PAST EVENTS

NECA’s series on “The critical role of energy storage in decarbonization” is pleased to announce a special follow-up event with Maine’s Sen. Maj. Leader Eloise Vitelli, the sponsor of recent storage legislation. In June, Maine enacted and the Governor signed a new law establishing state energy storage goals and supporting policies, becoming only the 9^th state to do so.  Please join us for an informal discussion with Sen. Vitelli as she discusses her legislation and how it fits into her state’s decarbonization goals.

COST: Member $50 | Non-member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

NECA’s Environmental Committee invites you to a half day webinar on the morning of July 21, 2021 to discuss Environmental Justice in New England.  The first panel of New England state government representatives will discuss their state’s perspectives on EJ and the second panel of practitioners, including an industry representative, a stakeholder, a consultant, and a high-ranking agency official charged with diversity / inclusion / equity (DIE) implementation will discuss how EJ is being incorporated into project development and review.  The focus is on the fact that while the concept of EJ has been around since the early days of NEPA (early 1970s), recent changes at the federal and state levels is causing an evolution in how EJ is addressed in some environmental reviews and approvals of projects.

Come join our experts as they delve deeper and explain FERC’s June 7, 2021 decision in ER21-1637-000 related to the inaugural ORTP values for renewable and battery storage resources in next year’s capacity auction (FCA 16). We will discuss the approved ORTP values, review the alternative values proposed by NEPOOL and other market participants, and examine implications for market outcomes and clearing of new resources in next year’s forward capacity auction.

COST: Member $50 | Non-member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

Over the past year, a number of state legislatures in New England advanced significant energy and environmental policy, but perhaps none as comprehensive and consequential as An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy. The NextGen Roadmap requires Massachusetts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with interim greenhouse gas reduction targets and 5-year sublimits for key economic sectors. The law also increases procurement of offshore wind resources and Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements; introduces an opt-in municipal stretch code for greater building efficiency; addresses the impacts of energy facilities in environmental justice communities; and, for the first time, directs the Department of Public Utilities to include security, equity, and decarbonization in its oversight. How will the Commonwealth meet these and other new requirements? Can Massachusetts balance meaningful action on climate while ensuring consumer protections? How do these changes affect investment decisions, including those in the region’s competitive wholesale electricity markets? Our panel of experts will discuss the expectations, opportunities, and challenges of implementing this important and far-reaching legislation. 

PANEL:
Carol Holahan, Partner, Foley Hoag (Moderator)
Joan Meschino, State Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Elizabeth Mahony, Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Advisor for Energy, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Dan Allegretti, Consultant, Sigma Consultants

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, October 20. Presentations from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Event remains open until 1:30 to stay and “hang around the podium” for more interactive Q&A. Link to the event will be sent to registrants by October 19.

COST: Member $50 | Non-Member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

After over 20 years of experience with non-monopoly electric retail competition, regulators, legislators and consumer advocates have increasingly raised concerns about the fairness and cost-effectiveness of competitive retail supplier offerings to residential customers, urging significant new consumer protection requirements, limits on supplier marketing to low-income customers, and even complete bans on residential competition.  This webinar will cover critical recent developments affecting the present and future of residential competitive electric supply markets in the five New England restructured states. as we move deeper into the 2020s. 

PANEL:
Rob Munnelly, Shareholder, Davis Malm (Moderator)
Dan Allegretti, Consultant, Sigma Consultants (Keynote)
Liz Anderson, Deputy Division Chief, Energy & Telecommunications Division, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Gretchen Fuhr, Senior State Government Affairs Manager, Constellation/ President, RESA

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, October 6. Presentations from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Event remains open until 1:30 to stay and “hang around the podium” for more interactive Q&A. Link to the event will be sent to registrants by October 5.

COST: Member $50 | Non-Member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

Making Our Way Through Uncertain Times
Overarching policies have been generally established for the electricity sector and local economies in New England with respect to decarbonization goals. However, as we sit here today – 20 to 30 years away from the finish line – we are still unsure of the road we will take.  At this year’s Power Markets Conference, we will hear from market participants, stakeholders, and experts from around the world about the ways we can maintain a reliable and affordable electricity system through markets and market-like mechanisms.  Moreover, we will discuss if, when, and where we will have to rely on non-market approaches, as well as the consequential tradeoffs that arise for consumers and electricity sector participants.

