Category Archives: CPES Programs

Cybersecurity: Tension Between Innovation and Security

Join us on October 7, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Yale University’s Kroon Hall for a discussion on Cybersecurity: Tension Between Innovation and Security.

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As we modernize our electric infrastructure and deploy smart meters and other advanced technologies, we continue to face data breaches and ongoing attempts to disrupt the power grid.  This timely event will explore the tensions between innovation and security as panelists consider the implications of greater access to real time customer information and how to secure that data.  On the grid side, generators are the backbone to providing power required to keep the lights on.  But these key infrastructure components face threats to both their cyber and physical infrastructure.  Whether customer-facing or grid-facing, this panel will discuss some of the implications a cyberattack could have on the grid and present practical tools to prepare for system disruptions.

(Bios Available Below)

Moderator:

  • Arthur House, Connecticut Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer

Panelists:

  • Conor Phoenix, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI, New Haven, Cyber Squad
  • Steven Cash, Counsel, Day Pitney LLP
  • Benjamin Loebick, Manager of Smart Meter System Operations, UIL Holdings Corporation

NOTE: 1 CLE credit eligible

Arthur House, Connecticut Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer

Arthur House became Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer for the State of Connecticut in October 2016 after four years as Chairman of Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.  His current work includes work on cybersecurity strategy and action plans with Black Sea Region countries and with several Balkan countries.  He holds a Top Secret security clearance.

House has a background in national security, having served as Director of Communications in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as Chief of the Communications Group for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a combat support agency of the U.S. Department of Defense.  As a White House Fellow, he was Special Projects Officer at the National Security Council.

 Conor Phoenix, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI, New Haven, Cyber Squad

Conor Phoenix is the Supervisory Special Agent of the Cyber squad in the FBI’s New Haven Field Office.  The Cyber squad is responsible for investigating both national security and criminal computer intrusions and other high-tech activities that are in violation of U.S. federal law and where prosecution of such violations would have venue within the District of Connecticut.

Conor graduated from the University of Florida in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned a law degree from the College of William and Mary’s Marshall Wythe School of Law in 1996.  Conor entered on duty as a FBI Special Agent in April 2002, and from 2002 through 2011, Conor was assigned to the New Haven Field Office, where he worked a wide variety of cyber investigations.  In mid-2011, Conor was promoted to the FBI’s Cyber Division in Chantilly, Virginia.  While there, Conor played a significant role in the development and implementation of strategy and policies affecting the cyber program throughout the FBI.

Conor returned to the New Haven Field Office in late 2014, after departing an assignment to the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in London.  Upon returning, Conor helped form New Haven’s Cyber Task Force, which is currently comprised of 21 federal, state and local investigators.  Conor was the co-case agent of an investigation which led to the 2017 arrest and subsequent extradition of a Russian hacker; and, in September 2019, Conor received his promotion as the Cyber squad’s supervisor.

In his off-time, Conor is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Computer Science at the University of New Haven.

Steven Cash, Counsel, Day Pitney LLP

Steven Cash represents individual and corporate clients in criminal, commercial litigation and national security matters.

Steven has broad experience at the federal and state level in the executive, legislative and judicial branches. He was Chief Counsel and Staff Director (Minority) to the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security, and Chief Counsel to Senator Dianne Feinstein. He has also served as Chief of Staff to the Director of Intelligence, Department of Energy; as Staff Director to the U.S. House of Representative’s Select Committee on Homeland Security; and as a Professional Staff Member and Counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Steven was deeply involved in much of the legislation developed after the 9/11 attacks, including the USA-Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security Act and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which created the position of Director of National Intelligence. Steven also served as an Intelligence Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, first as an Assistant General Counsel and then, with the Directorate of Operations.

Before joining federal service, Steven served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Rackets Bureau and Trial Division of the New York County District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan. There, he investigated and tried numerous cases, ranging from violent crime to industry corruption.

Steven is the owner and founder of Deck Prism, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in providing assistance to U.S. and state government entities engaged in national security, homeland security and law enforcement. Prior to 2008, Steven was a principal and counsel at PRTM Management Consultants (since merged with PriceWaterhouseCoopers), focusing on consulting with government clients involved in national security and law enforcement issues.

Steven was a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas P. Griesa in the Southern District of New York

Benjamin Loebick, Manager of Smart Meter System Operations, UIL Holdings Corporation

Benjamin has worked at United Illuminating (UI) for over 11 years, progressing to be Manager of Smart Meter Systems Operations – CT.  With over 20 years of utilities experience, he has previously worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, for Northeast Utilities, and for a telephone company in Prague, Czech Republic before joining UI. 

At UI he leads a highly skilled team of analysts who are responsible for all data collected by meters, using it to identify network or meter issues, possible customer electrical problems, and potential energy theft, among other things.  He is responsible for the daily operations of the Meter Data Management System, MV90 interval data system, the dual AMI/AMR network and the PI Historian system. As the keeper of all meter data, his team is integrated into outage management, the customer web portal and the meter-to-cash processes.  Additionally he has broad experience with distributed generation, data analytics, meter data processes, customer billing and customer care.

Benjamin has a BS and MS in Civil Engineering, an MBA in Finance and Organizational Behavior, and holds a Professional Engineering license in the state of Connecticut.  

