Copy of Full Agenda CCA Conference

October 8-10, 2024 ｜ Washington, DC

Organized by LEAN Energy US

Omni Shoreham Hotel

For the first time in 11 years, community groups, energy suppliers, utilities, state regulators, federal agencies, and local officials nationwide have the chance to sit at the same table to discuss their challenges, opportunities, and vision for the future of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) markets.

This thought leadership conference offers a platform to explore the role of local communities in transitioning to a reliable and clean grid infrastructure, while utilizing local, state, and federal resources.

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PROGRAM
Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

DAY 1

October 8, 2024

1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

1:00-1:10 PM

OPENING REMARKS & PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Alison Elliott｜Executive Director, LEAN Energy US

1:10-1:30 PM

KEYNOTE FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (invited)

Introduced by John Kelly｜Chair of the Board of Directors, LEAN Energy US

1:30-2:30 PM

GENERAL SESSION: Finding Common Ground in A Complex Energy Environment

Industry leaders nationwide will share their experience and discuss opportunities and challenges from a state and federal perspective.

Beth Vaughan｜Executive Director, CalCCA

Shawn Marshall｜Executive Director, Peninsula Clean Energy

Paul Gromer｜CEO, Peregrine Energy Group

Mike Gordon｜CEO & Co-Founder, Joule Community Power

2:30-2:45 PM

BREAK

2:45-3:45 PM

GENERAL SESSION: Engagement and Opportunities with the Federal Government

This session aims to foster collective action among CCA stakeholders by exploring key intersections and strategies with the federal government.

Elizabeth Bellis Wolfe｜Senior Advisor of the Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka｜NH State Senator and Senior Vice President & General Counsel, ReWild Renewables

Keishaa Austin｜Acting Principal Deputy Director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy (invited)

Shawn Bennett｜Director, Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (invited)

Nate Bentham｜Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (invited)

Claire Dépit-Strömback｜Director of Public Policy, LEAN Energy US

4:00-7:00 PM

NETWORKING COCKTAIL RECEPTION

DAY 2

October 9, 2024

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

8:00-9:15 AM

BREAKFAST & ROUND TABLE TOPICS

9:15-9:20 AM

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

9:20-9:45 AM

KEYNOTE FROM RICH POWELL｜CEO OF CEBA - CLEAN ENERGY BUYERS ASSOCIATION (invited)

9:45-10:30 AM

GENERAL SESSION: Infrastructure Challenges and CCAs’ Role in Creating a Resilient and Reliable Grid

Discover how CCAs navigate infrastructure hurdles to facilitate new power development and support grid resilience. Gain insights into innovative solutions, regional opportunities, and the role of CCAs in grid reliability.

Clifton Below｜Board Chair of Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire, City of Lebanon Assistant Mayor and Councilor,

former NH State Senator NHPUC Commissioner

Suhsmita Jena｜Researcher III in Complex Decision Analysis, NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Emily Doran｜Chief of Staff of the Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy (invited)

James Critchfield｜Green Power Partnership Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

10:30-10:45 AM

BREAK

10:45-12:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12:00-1:00 PM

LUNCH

1:00-2:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

2:00-2:15 PM

BREAK

2:15-3:15 PM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

3:30-4:15 PM

GENERAL SESSION: Closing Remarks - Putting It All Together, The Path Ahead

4:30-5:00 PM

OPTIONAL SESSION: Advocacy Day Prep

DAY 3 "Advocacy Day"

October 10, 2024

MEETING TIMES & LOCATION: TBD

LEAN Energy US is organizing an Advocacy Day on October 10 in Washington, DC with the mission to converge and amplify our collective voice.

With a series of planned joint meetings, CCA stakeholders will have the opportunity to interface with key players including federal agencies, assembly energy members, energy caucus representatives, and senators' staffers. These engagements are tailored to foster dialogue, share insights, and explore collaborative avenues towards advancing the clean energy transition and local empowerment. CCAs are also encouraged to organize their own meetings with constituents separately outside planned joint meeting sessions.

The overarching objectives of this Advocacy Day are clear: to craft a unified vision of CCAs as catalysts for scaling the clean energy transition and empowering local communities. Central to this mission is the aim to garner increased support from federal agencies, compelling them to recognize and bolster the pivotal role CCAs play in driving social, environmental, and economic progress.

At the heart of the message conveyed during the Advocacy Day lies a commitment to streamlining transmission infrastructure, enhancing CCA-led transportation and building electrification initiatives, safeguarding funding allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen community resilience.

Ultimately, this Advocacy Day serves as a platform for CCAs to showcase their successes, reinforce their commitment to a clean energy future, and galvanize support for their initiatives. This is a crucial moment in the ongoing dialogue towards a future powered by clean energy and collective action.