Welcome & Introductions
Julia Frayer, Managing Director, London Economics International (Conference Co-chair)
David Fixler, Of Counsel, Greenberg Traurig (Conference Co-chair)

Panel I: Race to Net Zero – An International Perspective
Over 100 countries have committed to carbon neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. National governments are turning to the power sector to reduce emissions by integrating clean energy resources into electricity market structures. Some countries are advancing rapidly and are on track to operating zero carbon systems within the next decade.  With vastly different market designs than the U.S. northeast, how are countries approaching the energy transition? Are there innovative designs that the Northeast could and should adopt as we race to net zero? Our panelists joining us from the Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, will discuss how other countries are designing their markets to integrate clean energy resource growth, and how they are maintaining system reliability and affordability.

Moderator: Stephanie Donner, Chief Legal and People Officer, Inspire Clean Energy (USA)
Julian Leslie, Head of Networks and Chief Engineer, National Grid ESO (Great Britain)
Luiz Barroso, CEO, PSR – Energy Consulting and Analytics (Brazil)
James Allan, Director, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (Australia)
Mike Thomas, Managing Director, The Lantau Group (Hong Kong)

Coffee Break – Yes, coffee on us (emailed certificate) IF you register by November 12th!

Keynote: June Tierney, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Public Service

Panel II: Developments in New England
Too busy for NEPOOL meetings? Too overwhelmed by the news? Now is your chance to get up to speed and hear new insights into what is developing in the New England power market landscape as we race to achieve a decarbonized economy. You will learn about what the ISO is studying for potential future market designs and insights from the states and stakeholders about what the path to a decarbonized power system should look like. You may even hear about what isn’t currently under discussion, but maybe should be! This is a front-line panel of top regional experts that are prepared to both challenge one another and answer questions from an expert audience.  

Moderator: Sheila Keane, Director of Analysis, New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE)
Andrew Gillespie, Director of Market Development, ISO New England
Rebecca Tepper, Chief, Energy and Telecommunications Division, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
James Daly, Vice President, Energy Supply, Eversource Energy
Priya Gandbhir, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation
Brett Kruse, Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Calpine Corporation

Closing Remarks & Networking Opportunity: Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Co-Founder, Northbridge Energy Partners, LLC

PROGRAM

REGISTRATION FEES
Member $195 | Non-member $260 | Government Agency $75 | Young Professional Member $105 | Young-Professional Non-member $130 | Student $25

Registrants will receive login credentials by November 15

Executive Committee Meeting

Accelerating Transportation Electrification in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap set a GHG emissions reduction target for the next decade at 50% reduction below the 1990 level in 2030 and at least net zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions in 2050. In the Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) for 2025 and 2030, a blueprint was established that outlined the strategies, policies, and actions that will put the Commonwealth on a pathway to achieve our 2050 decarbonization goals, equitably and affordably, with major new initiatives advancing decarbonization of buildings, transportation, and electricity sectors. Many opportunities for public engagement exist to help craft the CECP but what’s a good introduction to how Massachusetts will make transportation electrification (TE) a reality on a massive scale? With electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and EV charging equipment suppliers revving up their engines to meet this demand, a clear understanding of the MA transportation market characteristics, utility programs, state incentives and interactions with other market sectors and programs is needed, as well as knowing how to navigate federal efforts to build up resilient, fast-charging grid infrastructure. Join our panel of industry experts that will share their perspectives on this exciting movement toward TE, the opportunities it presents as well as what they think will be in store for 2022 and beyond.

PANEL:
Shawn Jones, Head of Energy Storage Development, BlueWave Solar (Moderator)
James Cater, Program Lead of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Eversource
Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation, Sierra Club Massachusetts
Daniel Gatti, Director of Clean Transportation Policy, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Jake Navarro, Director of Clean Transportation, National Grid
Mark Scribner, Associate Director of Transportation Electrification, Energy New England
Anna Vanderspek, Electric Vehicle Program Director, Green Energy Consumers Alliance

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, January 26. Presentations from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Event remains open until 1:30 to stay and “hang around the podium” for more interactive Q&A. Link to the event will be sent to registrants by January 25.

