20th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum

• Congressional Speakers
  • Sen. Edward J. Markey (MA)
  • Rep. Ryan Costello (PA)
  • Rep. Paul D. Tonko (NY)
• Forum Speakers
  • Panel 1 — Setting the Stage (1)
  • Panel 2 — Setting the Stage (2)
  • Panel 3 — Ultra-Low & Net-Zero Energy Buildings
  • Panel 4 — Energy Efficient Building Systems
  • Panel 5 — Grid, Storage, and Transmission
  • Panel 6 — Renewable Energy 1: Overview
  • Panel 7 — Renewable Energy 2: Hydro, Solar, Wind
  • Panel 8 — Biosolutions: Bio-Based Energy and Materials
• Exhibitors
• Host
• Co-Hosts
• Sponsors
• For more information

  MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Sen. Edward J. Markey (MA)

Rep. Ryan Costello (PA)

Rep. Paul D. Tonko (NY)

  FORUM SPEAKERS

9:30 AM – 10:10 AM

Panel 1 — Setting the Stage (1)

Scott Sklar, Steering Committee Chair, Sustainable Energy Coalition

Ruth McCormick, Director, Federal and State Affairs, Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Lynn Abramson, Executive Director, Clean Energy Business Network
Across the nation, small businesses are working at every stage of the clean energy pipeline, from the lab to the supply chain to project development.  This growing industry is more geographically and technologically diverse than you might imagine.  Who is building the American energy economy in your community?

Deborah Stine, PhD, Professor of the Practice, Engineering and Public Policy Department; Associate Director for Policy Outreach, Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Pittsburgh to Paris: This presentation will provide an overview of research from Carnegie Mellon’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation to illustrate both the progress Pittsburgh has made on energy and the environment as well as the challenges it faces.

10:15 AM – 10:55 AM

Panel 2 — Setting the Stage (2)

Nicole Steele, Executive Director, GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
Nicole Steele will discuss current affairs related to clean energy equity, with a focus on solar energy and the work GRID Alternatives is doing to ensure a diverse energy economy that includes everyone.

Patrick Hughes, Senior Director, Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
NEMA recently published a survey of New York City building managers asking about actions they took to improve their facilities' energy efficiency after benchmarking their properties. The results were very impressive: energy benchmarking leads to changed behaviors and new energy-efficient equipment installations.

Tom Horner, Vice President, Water Management
The Water-Energy Nexus.

Mary Blanchard, Associate Director, Wisconsin Energy Institute at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 
University of Wisconsin-Madison is working to tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time—the transition to clean, more efficient energy systems and solutions. The Wisconsin Energy Institute is led by scientists and engineers committed to crossing traditional research boundaries in order to make major breakthroughs in energy research, with particular expertise in the areas of electricity systems, transportation and fuels, and energy and society.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM

Panel 3 — Ultra-Low & Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Kiere DeGrandchamp, Head of Construction Operations, High Performance Homes

Katrin Klingenberg, Executive Director, Passive House Institute US

Kurt Riesenberg, Executive Director, Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance
This presentation will focus on Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation and roofing’s contribution to the energy efficiency, net-zero energy, and renewable energy landscape in the United States (with reference to a recently published SPF & PV Integration Technical Document). Kurt Riesenberg will also present general performance attributes of SPF, and educational and professional ISO-certification opportunities within the industry as a benefit to the customer.

John Rockwell, Technical Sales Engineer, Zehnder America, Inc
Whole-House Ventilation Systems: Providing Healthy, Comfortable, & Energy Efficient Indoor Solutions
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to (1) understand the advantages and weaknesses of supply-only, exhaust-only, and balanced ventilation systems; (2) learn how heat recovery ventilation enables a comfortable and healthy environment; (3) understand HRV/ERV’s role in building an energy efficient home; (4) learn how to evaluate and choose the most effective HRV/ERV system.

11:55 AM – 12:45 PM

Panel 4 — Energy Efficient Building Systems

Lauren Asplen, Director of Healthy Sustainability Programs, BlueGreen Alliance
Supercharging energy efficiency retrofits with BuildingClean.org, a new, free tool to find energy efficient products manufactured in the United States, as well as those products with third-party health certifications and/or transparency reports listing the chemicals they contain.

Greg Merritt, Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Cree, Inc.
The next frontier of building energy efficiency moves beyond appliance efficiency and even beyond traditional control systems to enlist building systems, data analytics and software to make buildings more efficient and the people in them more productive.

Richard Kaufman, Vice President of Sales, Harmonics Limited by Jefferson Electric
Using Harmonic Suppression Technology to reduce energy consumption in the electrical systems of high-tech buildings.

Alec Rexroat, Executive Director, Heat and Frost Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust

Keith Strausbaugh, Federal Government Team, Philips Lighting

12:50 PM – 1:30 PM

Panel 5 — Grid, Storage, and Transmission

Zolaikha Strong, Director of Sustainable Energy, Copper Development Association
The U.S. energy storage market is robust and rapidly developing, with strong governmental and venture capital investments, successful demonstration projects and recent technological advancements all contributing to future growth. Copper use in grid energy storage increases the conductivity, sustainability, and durability not only in the applications but in all interconnecting system infrastructure.

