Agenda & Presentations

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park
Forest Center Building 
54 Elm Street 
Woodstock, VT 05091

May 22 – Day One

8:00 a.m
Continental Breakfast

8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
  • Judith Judson, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
  • John Williams, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Member, NASEO Board of Directors

8:45 a.m. – 10:45 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 in their state. The items should include energy policy and program actions covered by your office, as well as other state policy and energy market trends that you consider significant. The discussion will help inform your colleagues and facilitate potential coordination among states. An expected outcome will be the identification of specific ways in which peers throughout the region can work together to resolve issues, share best practices, or take advantage of new energy opportunities.

Moderators:

  • Judith Judson, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; Member, NASEO Board of Directors
  • John Williams, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Member, NASEO Board of Directors

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.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: 

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 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 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 and Territory Energy Office input on priorities and needs.

Moderator:

  • Lisa Smith, Senior Planner, Maine Governor’s Energy Office

Presenter: 

  • Greg Davoren, Team Lead, Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. 
Electricity Storage and Related Opportunities 
This session will highlight the landmark Massachusetts Storage Study.  The session includes a discussion among the states on their energy storage-related activities, plans, and needs. 

Moderator:

  • John Williams, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Member, NASEO Board of Directors

Presenter:

  • Judith Judson, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; Member, NASEO Board of Directors

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Break

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. 
Enriching the Energy Economy through Collaborations with Institutions of Higher Learning 
Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business launched the Revers Center for Energy last year to “inspire and shape tomorrow’s leaders in energy while engaging in today’s energy economy.” This session will look at the Center’s mission and engage participants in a discussion on projects of interest to states as well as areas of mutual cooperation.

Moderator:

  • Myles Matteson, Director, New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning

Presenter:

  • April Salas, Executive Director, Revers Center for Energy, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College

3:45 p.m.  – 5:15 p.m. 
Buildings Sector – Infrastructure Modernization Opportunities 
This session will focus on two buildings opportunities and challenges, including: 1) public facility energy and water retrofits and best practices in Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC); and 2) residential building energy labeling.  Both topics are linked to modernizing energy infrastructure, promoting increased interaction between the grid and buildings, and highlighting the importance of data and information in decision making.

Moderator:

  • Joanne Morin, Deputy Commissioner, Energy Policy, Planning and Analysis, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Presenters:

  • Donald Gilligan, President, National Association of Energy Services Companies
  • Richard Faesy, Principal, Energy Futures Group
  • Joe Cullen, Director of Policy and State Outreach, Home Performance Coalition

6:00 p.m.
Networking Dinner (Worthy Kitchen; 442 Woodstock Road, Woodstock, VT 05091)

Sponsored by:

Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association

May 23 – Day Two

8:00 a.m. ­– 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. 
Transportation Activities in the Northeast ­– Infrastructure Modernization Opportunities 
This session focuses on the impact of the Volkswagen (VW) Settlement on states within the region, and will explore various alternative fuel technologies that states may use to advance clean transportation in the Northeast. Speakers will share updates on the VW settlement; provide a market overview and update on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure, including off-road applications and opportunities under the VW settlement; and will share insights from new research showing the benefits to all ratepayers of widespread electric vehicle adoption.

Moderator:

  • Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief for Energy Policy, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Presenters:

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Break

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 
Electricity Transmission Siting and Renewables Integration Challenges ­– Infrastructure Modernization Opportunities 
This session will explore challenges and opportunities in the Northeast related to enhancing existing electric transmission, siting for new transmission lines, and the integration of solar and other distributed energy resources.

Moderator:

  • John Williams, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Member, NASEO Board of Directors

Presenters:

  • Kerrick Johnson, Vice President of Strategy and Communication, Vermont Electric Power Company
  • Steve Long, Director of Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts
  • David Townley, Director of Public Affairs, CTC Global Corporation

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Financing – Gaps, Trends, National Developments, and Local Government Cooperation 
This session will focus on two timely energy financing issues – Residential PACE and Affordable Housing-related HUD Initiatives.  Balancing consumer protection, the needs of low and moderate income, market gaps, and programs that require federal, state and local coordination are an ongoing challenge for State Energy Offices. This special update session explores the latest developments in these important financing areas.

Moderator:

  • Carol Grant, Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Presenter:

  • Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief for Energy Policy, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Networking Lunch -- Informal Conversation: NECPUC Utility Regulators and NASEO Energy Policy Implementers 
NASEO and the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners (NECPUC) engaged in an initial round of information-sharing communication in 2016 about policy issues of common interest. It started at the Northeast Regional Meeting in Boston, continued at a special joint session in Worcester, and culminated at the NECPUC Symposium in Falmouth. Two of the Northeast utility commissioners, Hon. Robert Scott of New Hampshire and Hon. Sarah Hofmann of Vermont, aided by NECPUC Executive Director Rachel Goldwasser, have agreed to lead an informal conversation promoting information-sharing between utility regulator and energy policy leaders.  All state energy office leaders are welcome and encouraged to join in the conversation.

Moderator:

  • Chuck Clinton, Senior Technical Advisor, NASEO

Presenters:

  • Honorable Robert Scott, Commissioner, New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission; Co-Chair, New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
  • Honorable Sarah Hofmann, Commissioner, Vermont Public Service Board

1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 
Energy Emergency Planning, Mitigation, and Response – State, Federal, and Industry Roles 
In 2016, bipartisan action by Congress directed the U.S. Department of Energy to expand cooperative activities with states and industry to address energy assurance, including liquid fuels, electricity, and interdependent infrastructure.  This discussion-oriented session will focus on northeastern regional challenges faced by states in dealing with hazards and critical infrastructure interdependencies, the growing threat posed by cyber-attacks, and state energy emergency planning and mitigation examples.

Moderator:

  • Joanne Morin, Deputy Commissioner, Energy Policy, Planning and Analysis, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Presenters:

  • Honorable Robert Scott, Commissioner, New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission; Co-Chair, New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners’ Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
  • Fred Hoover, Senior Program Director, NASEO

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
Action items, Wrap-Up, and Adjournment 
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 federal agencies.

Presenter: 

  • John Williams, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Member, NASEO Board of Directors