COST: Member $50 | Non-Member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THIS CO2?

The goal of decarbonization is to reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as other pollutants, from the energy grid. However, that will not occur overnight. Renewable energy sources such as hydrogen, wind, and solar are still a long way away from being the predominant source of energy. Whether you like it or not, our economy will continue to rely on fossil fuels as it builds towards a greener future. So, what do we do in the meantime? Carbon capture offers the potential to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from large stationary sources. It comes in many practical forms too. CO2 pipelines, geologic sequestration wells, direct air capture, forestry, and even aquaculture are just some of the methods used to sequester CO2. This market potential has not gone unnoticed. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill earmarked billions of dollars towards the development of carbon capture projects. Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell, and TC Energy have all announced major carbon capture projects as part of a drive to reduce both their own and their customers’ emissions. Exxon is even forecasting that carbon capture could become a $2 trillion market by 2040. However, some critics think that carbon capture is too expensive. Others think that is just a way for fossil fuel companies to keep operating without actually changing the way they do business. Can carbon capture deliver on its potential? Can it help us achieve our emissions reduction goals? The Fuels Committee of the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association invite you to attend a special Winter Wednesday Webinar that will explore this topic. Hear from our panel of carbon capture industry experts about the latest developments and technology being implemented around the world.

PANEL:

Michael Stern, PhD, Chemical Engineer, Exponent (Moderator)
Larry Baxter, Cofounder, Sustainable Energy Solutions
Freddy Sanches, Technical Manager, Market Innovation, Enbridge
Mark Demchuk, National Director, Strategy and Stakeholder Relations, The International CCS Knowledge Centre

DATE &TIME: Wednesday, February 9 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm COST: Member $50 | Non-member $65 | Government $40 | Young Professional $40 | Student Free

Downloadable Program

2022 RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE: POSITIVE CHANGE

OVERVIEW:

Join NECA and our community of renewable energy developers, policymakers, financers, government officials, engineers, utility representatives, and other market participants at our virtual 2022 Renewable Energy Conference March 10!

Panel I will cover recent and anticipated offshore wind activity, such as the New York Bight lease auction results, prospects for coordinated transmission development in the US northeast, and collaborating on developing the region’s supply chain.

Panel II will focus on the necessary distributed generation (DG) policies to attain state policy goals, including greenhouse gas emissions mandates. This conversation will incorporate topics such as integrating batteries with renewables, incentive program adders and subtractors (carrot and stick approach to policy outcomes), ISO-NE rules that impact DG development, and what we as industry stakeholders can do to move the conversation and policies towards a carbon free future.

Agrivoltaics is a win-win for the solar and agriculture industries. Learn more from our keynote speaker about the vision that make Jack’s Solar Garden a reality.

OPENING REMARKS:
David O’Connor, Senior Vice President for Energy & Clean Technology, ML Strategies, LLC
NECA President

PANEL SPEAKERS:
Panel I: Offshore Wind: Fast and Furious – What’s Next?
Moderator: Carrie Cullen Hitt, Executive Director, National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
Christen Wittman, Project Director, Attentive Energy
Adrienne Downey, Principal Engineer and Country Manager, Hexicon
Nabil Hitti, Head of US Offshore Wind, National Grid Ventures
Jordan Shoesmith, Head of Business Development, US, Copenhagen Offshore Partners

Panel II: Distributed Generation Plus: What and How Grid Policies Need to Adapt to Attain State Climate Change Goals
Moderator: Mike Judge, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Coalition for Community Solar Access
Scott Johnstone, New England Energy Market Leader, VHB
Al McBride, Director, Transmission Services & Resource Qualification, ISO New England
Shannon Meyer-Johanson, Senior Associate, Solar Policy, Sol Systems
Michael Porcaro, Director, New England Distributed Generation Ombudsperson, National Grid
Kavita Ravi, Managing Director, BlueWave Solar

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Byron Kominek, Executive Director, Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS:
Courtney Feeley Karp, Senior Counsel, Klavens Law Group, P..C.
Omar Muneeruddin, Commercial Manager, Strategic Development & Partnerships, National Grid Ventures

COST:
Member $195 | Non-member $260 | Government $75 | Young Professional Member $105 | Young Professional Non-member* $130 | Student $25

* Professional working the the energy industry less than five years.

