May Sessions

Ask Me Anything With Jigar Shah

Description: Join our President, Paula Glover and Jigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs Office at U.S. Department of Energy, as she asks hard hitting questions about our industry.

Achieving Nationwide Energy Efficiency Access

Description: Access to energy efficiency and costs savings achieved through efficiency adoption inherently excludes many consumers who are unable to afford the upfront costs associated with energy efficiency solutions. What program models and financing mechanisms should be explored to ensure energy efficiency affordability and nationwide access for everyone? What are examples of best practices currently being deployed?

Moderator: Vincent Barnes, SVP of Policy and Research, Alliance to Save Energy;

Speakers: Brian Prusnek, Director of Customer Programs and Assistance, Southern California Gas; Holmes Hummel, Founder and Executive Director, Clean Energy Works, Mark Turner, Vice President of Business Development, Ameresco

Large-Scale Mechanisms to Advance Decarbonization and Energy Efficiency

Description: As part of its original NDC, the United States committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 level in 2025. Achieving this goal will require strong market and policy drivers for decarbonization. In addition to targeted policies and regulations at federal, state, and local levels, broader, more transformational strategies are being discussed in the United States, from carbon pricing mechanisms to clean electricity standards and technology-neutral carbon standards. What are the opportunities and challenges presented by these different strategies, and how could they be optimized to accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency?

Moderator: Carolyn Green, Founder and Managing Partner, EnerGreen Capital Management;

Speakers: Carlos Curbelo, Former Representative for Florida’s 26th Congressional District and Principal, Vocero, LLC; Jessica Hogle, Vice President, Federal Affairs and Corporate Sustainability, PG&E Corporation; Steve MacDonald, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta

Active Efficiency Policy

Description: Active Efficiency is already moving forward in some places of the country, but the policy and regulatory framework remains grounded in a non-digitalized reality that is increasingly out-of-synch with the industry. What changes are necessary to ensure the policy and regulatory environment stimulates an effective and equitable transition to a more efficient, integrated, and dynamic energy system?

Moderator: Natasha Vidangos, VP, Research, Alliance to Save Energy;

Speakers: Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, California Energy Commission; Tanuj Deora, VP, Market Innovation, Uplight; Pekka Hakkarainen, Vice President, Lutron Electronics; Curtis Wynn, CEO, Roanoke Electric

Fireside Chat: Main Street Efficiency Act

Description: Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy, but the impacts of the pandemic have left that backbone in danger of breaking. Now is the time for bold, innovative policy solutions.

Moderator: Adam Procell, Chief Strategy Officer, Willdan;

Speakers: Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT); Rick Thigpen, SVP, Corporate Citizenship, PSEG

Creating an Accelerated, Lasting Trajectory for Energy Efficiency Deployment

Description: Energy efficiency is a critical foundation for decarbonization, yet its scale-up often requires coordinated and sustained commitment among multiple public and private stakeholders. In a time of transition in the energy sector, innovative advancement in clean energy technologies, and drastic political fluctuations, how can we accelerate energy efficiency deployment while ensuring lasting change? What policies and programs around the world have seen the greatest success, and what lessons can be learned from their experiences?

Moderator: Lisa Jacobson, President, BCSE;

Speakers: Bob Hinkle, President & CEO, Metrus Energy; Brian Dean, Lead, Energy Efficiency and Cooling, SEforALL; Doug Johnson, VP, Technology Policy, CTA

How can markets be optimized to accelerate Active Efficiency?

Description: Markets for Active Efficiency are growing, but they are still fragmented and developing independently of one another. What are the main barriers to these markets, and how can they be structured, scaled-up, and incentivized effectively?

Moderator: Natasha Vidangos, VP, Research, Alliance to Save Energy;

Speakers: Ed Barbour, Partner, Guidehouse; Rachel Huang, Director Energy Strategy and R&D, Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Elizabeth Murphy, Supervisor, C&I, Conservation & Load Management. AvanGrid; Jeff Hamel, Director, Industry Partnerships, Google

Fireside Chat: Open Back Better Act

Description: Congress and the administration have made it clear: infrastructure is at the top of the to-do list for the coming months. Learn about one consequential bill that would invest billions in critical public buildings like schools, hospitals, and airports.

Speakers: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE); David Terry, President, NASEO

Ask Me Anything – Happy Hour Edition

Description: Watch Alliance President Paula Glover and Chris Womack, President of Georgia Power and Chair of the Alliance’s Board, have an in depth conversation on the hard hitting questions facing our industry.