18th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum

VIDEOS

• Keynote Speakers

• Panels (Policy Forum)

  1. Overview - Policy Issues (1 of 2)
  2. Overview - Policy Issues (2 of 2)
  3. Bioenergy
  4. Fuel Cells – Geothermal – Solar – Transportation - Waste-To-Energy – Wind
  5. Hydropower and Water Technologies
  6. Sustainable Buildings (1 of 2)
  7. Sustainable Buildings (2 of 2)
  8. Behind the Scenes: Grid and Transmission Issues

Representative Dave Reichert (WA),

Co-Chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

Representative Chris Van Hollen (MD),

Co-Chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

Senator Martin Heinrich (NM)

Senator Ed Markey (MA)

Representative Matt Cartwright (PA)

Representative John Delaney (MD)

Representative Peter Welch (VT)

Administration Speakers

Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, Assistant Secretary for Energy, Installations & Environment, U.S. Navy

Miranda Ballantine, Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment, and Energy, U.S. Air Force

Sam Rikkers, Deputy Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Christopher McLean, Assistant Administrator of the Electric Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Doug Hollett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Ray Brady, Manager, National Renewable Energy Coordination Office, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior

PANEL 1: OVERVIEW – POLICY ISSUES 1

Scott Sklar, President, The Stella Group, Ltd.; Adjunct Professor, George Washington University

Ray Brady, Manager, National Renewable Energy Coordination Office, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior

Jeff Deyette, Asst. Director, Energy Research and Analysis, Union of Concerned Scientists
The EPA’s forthcoming Clean Power Plan presents a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy nationwide. This presentation will discuss the Clean Power Plan’s potential in curbing emissions with renewables and the role that Congress can play in ensuring that these technologies are prioritized as part of state compliance strategies.

PANEL 2: OVERVIEW – POLICY ISSUES 2

Zoe Berkery, Manager (Federal Policy), Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE)
BCSE will focus its remarks on the 2015 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook produced in partnership with Bloomberg New Energy Finance as well as recent key sustainable energy policy development findings.

Deborah D. Stine, PhD, Professor of the Practice, Engineering and Public Policy Department; Associate Director for Policy Outreach, Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University
Non-Market Factors and Emerging Energy Technologies
Dr. Stine will be talking about polices that either encourage or discourage emerging energy technologies from reaching their full potential in the marketplace.

Dale Louda, Executive Director, CHP Association

Nicole Steele, Executive Director, GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
Ms. Steele will discuss how GRID works with community partners, volunteers and job trainees to implement solar power and energy efficiency for low-income families, and describe what works in which areas and why, including low-income solar rebate programs, single-family versus multi-family and community solar models, homeowners versus renters, and innovative job training workforce development approaches. She will also address challenges and opportunities in elevating the solar access conversation to the national level, including policy development and implementation, working with affordable housing developers, renewable energy credits, and net metering programs.

Mike Dieterich, Owner and Founder, Renew & Sustain Consulting

PANEL 3: BIOENERGY

Joanne M. Ivancic, Executive Director, Advanced Biofuels USA
Watch What They Do—The Obama Administration and Climate Change: What It Looks Like from a Transportation Perspective
A review of the Obama Administration’s actions related to providing a path to achieving both fuel economy (CAFE) standards and Renewable Fuel Standard goals. Includes suggestions for ensuring the production and use of cars and trucks that go farthest using the least amount of life-cycle carbon and highlights the need for synchronizing fuel combustion and fuel production policies for heat, power and transportation.

Morgan Pitts, Manager, Communications & External Affairs, Enviva

Blake Lindsey, Founder & Chief Administrative Officer, Meredian Holdings Group, Inc. (MHG)
Agrofacturing™
Agrofacturing™ is a term MHG has developed that describes an economic model in which it contracts with local farmers to grow certain crops, and crushes the seeds for oil which is used in a biorefinery process to produce bioplastics that are drop-in replacement materials for historically petro-based plastic products.

Anne Steckel, Vice President of Federal Affairs, National Biodiesel Board (NBB)
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
The EPA recently announced proposed biodiesel volumes under the RFS through 2017. NBB supports EPA’s proposal to increase volumes for biodiesel and other Advanced Biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) while calling for improvements in the final rule. Biodiesel is the first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel under the RFS to reach commercial-scale production nationwide; reducing our dependence on petroleum, cutting dangerous pollution and creating jobs in a new American energy industry.

Rob Walther, Director of Federal Affairs, POET
Cellulosic ethanol is either on the brink of a breakthrough or on the brink of disaster, and the White House is in control.

Mark M. Brodziski, Director, Energy Division, Rural Business--Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Mr. Brodziski's focus will be on the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program and the Rural Energy for America Program.