SPONSORS:
Premier: Epsilon Associates, Inc. | Foley Hoag LLP | Klavens Law Group, P.C. | Rath, Young and Pignatelli | Robinson + Cole | Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC

Corporate: Adler Pollock & Sheehan, P.C. | CommonWealth Resource Management Corporation | Downs Rachlin Martin | Eversource Energy | McCauley Lyman LLC | Power Advisory LLC | VHB

Please visit the home page to link to our sponsors’ websites.

Energy Efficiency & Demand Response 101: Understanding the Basics & the Most Recent Dynamics Happening in our States

As our energy system continues to transition to a clean energy economy, our ability to utilize each increment of energy wisely becomes more important.  Whether to keep our energy system affordable, resilient, or reliable—or to address matters of consumer comfort or equity and justice—energy efficiency and demand response are becoming increasingly important. Join our dynamic speakers as they share what both energy efficiency and demand response are, as well as the current news, challenges and successes occurring in each across our region.

SPEAKERS:
Arah Schuur (Keynote Speaker), Executive Director, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
Huck Montgomery (Moderator), Director of Government Affairs, Liberty
Ian Burnes, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Efficiency Maine Trust
Gretchen Calcagni, Senior Consultant, Optimal Energy

COST:
Members $50 | Non-members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

28th Annual New England Energy Conference and Exposition (NEECE22): Demystifying Decarbonization

What: New England Energy Conference & Exposition: Demystifying Decarbonization
Where: AC Hotel by Marriott, Worcester, MA (Virtual attendance is available)
When: May 17: Networking | Golf Tournament, Coffee Tasting & WooSox Game (Game is SOLD OUT!)
May 18: Panel Discussions | AC Hotel by Marriott

Please visit the Conference Website for more details. See who is registered so far. 

Learn more about our panelists HERE.

INSTRUCTIONS:
When registering, select your ticket level (if you are unsure about your membership status, email marla@necanews.org or kdube@ctpower.org) and then Add to Cart. On the checkout page under billing you will be asked if you are attending in person or virtually. Once you make the selection, optional activities will appear. Please note that in-person attendees must provide proof of vaccination in this secure portal by May 13. 

Hotel Rooms: The room block has expired but there are rooms available at the AC Hotel at the prevailing room rate. Reservations may be made on the Hotel Website.

Would you like to be a Sponsor? Sign up HERE!
Would you like to Exhibit?  Sign up HERE!

PRICING:
CPES/NECA Member – $500
CPES/NECA Non-Member – $550
CPES/NECA New Energy/Young Professional Member – $300
CPES/NECA  New Energy/Young Professional Non-Member – $325
Government Agency – $290
Student or Virtual Attendee – $75

Certificates of Attendance Available upon request post-conference.

OPTIONAL ADD-ON EVENTS (May 17):
Golf Tournament – $175 ($200 5/11 and after)
Details: Blackstone National Golf Club Course, 227 Putnam Hill Road, Sutton, MA | Breakfast at 9:30 am, Shotgun start at 10 am, followed by lunch and prizes
Note to Golfers: In addition to selecting golf as an add-on, please fill out this Golf Registration Form.

