The Connecticut Policy and Energy Society is excited to announce its 2021 Fall Conference “The Future of Energy: What’s the Deal?,” which will take place virtually on October 21^st. This year, The Future of Energy will highlight emerging trends within the energy industry focused on equity and inclusion. Throughout this day-long event, we will spotlight the ways the energy industry can be a continued driver towards representing underserved populations while providing attendees with important and substantive energy industry updates. 

 

10:15-10:45am: Morning Keynote: Andrew Wishnia, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Climate Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation

 

10:45-11:15am:  Sustainability for All – Moving CT’s Municipalities Towards an Inclusive Energy Future
Municipalities across the state are grappling with the best strategies and solutions to welcome energy projects in underserved portions of their community. This conversational panel, led by Lynn Stoddard, Executive Director of SustainableCT, includes leaders from the City of Hartford and the Town of Coventry who will share their ongoing initiatives and insightful ideas on how other municipalities can equitably host new energy projects in their towns. Whether the town is large or small, rural or urban, this is a must see panel!

• Moderator: Lynn Stoddard, SustainableCT
• Panelist: Shubhada Kambli, Sustainability Director, City of Hartford
• Panelist: John Elsesser, Town Manager, Town of Coventry

11:15-11:30am: Break

11:30-12:00pm: How Diverse Voices are Incorporated in Renewable Energy Development
This panel will highlight renewable energy development on tribal land and discuss how indigenous tribes are charting their own energy future.

• Moderator: David Bogan, Partner, Day Pitney
• Panelist: Keith Gove, Top Division Operations Executive, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Panelist: Tommy Jones, Deployment Specialist for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs

12:00-1:00pm: Incorporating Equity in the Regulatory Process

• Panelist: Marissa Gillett, Chairman of Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
• Panelist: Matthew Nelson, Chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

1:00-1:45pm: Energy Policy Impacts on Vulnerable Communities: Identifying the Problem and Bringing Solutions to the Table

• Moderator: Brenda Watson, Executive Director, Operation Fuel
• Panelist: John Howat, Senior Energy Analyst, National Consumer Law Center
• Panelist: Donnel Baird, Founder, BlocPower
• Panelist: Quentin “Q” Phipps, State Representative 

1:45-2:00pm: Break

2:00-2:30pm: Connecticut’s Cannabis Industry: The Equity and Energy Nexus
This panel will focus on the emerging cannabis industry, and discuss whether there are energy/equity lessons that may prove illustrative to the energy industry.

• Moderator: Andréa Comer, DCP Deputy Commissioner and Chair of the Social Equity Council
• Panelist: Fran Boucher, Energy Efficiency Program Manager, National Grid
• Panelist: Timothy (TJ) Navarro, Solutions Director, Efficiency Made Easy (EME), Constellation

2:30-3:30pm: A Look Into CA and NY Energy Equity Policies
The California Energy Commission manages data known as Energy Equity Indicators to help identify opportunities to improve access to clean energy technologies for low-income customers and disadvantaged communities, increase clean energy investment in those communities, and improve community resilience to grid outages and extreme events.  NYSERDA has developed a Solar Energy Equity Framework to increase clean energy investments in disadvantaged communities.

• Moderator: Bryan Garcia, President & CEO of the CT Green Bank
• Panelist: Katrina Leni-Konig, Energy Research and Development Supervisor at the California Energy Commission 
• Panelist: Christopher Coll, Director at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)