2020 Energy Conference
The 2020 Energy Conference convened panelists from across the energy industry to discuss relevant topics of policy, social justice, technological innovation, and finance. Panels were be spread over four days with a culminating keynote address on day five. Participants could attend any number of panels and had the opportunity to join small-group breakout sessions with the panelists after each event.
Theme: Inflection Point 2020: Powering our Next Decade
To keep clean energy plans on track, the 2020s must be a period of unprecedented deployment. In the wake of the 2020 presidential election, this forward-looking panel contemplated how factors like the incoming administration, COVID-19, technology advancements, and social justice issues will shape clean energy in the critical upcoming decade.
Monday 11/16 12:00 - 12:25 EST
Opening Remarks with Christina Hajj, Manager of Strategy and Special Projects, Business Planning and Development, DTE Energy.
Energy Policy: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape
Monday 11/16 12:30 - 1:20 EST
Jennifer Haverkamp: Director, Graham Sustainability Institute, and Professor of Practice, University of Michigan Law School and School of Public Policy
Dan Scripps: Chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission
Cory Lankford: Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
John Moore: Director, Sustainable FERC Project/Climate and Clean Energy Program, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Madeleine Klein: Managing Director of Policy and Market Strategy, ENGIE Distributed Renewables
Fresh off the results of the 2020 presidential election, this panel created a forum for experienced energy policy professionals to discuss what the next decade may hold for clean energy in the US and American leadership in the fight against climate change.
Energy Justice: Acknowledging and Combating Energy Inequities
Tuesday 11/17 12:00 - 12:50 EST
Tony Reames: Assistant Professor, Energy Justice, U-M School for Environment and Sustainability
Isaac Baker: Co-CEO and Founder, Resonant Energy
Elizabeth Palchak: Senior Consultant, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Regina Strong: Environmental Justice Public Advocate, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Pilar Thomas, Partner, Quarles & Bradley LLP
Equal access to affordable clean energy is not a reality in the US and around the world. In this panel we highlighted some examples of historical and modern energy inequity. We examined systemic causes, learned from past failures, and envisioned methods for increasing inclusivity in the clean energy revolution.
Energy Tech Innovation: Deploying at Scale
Wednesday 11/18 12:00 - 12:50 EST
Parth Vishnav: Assistant Professor, Sustainable Systems, U-M School for the Environment and Sustainability
Allison Myers: General Partner and Head of Platform, Buoyant Ventures; Senior Manager, Accenture
Tanya Willacy: General Counsel, ENGIE Storage
Zeina El-Azzi: Chief Development Officer, Brightmark
PJ Deschenes: Managing Director, Nomura Greentech
Numerous technical challenges must be overcome to achieve 100% clean energy and a carbon neutral (or negative) society. This panel identified hurdles in deploying key technologies like wind, solar, storage, hydrogen, and carbon capture at scale and discussed how experts across the sector are tackling these issues.
Energy Finance: Ramping up Investment
Thursday 11/19 3:00 - 3:50 EST
Lauren Bigelow: CEO, Growth Capital Network; Lecturer, University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Ian Adams: Managing Director, Clean Energy Trust
Michael K. Dorsey: IberSun
Jahi Wise: Policy Director, Coalition for Green Capita
Britta von Oesen: Managing Director, CohnReznick Capital
Two obstacles loom large for energy financing in the upcoming decade:
Achieving bankability and reducing risk for emerging solutions (energy storage, carbon capture, microgrids, etc.)
Sourcing sufficient capital for a widespread infrastructure overhaul.
Panelists discussed creative solutions to these challenges.
Friday 11/20 2:00 - 2:30 EST
A conversation with Katherine Hamilton, Co-founder and Chair at 38 North Solutions and Phyllis E. Currie, Chair of the Board of Directors at MISO and Grid Alternatives.