Coffee Tasting – $20
Details: FuelAmerica, 6 Mercantile Street, Worcester | Meet for the tasting at 2:30 pm 

WooSox Outing – $30 – SOLD OUT!
Details: Polar Park, 100 Madison Street, Worcester | Meet for ballpark fare at 5:45 pm, game begins at 6:45 pm

If you aren’t able to attend the conference but would like to participate in 5/17 networking, you may sign up by clicking on the links below:
GOLF ONLY 
COFFEE TASTING ONLY

Innovation in Retail Electric Marketing: Moving Beyond Commodity Price-Based Competition

After years with retail electric offerings focused mostly on priced-based competition against utility basic/default service offerings, electric retailers are increasingly offering innovative products that offer choice to consumers. Areas of choice available in New England and other markets include innovation in term length, renewable content, bundled in energy-related services, non-energy benefits and services, and even non-usage products such as fixed price monthly subscriptions and free energy time blocks or days. This webinar will cover recent developments affecting the current diversity of residential, business and municipal/community aggregated offerings in New England and also highlight possible regulatory or business changes that might lead to even more choice in the upcoming years.    

SPEAKERS:
Rob Munnelly, Shareholder, Davis Malm
Ben Chadwick, Executive Director, Constellation Offsite Renewables
Larry Chretien, Executive Director, Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Stephanie Donner, Chief Legal and People Officer, Inspire Clean Energy

COST:
Members $50 | Non-members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

The Challenges to Achieving Climate Change and Energy Infrastructure Goals in New England:  Different Perspectives

Climate legislation codifying greenhouse gas reduction goals were passed at the federal, state and local levels in 2021. In order to meet these ambitious goals, new renewable energy sources and new energy infrastructure connecting renewable energy resources to the grid or supporting transitional electric generation are needed, yet these infrastructure projects are meeting opposition. Natural gas pipelines also play a role in achieving a transition to a greater clean energy society. Recently, the construction of the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line was halted after Maine voted against the corridor project in a referendum. Northern Pass, another transmission project to tie clean energy from Canada to southern New England, was similarly halted. The slow advancement of offshore wind and certain resistance to solar projects are further complicating our ability to meet the energy goals that have been set for the period between 2030 and 2050.

Come hear experts discuss their experiences and perspectives on siting new renewable and electric transmission facilities necessary to meet Climate Change goals.

Wednesday, June 22, 9-11 am
Moderator: Tracy Adamski, Vice President, Tighe & Bond
Panel: Stakeholder Perspective
Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President for Massachusetts, Conservation Law Foundation
Megan Aconfora, Public Involvement Specialist, Burns & McDonnell
Jennie Chen, Senior Manager, Clean Energy, World Resources Institute
Janet Gail Besser, Vice President, Regulatory and Business Innovation, Smart Electric Power Alliance

Thursday, June 23, 1-3 pm
Moderator: Will Dodge, Regulated Entities Practice Group Chair, Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
Panel: Developer Perspective
TJ Roskelley, Partner, Anderson & Kreiger LLP
Joe Rossignoli, Consultant, Ross Emergent LLC
Rob Jackson, Director – Solar/Storage Project Development, Ameresco
Steve Elliott, Director – Business Development & Marketing, Enbridge

Cost:
Member $95 | Non-member $130 | Government $50 | Young Professional $75 | Students Free

Downloadable Program

Sponsors:
Epsilon Associates, Inc. | TRC | Foley Hoag LLP

What’s Next for Markets in New England?

Over the next couple of years New England’s markets will likely see many changes — from MOPR’s elimination to market reforms to address resource adequacy and state decarbonization goals. Please join us in a conversation about recent developments and the future implications.    

MODERATOR:
Molly Connors, Policy Analyst – Manager, New England Power Generators Association

PANEL:
Jeffrey W. Bentz, Director of Market Affairs, New England States Committee on Electricity
Pete Fuller, Principal, Autumn Lane Energy Consulting
Andy Weinstein, Director of ISO-NE Market Policy, Vistra Energy
Chris Geissler, Manager of Economic Analysis, ISO New England

COST:
Members $50 | Non-members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

Board meetings are open to all NECA members. If you are not a NECA member, but wish to attend, please contact Marla Simon at marla@necanews.org before registering. Thank you.

A Clean Hydrogen Roadmap: How New England and the Mid-Atlantic Regions Will Supercharge the Hydrogen Economy

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earmarked $10 billion in government funding to fund hydrogen development. Given the unprecedented funding commitment to the U.S. Department of Energy, how must industry, organizations and government in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states ramp up to meet the challenge? From increasing hydrogen consumption to interstate and inter-region coordination, and technological advances, how do we get from Hydrogen Shot to a robust clean hydrogen economy that prioritizes environmental justice, community engagement and workforce development?   