A) DEVELOPING RENEWABLE AND ZERO-IMPACT GENERATION RESOURCES

Solution-oriented session on utilizing community power to develop new local renewable energy site and drive the renewable energy market.

Nicole Steele｜Director of Climate Banking at Amalgamated Bank, and former Program Manager, Solar Energy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy (invited)

Mark Pruitt｜Principal, The Power Bureau and Adjunct Associate Professor at Northwestern University

Ron Celentano｜Solar PV Industry Consultant

Drake Welch｜Senior Vice President, Calpine Community Energy (invited)

Glenn Weinberg｜Vice President, Joule Community Power

C) CREATING A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE AGENCIES

Explore how to build partnerships with state agencies, navigate regulatory landscapes, and access funding to advance community-led initiatives for a reliable and clean grid.

Christina O'Keefe｜Director, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority

Michael Forrester｜Assistant Director of Partnerships, Office of State and Community Energy Programs (invited)

Jason Doling｜Vice President, Communities and Partnerships, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (invited)

Danielle Sass Byrnett｜Senior Director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Matt Roberts｜Director of Special Programs, Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC)

A) CCA START-UP TOOLKIT:

GETTING STARTED AND

LESSONS LEARNED

Leaders from New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia will share their experiences with CCA start-up processes, from navigating regulatory landscapes to fostering community support for CCA.

Henry Herndon｜Director of Member Services, Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire

Dennis Rowan｜State Organizer for CCA for PA

Karin Burns｜CEO, San Diego Community Power

Stan Edwards｜Chief, Energy, Climate, & Compliance Division, Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, MD (invited)

Cliona Mary Robb, Esq.｜Partner, Thompson and McCullen Law Firm, VA

B) SCALING TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION AND CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH CCA

This session focuses on how CCA can become a scalable implementation tool for vehicle electrification, leveraging customer programs, and accessing state and federal funding to drive local initiatives and mobility.

Phillip Kobernick｜Senior Transportation Programs Manager, Peninsula Clean Energy

Brett Wiley｜Senior Program Associate, Electric Mobility, Ava Energy

Kelsey Owens｜Senior Electric Vehicle Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation (invited)

Luke Sulfridge｜Executive Director, Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC)

C) CCA AS A TOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

Investigate how CCAs can drive inclusive ownership, workforce development,

and efficiency programs, shaping

a future where clean energy is accessible

to all.

James Strange, Esq.｜Director of ELEP, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Energy Justice and Equity, U.S. Department of Energy

Jasmine Graham｜Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (invited)

Jillian Nelson｜CPA, Program Manager for Grid Management and Resiliency

Johari Cole-Kweli｜Managing Director, Community Development Corporation of Pembroke & Hopkins Park, IL

Alec Ward｜Principal Legislative Manager, Ava Energy

B) CCA CUSTOMER PROGRAMS: OPTIMIZING VALUE BEYOND RATE SAVINGS

Focus on customer program innovations and funding opportunities to maximize CCA customer programs, beyond cost saving benefits.

Jess Cornejo｜Senior Programs Specialist, Silicon Valley Clean Energy

Maggie Downey｜Chief Administrative Officer, Cape Light Compact

Deepa Vedavyas｜Director of Resiliency and Sustainability (NOPEC)

Julien Gattaciecca｜Director CCA Market Development, Calpine Community Energy

C) HOW CAN CCAS ALIGN WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DATA CENTER EXPANSION?

Learn how CCAs can be a useful mechanism to support local governments in addressing significant economic development opportunities and challenges.

Speaker list to be determined

B) UNLOCKING THE FUTURE: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF DATA IN FORECASTING CCA POTENTIAL

Leveraging data analytics to measure the impact of CCA programs, drive success and enhance innovation.

Bailey Rosen｜Green Power Partnership Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (invited)

Brian George｜Google's Global Energy Market Development and Policy, US Federal Lead (invited)

Tyson Brown｜Supervisory Economist at U.S. Energy Information Administration (invited)

Michael Murray｜President, Mission:data (invited)

Dani Salyer｜Project Lead & Program Coordinator, EERE Strategic Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (invited)

A) HOW TO FINANCE CCA

PROGRAMS

Learn about innovative financing options tailored for new and emerging CCAs,

from working capital strategies to project financing for clean energy initiatives.

Joshua Brock｜Vice President of CCA Commercial Operations, Calpine Community Energy

Cody Hooven｜Principal & Co-Founder, Evolution Affairs and former CSO of San Diego Community Power

Aladdine Joroff, Esq.｜Director of Climate Policy, City of Boston, MA (invited)

Rosa Cucicea｜Senior Vice President and Director of the Clean Energy Division, River City Bank

PROGRAM
Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3 "Advocacy Day"

RESOURCES

JOIN US

ORGANIZATION

PROGRAM Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3 "Advocacy Day"

RESOURCES

JOIN US

ORGANIZATION

PROGRAM
Registration is open all day at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.