 

PROGRAM: Surf & Turf Wars (joint CPES & NEWIEE meeting)

Surf & Turf Wrap Up:  September 12, 2018
Connecticut Power & Energy Society / New England Women in Energy and the Environment
Joint Program

On Wednesday, September 12, more than 80 members of the Connecticut Power and Energy Society(CPES) and New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE) met at Upward Hartford for the 4th annual joint panel discussion, this year’s titled “Surf & Turf Wars.” The evening included networking and refreshments, followed by a panel of speakers discussing the state of offshore wind and solar project development in New England, with a focus on Connecticut. Moderator Weezie Nuara, NEWIEE Board Member and Senior External Affairs Representative at ISO New England, was joined by:

  • Melanie Bachman – Executive Director, CT Siting Council
  • Kathryn Chelminkski – Manager of New Market Development – Solar PV, Ameresco
  • Sue Moberg – Principal, VHB’s Energy and Environmental Services Group
  • Stephanie Wilson – Director of Permitting and Environmental Affairs, Deepwater Wind

Panelists discussed the elements of successful projects, both solar PV and offshore wind, and in
contrast, the stumbling blocks hindering future developments. The role of states purchasing power through RFPs was emphasized by all the speakers, along with certain recent improvements in the transparency in regulatory processes, as critical drivers.

At the same time, the start and stop nature of some incentives and competing state authorities can be detrimental to development. The panelists spoke to the changes brought by CT’s 2017 legislative session, altering siting procedures for agricultural and core forest land and the challenges the state faces in navigating implementation of the changes.

The night’s conversation also covered the region’s potential to be a national leader in offshore wind, building on Block Island Wind Farm and recent procurements by Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. From stakeholder engagement to regional coordination, panelists spoke to the opportunities that are on the horizon.

If you are interested in photos from this program, please contact Jennifer MacNeil at jennifermacneil99@gmail.com.

 More details on Speakers Below

Join the New England Offshore Wind and Solar Project Discussion!

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Where:  Upward Hartford, Hartford, CT   |   9.12.18  from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Register

This joint meeting between CPES and New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE) will include Moderator Mary Louise “Weezie” Nuara (ISO New England) along with Panelists: Melanie Bachman (Connecticut Siting Council), Kathryn Chelminski (Ameresco), Sue Moberg (VHB), and Stephanie Wilson (Deepwater Wind).  The discussion will involve the state of offshore wind and solar project development in New England with specific focus on Connecticut.

Topics will touch on: 

  • What projects are moving forward? 
  • Which projects are being selected in the state RFPs for clean energy resources? 
  • How is Connecticut balancing land use for agricultural and solar PV development?

 THE PANEL:

Weezie Nuara (MODERATOR) is a Senior External Affairs Representative for ISO New England, where she is responsible for performing outreach to government officials in the New England states. She tracks energy legislation and administrative activity at the state public utility commissions and energy offices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including developments at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. 

Weezie supports the ISO’s outreach to government officials during power system events and emergencies, and is actively engaged in the New England Consumer Liaison Group, which meets quarterly to discuss issues of importance to electricity consumers in New England. Weezie serves on the Board of Directors for New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE), where she chairs the Membership Committee and Western New England Chapter activities.

Prior to joining the ISO, Weezie worked as an attorney for Dominion Resources, Inc., focusing on environmental compliance for Dominion’s merchant generation fleet in New England. She received her undergraduate degree in Government from the University of Virginia in 2006 and her J.D. from the New England School of Law in 2009.

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Melanie Bachman has been Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Executive Director since May 2013, and CSC Staff Attorney since October 2008.  She is also a Member of the CPES Advisory Committee.  She was at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Regionalized Infractions Adjudications from 2006-2008; Land Use and Real Estate Associate 2005-2008, Adjunct Faculty Legal Studies at Naugatuck Valley Community College 2005-2008.  She received her JD from UCONN Law (Environmental Law focus) and her BS in Business Management from Fordham University.

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Kathryn Chelminski is Manager of New Market Development for Ameresco’s efforts into new territories. Prior to joining Ameresco, she was a doctoral research fellow focused on energy policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Cambridge, and has held research positions at the United Nations Environment Program and the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation. Kathryn holds a PhD in International Relations/Political Science, for which her research focused on financial and regulatory barriers to renewable energy development.

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Susan Moberg is a Principal in VHB’s Energy and Environmental Services Group.  She has 25 years of experience permitting complex infrastructure projects in New England and New York. Susan has provided Project Management and Environmental Permitting services on numerous energy siting and licensing projects including National Grid’s Rhode Island Reliability Project, Central Hudson Gas & Electric H&SB Lines Reconstruction Project, the Deepwater Wind South Fork Wind Farm, and more recently, the Tobacco Valley Solar 26 MW Solar Plant in Simsbury, CT.

She has overseen the development of state energy facility licensing, state and federal wetland permitting for work in freshwater and tidal ecosystems, rare species/vernal pool surveys and monitoring, FAA permitting, acoustic modelling, civil engineering, stormwater compliance and many other services.

Susan earned a Bachelors Degree in Soil and Water Resource Science from the University of Rhode Island.

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Stephanie Wilson is Director of Permitting and Environmental Affairs at Deepwater Wind. She has over 20 years of experience in permitting and environmental compliance for marine and coastal development projects. Prior to joining Deepwater Wind, Stephanie worked as an environmental consultant, preparing and reviewing impact assessment documents, and collaborating with federal and state agencies and other key stakeholders, on behalf of clients associated with various coastal development projects, including offshore energy development projects.

She has prepared Environmental Impacts Statements, Operations Plans, Monitoring and Mitigation Plans, and Deep Water Port Applications and is very familiar with the requirements of and compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines for projects related to offshore energy development including National/State Environmental Policy Acts (Environmental Assessment/ Environmental Impact Statements), Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act, Clean Water Act (including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), Coastal Zone Management Act, Water Resources Development Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Oil Pollution Act.

She earned a Masters in Science degree at the University of Rhode Island with a focus on Marine Biology (Fisheries) and a Bachelors in Science degree from the University of New Hampshire with a major in Marine and Freshwater Biology and minor in Statistics.

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM 
Location: Upward Hartford, 20 Church Street, Hartford, CT

Agenda: Networking, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a lively discussion