MODERATOR:
Mary Usovicz, General Manager, Merrimac Light Department

PANELISTS:
Brian Jones, Partner, ERM
Scott Shields, Founding Partner, New Energy Development Company
Claire Thornhill, Associate Director, Frontier Economics

COST:
Members $50 | Non-members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

Meet Meredith Angwin, Author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid

NECA’s Young Professionals Committee invites everyone to a special virtual event featuring Meredith Angwin, energy analyst and author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. You don’t have to read the book to benefit from a discussion with this dynamic author, but it can be easily purchased on the usual book purchasing sites or directly through Meredith. And a few of her books will be raffled off during the program!

As a working chemist, Meredith headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines, and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. She led projects in renewable and nuclear energy. In the past ten years, she began to study and take part in grid oversight and governance. For four years, she served on the Coordinating Committee for the Consumer Liaison Group associated with ISO-NE, her local grid operator.

Moderators:
John Malloy III, Manager, StoneTurn
Mike Vittiglio, Project Manager, Navisun LLC
(Young Professionals Committee Co-Chairs)

Cost: Young Professionals – $15 | Members & Government – $25 | Non-Members – $35 | Students – Free

Energy Security, Price, and Decarbonization: Is This the Winter of Our Discontent?

WHAT: NECA Annual Fuels Conference
WHERE: Renaissance Hotel, Foxborough, MA | Hotel rooms are available by reserving HERE.
WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2022

When Mark Twain reportedly observed that history does not repeat itself, but if often rhymes, he may have been speaking about the state of the fuel supply situation in New England.  Recent events and price shocks have drawn renewed attention to the uncomfortable reality facing the region: it is energy-insecure during extreme weather conditions.  This vulnerability is a feature, not a bug, as these challenges have been the subject of numerous stakeholder discussions, meetings and proposals for over a decade.  Now, with Winter 2022-2023 only a few months away, and with several of the region’s states pursuing ambitious decarbonization goals, curtailments and service interruptions are no longer remote possibilities.  Join us on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the NECA Fuels Conference, for an informative and engaging discussion with industry experts and representatives for their perspectives on the current situation, and what it means for the region for both this winter, as well as for the future.

If you’re in the area or staying overnight on 9/28, meet up at CBS Sporting Club at 6:30 pm for a drink! Sponsored by Énergir. Contact Marla with questions.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Conference Co-Chairs:
Sara Wilmer, Vice President & Principal, Levitan & Associates, Inc.
Jonathan Carroll, Director Business Development – USA, Énergir

Keynote Speakers:
Gas Supply & Demand Outlook: Nikolay Filchev, Director, Gas, Power and Climate Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights
Weather Outlook & the Energy Industry: Ray Schmitt, Co-Founder and President, Salient Predictions
Fueling the Future: Julie Ferland, Vice President of Innovation Excellence, Shell 

Pipeline & LNG Winter Prep Panel:
Charles Crews, President, Northeast Gas Association (Moderator)
Michael Dirrane, Director of Marketing, Enbridge
Karen Iampen, Vice President of Origination, Repsol
Tom Lockett, Business Manager, TransCanada
James McCord, Account Director, Kinder Morgan Northern Pipelines

Gas Buyers Perspective Panel:
Edna Karanian, Independent Consultant (Moderator)
John Rudiak, Senior Director, Energy Supply, AVANGRID
Eric Soderman, Director – Gas Supply, Eversource Energy
Liz Arangio, Director, Gas Supply Planning US, National Grid

The Regulatory Challenge: How to Meet Reliability in a Gas Constrained Region Panel:
Joe Fagan, Partner, Day Pitney, LLP (Moderator)
Bruce Anderson, Vice President, Market and Regulatory Affairs, New England Power Generators Association
Eric Johnson, Director, External Affairs, ISO New England
Kristin Jardin, Senior Manager, Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Liberty Utilities (Massachusetts)

DOWNLOADABLE PROGRAM

COST:
NECA Members $520 | Non-Members $575 | Government $290 | Young Professionals Members $295 | Young Professionals Non-Members $325 | Virtual Attendee $250 | Students $125

See who has registered so far.

