Agenda / Presentation
Click on names that are blue links for a copy of their presentation.
June 26-27, 2017
The Hotel Hershey
Blue Mountain Room
100 Hotel Road
Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
June 26 – Day One
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
- Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Marisa Slaten, Director, Division of Economic Development and Emerging Issues, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
- Tommy Wells, Director, District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
State Policy and Program Priorities Roundtable
During this roundtable session, each State and Territory Energy Office will share major energy policy, program, and priority actions and issues. Items to be covered include: energy policy and program and significant energy market trends. The discussion will help inform and facilitate potential coordination among by identifying opportunities throughout the region to resolve issues, share best practices, and take advantage of new opportunities.
Moderators:
- Marisa Slaten, Director, Division of Economic Development and Emerging Issues, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
- Tommy Wells, Director, District Department of Energy and Environment; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
National Energy Policy and Funding Outlook and NASEO Programs Update
This update session provides the latest on federal energy legislation, regulation, and appropriations. In addition, the session will inform and seek feedback from the states on NASEO’s updated State Energy Planning approach and other program activities.
Presenter:
- David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program Update
This session will focus on activities and priorities of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs and the U.S. State Energy Program. The update will include plans for FY’17 and will seek State Energy Office input on priorities and needs.
Moderator:
- Al Christopher, Director, Division of Energy, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
Presenter:
- Amy Kidd, Supervisor, Competitive Project Officers, U.S. Department of Energy
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
PJM Interconnection – Priorities and Update
Moderator:
- Dave Althoff, Manager, Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Presenter:
- Andy Ott, President and Chief Executive Officer, PJM Interconnection
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Joint NASEO/MACRUC Session – Castilian Room
This session will convene the Mid-Atlantic region State Energy Officials and public utility commissioners to discuss matters of mutual interest. The session will be divided into two focus areas: 1) evaluation, monitoring, and verification of energy efficiency programs and 2) microgrids.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification of Energy Efficiency Programs and Initiatives
This session will examine the challenges of effectively evaluating the results of energy efficiency programs and initiatives, both those regulated by PUCs and those undertaken by SEOs. It will also highlight innovative evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V) methods and their potential to provide transparent and accurate indicators of success that can meet the needs of regulators, funders, policy makers, program operators, and the public. To close the session, the attendees will be invited to exchange information and best practices with the session panelists.
Discussion Facilitators:
- The Honorable Richard Mroz, Chairman, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
- The Honorable Diane Burman, Commissioner, New York State Public Service Commission
- Marisa Slaten, Director, Division of Economic Development and Emerging Issues, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
Subject Matter Experts:
- Joe Cullen, Director of Policy and State Outreach, Home Performance Coalition
- Tom Rooney, Vice President of Programs, TRC Solutions
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
De-Centralizing the Electric System: The Role of Microgrids in Grid Modernization
This session will explore the opportunities and challenges of microgrids, focusing on state utility regulatory issues and competitive market strategies for operating distributed energy resources (e.g., storage, generation, and demand constraints) either in parallel with or independent of the primary power grid.
Discussion Facilitators:
- The Honorable Betty Ann Kane, Chairman, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia
- Tommy Wells, Director, District Department of Energy and Environment; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
Subject Matter Expert:
- Mike Winka, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy and Planning, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Overview and Tour of Hershey Corporation’s LEED Gold Headquarters Building
(Shuttle bus will depart promptly at 3:45 p.m. to take attendees to the building located at 19 Chocolate Avenue, Hershey Pennsylvania)
This session will provide a brief overview and description of the recent LEED Gold renovation of the original Hershey chocolate factory, which now serves as corporate headquarters. The session will be followed by a short shuttle bus ride and tour of the facilities.
Presenters:
- Steve Hinkle, Senior Facilities Manager, Hershey Corporation
- Heidi Kunka, Director, Central Pennsylvania Chapter, U.S. Green Building Council
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Networking Reception – (Reception for commissioners and State Energy Officials will be held at the Hershey Corporation Headquarters, located at 19 Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania)
Sponsored by:
6:15 p.m.
Networking Dinner – (Devon’s Seafood and Steak Restaurant, located at the Hershey Press Building, 27 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania)
June 27 – Day Two
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Energy Emergency Planning, Mitigation, and Response – State, Federal, and Industry Roles
The focus here will be a status report on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by NASEO, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the National Governors Association, and the National Emergency Managers Association, specifically on states’ implementation to date of this landmark agreement. Particular emphasis will also be on inter-state coordination throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, challenges faced by SEOs with regard to possible cyber attacks, and strategies to ensure Emergency Service Function 12 and other binding agreements are ready for implementation in the event of a supply interruption.
Moderator:
- Dave Althoff, Manager, Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Presenters:
- Daniel Searfoorce, Reliability and Emergency Preparedness Supervisor, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
- Lynn Costantini, Cybersecurity Specialist, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
- Spencer Wilcox, Director Operational Technology Cybersecurity, Corporate and Information Security Services, Exelon
- Fred Hoover, Senior Program Director, NASEO
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m. – 11: 30 a.m.
Financing – Gaps, Trends, National Developments, and Local Government Cooperation Opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic Region
This session will focus on various energy financing program and policy initiatives which states in the Mid-Atlantic region are pursuing, including Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and strategies to leverage foundation funding.
Moderator:
- Rory Spangler, Energy Program Manager, Maryland Energy Administration
Presenters:
- Tommy Wells, Director, District Department of Energy and Environment; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
- Kenley Farmer, Associate Director, Affordability and Efficiency Division, District Department of Energy and Environment; Member (via phone)
- Dan Farrell, Energy Efficiency Financing Program Manager, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
State-Local Solar Coordination and Technical Assistance
This interactive session will identify states’ technical assistance needs on solar policy and programs. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will provide an overview of: 1) Solar Technical Assistance Team (STAT) Network tools and capabilities; 2) current areas of research, including low-income solar access and clean energy-related economic development policies; and 3) NREL’s State and Local Initiatives.
Moderator:
- Karen Lusure, Energy Development Specialist, West Virginia Division of Energy, Department of Commerce
Presenter:
- Alison Holm, Project Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Transportation Activities and Opportunities – Mid-Atlantic Focus
This session focuses on the impact of the Volkswagen Settlement on states within the region, state-identified opportunities and needs, and input from private-sector stakeholders. Other topics include state and private electric vehicle initiatives, the Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (iREV), and leveraging of private sector investments (i.e., those made by fuel suppliers and automakers).
Moderator:
- Mike Winka, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy and Planning, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Presenters:
- Matthew Goetz, Institute Associate, Georgetown Climate Center
- Sean Egan, Deputy Associate Director for Transit Operations, Transit Delivery Division, District Department of Transportation
- Mark Hand, Regional Energy Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Paul Allen, Senior Vice President, M.J. Bradley and Associates, LLC
- Cassie Powers, Senior Program Director, NASEO
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Action Items and Recommendations
This final session will review agreed-upon actions involving specific states within the region, requests for assistance from NASEO, and feedback to the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies.
Presenters:
- Marisa Slaten, Director, Division of Economic Development and Emerging Issues, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
- Tommy Wells, Director, District Department of Energy and Environment; Member, NASEO Board of Directors