PANEL 4: FUEL CELLS – GEOTHERMAL – SOLAR – TRANSPORTATION - WASTE-TO-ENERGY – WIND

Jim Reilly, Senior Vice President for Federal Legislative Affairs, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

David Giordano, Federal & State Government Relations, Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc.

Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association
The Geothermal Industry in 2015
A review of the industry’s status in 2015 and of the growth trends in the U.S. and international geothermal markets.

Dennis Loria, Senior Vice President of Project Development, Greenwood Energy
Mr. Loria will discuss the company's domestic and international portfolio and pipeline of clean energy technologies including solar, wind, and energy storage projects. Greenwood has operating projects in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions and is pursuing new project opportunities throughout the United States as well as international efforts in Latin America. Greenwood's domestic projects include combined heat and power projects as well as a number of solar projects: ground-mount (including brownfield and landfill sites) and commercial rooftop. Greenwood urges Federal and Congressional policymakers to support clean energy's growth by providing an expiration glide path for the Investment Tax Credit, providing federal support for energy storage projects, and adopting the EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal. Winding down the ITC will help business plan better. Energy storage is the key to expanding the role of renewables in our economy and incentives will help the market develop and drive down prices faster. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the Clean Power Plan will reduce emissions between 29 and 36 percent by 2030 while adding between 138-393 gigawatts of new renewable energy generation capacity through 2040. 

Alan J. Levine, President & Founder, Hybrid Pedals
Mr. Levine will focus on the electric bike industry: market trends, technology advances, the ability to solar charge bikes, and the vast economic, environmental, health and efficiency benefits of electric bikes.

Anne Germain, Director of Waste & Recycling Technology, National Waste & Recycling Association
The Benefits of Landfill Gas
Using landfill gas (LFG) provides many benefits by generating energy and off-setting fossil-fuel use and reducing methane emissions. LFG is used to generate the equivalent of over 2,000 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy in the United States, which is enough energy to power approximately 1.2 million households.

Seth Stulgis, Senior Marketing Manager, Stion
Mr. Sulgis will speak about CIGS solar thin film technology, and highlight Stion's manufacturing facility in Mississippi. Stion has four 1MW solar projects that are now operational in the Southeast, and a 4MW project in Mauritius.

PANEL 5: HYDROPOWER AND WATER TECHNOLOGIES

Jacob Irving, President, Canadian Hydropower Association

David Jacot, P.E., Director of Efficiency Solutions, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Water Efficiency and Conservation as a Supply-Side resource

LeRoy Coleman, Senior Manager of Strategic Communications, National Hydropower Association
Trey Taylor, Co-Founder & President, Verdant Power International

Dr. Daniel Farb, CEO, Pioneer Valley Renewables and Leviathan Energy Group
Dr. Farb will speak on the implications of Pioneer Valley Renewables' more efficient hydrokinetic turbines for hydroelectric power as well as the energy crisis.

Thomas Horner, Vice President, Water Management, Inc.
Water Management for the Modern Age
Mr. Horner will be focusing on technological advances used in the water industry.

PANEL 6: SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS 1

Greg Merritt, Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Cree, Inc.
The importance of light quality and a better lighting experience, in addition to energy efficiency, to encourage widespread adoption.

Alec Rexroat, Executive Director, Heat and Frost Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust  (LMCT)
Mr. Rexroat will be speaking about how mechanical insulation can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as save energy and money as we develop renewables that can sustain our energy needs.

Shana Longo, Government Affairs & Sustainability Analyst, Legrand North America
Legrand's Commitment to Sustainability
Ms. Longo will highlight Legrand's membership in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and its operational goals; the importance of electrical design in realizing energy efficiency goals (with Parkland Hospital as an example); market enablers driving high-performance buildings; and the importance of updating codes, adopting buildings & development ordinances, and DOE technology programs to support manufacturer competitiveness.

Barry Stephens, Business Development & Technology Director, Zehnder America, Inc.
The history of building science is riddled with unintended consequences, some of them resulting in very negative impacts on the health, comfort and/or safety of occupants. As we move toward energy efficiency in our buildings, it will be important to balance the desire for low energy consumption with the goal of attaining excellent health and comfort outcomes for occupants.

PANEL 7: SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS 2

Kiere DeGrandchamp, President, High Performance Homes
Kiere DeGrandchamp will present how innovative high performance building technologies are leading the future of the housing industry. An overview of the stringent standards and value these exceptional homes hold for the people, the economy and the environment will be offered to inform policy decisions.

Paul Bertram, Director: Environment, Sustainability, Government Affairs, Kingspan Insulated Panels

Tom Herron, Director, Communications and Marketing, National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)

Katrin Klingenberg, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)

PANEL 8: BEHIND THE SCENES: GRID AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES

Tim Martinson, Co-Founder, dcFUSION LLC

Rob Thornton, President & CEO, International District Energy Association

James Hoecker [TBC], Husch Blackwell LLP, WIRES Counsel and former Chairman of FERC