Board meetings are open to all NECA members. If you are not a NECA member, but wish to attend, please contact Marla Simon at marla@necanews.org before registering. Thank you.

Join Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA) and the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) on September 14 for a boat tour and networking lunch! We will depart promptly at 11:30 AM from the State Pier in New London, Connecticut and gain a firsthand look at the improvements made to transform the pier into a heavy-lift port facility that will accommodate a variety of cargoes, including wind turbine generator staging and assembly. A presentation by Revolution Wind and a networking lunch will follow at the Mystic Marriott Hotel from 12:30 to 2:00 PM.

Click HERE for registration and further details.

Cost: NECA and CPES Members – $25 | Non-Members – $45

Hot Topics in Retail Markets: Current Challenges and Advancements 

2022 has been an eventful year for competitive suppliers, consumers and other industry stakeholders in the five restructured New England states and New York. Pro-competitive purchase of receivables and community choice aggregation regimes have finally been implemented in NH and RI, Maine has expanded its competitive supply rules to add protections for solicitations via door-to-door sales, and MA has implemented new transparency rules for licensing of suppliers and brokers. At the same time, MA DPU has sharply curtailed its work on adopting next generation improvements to retail markets regulations, CT PURA has stepped up its investigation and implementation of measures that would limit retail choice and assess historically large costs and sanctions on retail suppliers and the MA Senate went as far as to enact a bill that would have ended residential retail competition in the Commonwealth. This webinar will cover these and other recent retail markets developments and include a bonus deep dive discussion of the current status of and future prospects for MA’s one-of-a-kind Clean Peak Renewables Standard and other renewable portfolio standard developments across the Northeast.

MODERATOR:
Rob Munnelly, Shareholder, Davis Malm

PANELISTS:
Christopher Ercoli, President and CEO, Retail Energy Advancement League (REAL)
Gretchen Fuhr, Senior State Government Affairs Manager, Constellation; President, Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA)
Stephan Wollenburg, Senior Consultant, Sustainable Energy Advantage (SEA)

COST:
Members $50 | Non-Members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

Virtual Meeting

SWEP EVENT — Banish Burnout: What It Looks Like and How to Fix It

Join the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, Massachusetts Chapter (SWEP-MA) for this online event with Dr. Margarita Gurri, CSP.

Burnout is real. Understand the brain science of stress so you can banish the emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms of burnout, even when dealing with COVID, working from home, hybrid meetings, and a return to travel. Learn the mindsets, skills, and habits needed to work well, be happy, and be profitably productive.

Our speaker, Dr. Margarita Gurri, Ph.D, CSP, is a Misbehavior Expert, called Dr. Red Shoe. Dr. Red Shoe solves people problems—conflict, crisis, and ethical challenges—to bring out the best in everyone. She is the author of several books. For more information check her website DrRedShoe.com.

The presentation will be 5-6 PM, EST, with optional networking from 6-6:30 PM, EST.

Co-sponsored with the Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP-CT) and the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA).

Register through the SWEP WEBSITE.

Cost: NECA and SWEP Members – $5 | Non-Members – $20

2022 Legislative Update

WHEN: Tuesday, November 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm ET with optional networking beginning at 4:30 pm
WHERE: Foley Hoag, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston (virtual option available)

Across New England and in Washington, D.C., 2022 was a productive year for energy and infrastructure. At this event we will take a look back at the politics and policies that impacted energy, look ahead to what policymakers might prioritize in the coming year, and take a look at what did – and did not happen – in the 2022 midterm elections.