Bill White, Director of Business Development, Northeastern U.S., CTC Global Corporation
Strengthening and modernizing America’s high voltage network is essential to continuing the transition to ever higher levels of clean energy. Advanced transmission technologies like high performance transmission conductors accelerate this transition by increasing capacity and making the grid more efficient, reliable, and resilient.

Rob Thornton, President & CEO, International District Energy Association (IDEA)
Critical Energy Infrastructure
District energy/CHP/Microgrids are critical energy infrastructure that are proven strategies to increase energy efficiency, enhance energy security, improve resiliency and reduce emissions for cities, communities and campuses. IDEA has developed an inventory of over 80 potential projects in the United States with an aggregate value of $4.2 billion.

Gerald Deaver, Manager, Regional Transmission Policy, Xcel Energy, WIRES member
Integrating high levels of renewables onto the grid. Xcel Energy, a member of WIRES, has been the leading utility wind provider for several years, largely because of the transmission system.

1:35 PM – 2:05 PM

Panel 6 — Renewable Energy 1: Overview

Amy Halloran, Senior Manager for Renewable Energy Programs, Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories has the second largest portfolio of renewable energy R&D within the DOE National Laboratories.  This system of labs executes federally funded R&D – both basic research and early stage applied research – that supports national renewable energy technology goals.

Steve Clemmer, Director of Energy Research & Analysis, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Steve Clemmer will discuss the impact of federal tax credits and state renewable electricity standards on wind and solar, energy sources that are creating new jobs across America and making renewable energy more affordable for consumers. He will also discuss how renewables are diversifying the U.S. electricity mix, making the grid more reliable and resilient.

Anne Kinsinger, Associate Director, Ecosystems, U.S. Geological Survey
Anne will speak about the role of the U.S. Geological Survey in providing authoritative scientific information, tools, and technologies to support renewable energy project development while minimizing impacts to fish and wildlife.

2:10 PM – 3:10 PM

Panel 7 — Renewable Energy 2: Hydro, Solar, Wind

Celeste Wanner, Research Analyst, Industry Data and Analysis, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

Ross Tyler, Strategy & Development Advisor, Business Network for Offshore Wind
The Business Network for Offshore Wind is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is leading the way toward building a robust offshore wind industry in the United States by bringing together top developers, global experts and member businesses. We have become the center for the offshore wind community and a place for access to education for critical business decision-making and unprecedented networking opportunities.

Jacob Irving, President, Canadian Hydropower Association

Meghan Harwood, Policy and Government Affairs Lead, Natel Energy, Inc.
Natel Energy manufactures an innovative and proprietary low-head, distributed hydropower turbine, the hydroEngine©. Natel is re-thinking the way that we develop new hydropower, providing reliable, operationally flexible renewable energy that is cost-effective, low-impact, and fish-friendly through standardized and modular design.

Dave Zayas, Director of Regulatory Affairs & Technical Services, National Hydropower Association

Christopher Mansour, VP Federal Affairs, Solar Energy Industries Association
Christopher Mansour will talk about current solar industry data.

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

Panel 8 — Biosolutions: Bio-Based Energy and Materials

Jim Lemon, Co-founder and CEO, BTR Energy
Electricity generated with biogas produced from organic waste was approved three years ago by EPA as a biofuel for use in electric vehicles under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Jim Lemon will discuss why this exceptional RFS fuel pathway has still never been used, and the impact it could have on farms and cities across the country.

Leslie Cordes, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
How American innovation and enterprises are helping bottom-of-the-pyramid households improve their livelihoods and health with cleaner energy, and clean cookstoves and fuels.

Anne Steckel, Vice President of Federal Affairs, National Biodiesel Board
Biodiesel has grown from a niche industry to a commercial-scale, nationwide fuel. Last year alone, Americans used nearly 2.9 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel. Anne Steckel will discuss the key role of biodiesel in meeting the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Arlan Peters, Head of Sustainability NA, Novozymes
Novozymes is the world leader in developing biological solutions for industrial processes, which can be applied in a dozen different industries such as biofuels, agriculture and household care. Our innovative biological solutions improve industrial manufacturing processes by saving energy, water and raw materials, while reducing waste and emissions, and helping make everyday products more sustainable.

David Biderman, Executive Director, Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
David Biderman will discuss the important contribution that waste makes in the renewable energy sector. He will discuss various technologies and disposal options through which waste is converted to energy and reduces America’s dependence on foreign fuel.

Claude Convisser, CEO & General Counsel, Plant Oil Powered (POP) Diesel
EPA-approved, pure jatropha plant oil diesel engine fuel running at 100 percent concentration gives better engine performance, costs less, and has the potential to replace all of the petroleum diesel fuel consumed in the United States.