal served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change during the Obama Administration, where she coordinated the administration’s energy and climate policy, as well as the groundbreaking Climate Action Plan. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Zichal served as Legislative Director to one of the Senate’s leading environmentalists, then-Senator John Kerry.

Presentation(s):

Panelist:
Cutting Red Tape: Removing obstacles to clean energy and emissions reductions

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM ET

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