Tag Archives: Wind

Tapping into the Power of Offshore Wind

CPES and NEWIEE Annual Joint Event |  9.11.19  | 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM  |  REGISTER

 

Join CPES and NEWIEE for our annual joint event on September 11th (Wednesday) from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM for a discussion on offshore wind. The meeting will be held at the historic G. Fox Building in downtown Hartford.

Moderated by Beth Barton, Day Pitney, LLP

Panelists Include:

  • Lauren Savidge, Director of Energy Supply,
    Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 
  • Mandy Tornabene, Vice President, Environmental Services
    Dominion Energy 
  • Elisabeth-Anne Treseder, Lead Policy Advisor
    Orsted North America 
  • Tanya Bodell, Executive Director
    Energyzt

Bios:

Elizabeth “Beth” Barton’s more than 25 years of experience in environmental and land use litigation, permitting and consultation, encompasses involvement at the federal, state and local levels, including for clients involved in manufacturing, energy, real estate, project development and restructuring. She assists a diverse array of clients with resource planning and compliance, project implementation, environmental considerations in transactions, Brownfields’ repurposing, environmental investigation and remediation, and cost recovery and contribution litigation. Beth provides legal services in support of innovative development projects, including large Brownfield restoration projects in Connecticut, such as the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury; smaller urban initiatives, such as the Learning Corridor in Hartford and the Blue Back Square development in West Hartford.

Beth writes and speaks often on land use and environmental topics. She has appeared in The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Law360, Connecticut Law Tribune, Bloomberg BNA, Brownfield Renewal and New England Real Estate Journal. She is also very actively involved in leadership positions in her field and the community. Most recently, Beth served on the Connecticut Water Planning Council Steering Committee for development of the State Water Plan.

Lauren Savidge is the Director of the Office of Energy Supply within the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection and is responsible for conducting clean and renewable energy procurements and other policy initiatives in the electric power sector. Prior to her current role, Lauren was a Staff Attorney advising the Energy Bureau at DEEP. Lauren received a J.D. and a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and a B.A. in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross.

Amanda B. “Mandy” Tornabene is vice president–Environmental Services.
She is responsible for employees and contractors engaged in providing environmental support for Dominion Energy. This includes permitting and regulatory support and the development and implementation of training, guidance and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.

Tornabene joined Dominion Energy in 2008 as a senior counsel. She was promoted to director–Gas Environmental Services in 2014 and director– Environmental Services (Air and Gas Infrastructure Group) in 2016. She assumed her current post in March 2017. She previously was an associate at Hunton & Williams.

She serves on the boards of the Virginia Repertory Theater and Blue Sky Fund.
Tornabene received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Randolph-Macon College and her J.D. from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law.

Elisabeth Treseder is the Lead Policy Advisor for Ørsted’s North American business. Elisabeth advocates for federal and state policies that support the emerging offshore wind market in North America. Prior to joining Ørsted, Beth worked for the American Petroleum Institute managing infrastructure policy. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Energy and Business from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Duke University.

Tanya Bodell is the Executive Director of Energyzt. For nearly 25 years, Ms. Bodell has provided business advice and expert support to energy clients, informing their decisions on corporate strategy, investment opportunities, market conditions, asset valuation, mergers/acquisitions, restructuring, regulatory outreach and market analysis. Ms. Bodell interacts extensively with executives and senior management, adding value through development of business strategy, expert insights, and transaction support. Ms. Bodell also has significant experience in issues in which hundreds of millions of dollars are at risk, often serving as the industry expert in cases being arbitrated, mediated, litigated, and heard before regulatory agencies, courts of law and arbitration panels. She regularly writes articles on industry topics and is a regular columnist for Pennwell Publications’ Electric Light & Power, offering bi-monthly insights on economic, policy and business dynamics impacting energy markets.

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!

Register Now to Ensure You Have a Ticket  
 

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