PANELS & SPEAKERS:

Panel I: Post-Election Analysis Discussion
Rebekah Hamilton Kay (Moderator), Director, Federal & Political Affairs, Vistra Corp.
Neil Levesque, Executive Director, St. Anselm College New Hampshire Institute of Politics

Panel II: Inflation Reduction Act
Shaela Collins (Moderator), Senior Power Policy Advisor, Shell USA
Shai Sahay, Counsel, Foley Hoag LLP

Panel III: New England Legislative Lookback and Look-Ahead
Carol Holahan (Moderator), Partner, Foley Hoag
Molly Connors, Policy Analyst – Manager, New England Power Generators Association
Weezie Nuara, State Policy Director – New England, Dominion Energy

COST:
Members, Young Professionals & Government $75 | Non-Members $100 | Students $25 | Virtual Attendance $50

Please note that Foley Hoag requires all visitors to be vaccinated for entrance to the building. Visitors must check in at security upon arrival so walk-ins are not allowed.

In person meeting at Foley Hoag 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston with virtual option

Meeting with run from 3 to 4:30 to allow for networking before Legislative Update Event at Foley Hoag. (The legislative event requires a separate registration.)

Meeting agenda is administration, nominations for 2023 board of directors election and committee reports.

Please note that Foley Hoag requires all visitors to be vaccinated for entrance to the building. Visitors must check in at security upon arrival so walk-ins are not allowed.

Environmental Justice, Updates on the Increased Focus

(Co-Sponsored by Society of Women Environmental Professionals  Massachusetts Chapter)

Coming to a permit near you!  Environmental Justice requirements are being incorporated into regulatory permitting programs across our region under new and revised processes and procedures.  Improved Environmental Justice analyses are also a focus of MEPA and federal NEPA reviews.   Learn how implementation of these new and expanded Environmental Justice requirements is impacting permit contents and timeframes for issuance from the regulator and proponent perspectives, and how well these efforts are engaging the target EJ populations.  The diverse group of presenters will provide a perspective unique to their role in project development and reviews.

SPEAKERS:
Paul Martin, Sr. Project Manager/Sr. Associate, BSC Group (Moderator)
Tori Kim, Assistant Secretary/MEPA Director at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Laura Mansfield, Social Scientist, Division of Environmental Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Lysa Modica, Senior Air Quality Scientist, Tetra Tech
Staci Rubin, Vice President, Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation

COST:
Members $50 | Non-Members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

2022 Holiday Celebration

WHEN: Thursday, December 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm ET
WHERE: Shell TechWorks, 2 Drydock Avenue, Boston, MA
(Parking available at 12 Drydock Avenue one block away)

Join us to celebrate the holiday season with colleagues for plentiful hors d’oeuvres and an open wine and beer bar. Our friends at The Dimock Center will be joining us and accepting gift cards, new unwrapped toys and books, and new winter coats in all sizes for children and adults. Download the holiday drive flyer HERE.

AND we are thrilled to be recognizing these leaders for their service to NECA and their respective careers:

JOHN MEESKE, President of Energy Market Decisions; SCOTT MUELLER, Retired Attorney; and JACK SHEEHAN, President of Financial Management Group. John, Scott, and Jack have helped shape NECA’s past and lead us to the future! 

COST:
Members $95 | Non-Members $120 | Students $50 | Government $75 | Young Professionals Members $75 | Young Professionals Non-Members $85

In-person meeting at Shell TechWorks (5th Floor), 2 Drydock Avenue, Boston, with virtual option.

Meeting will run from 3 to 5, followed by a Holiday Celebration at Shell TechWorks. (The holiday event requires a separate registration).

Meeting is for all interested members, the old and new board (hybrid format), and we will nominate and vote for President.

Due to security, registration is required and walk-ins are not allowed.

ELECTRICITY MARKETS AT A CROSSROADS: HOW TO ACHIEVE DECARBONIZATION WHILE MAINTAINING RELIABILITY & AFFORDABILITY

WHAT: NECA Annual Power Markets Conference
WHERE: Waltham Woods Conference Center, 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA
WHEN: Monday, December 5, 2022 from 9 am to 4 pm

The New England electricity market, like many other electricity markets around the world, is at a crossroads. There is near consensus that the status quo is not sustainable and market reforms are necessary. But there is disagreement among stakeholders, experts, and regulators on the best approach forward. To facilitate the search for a workable solution – the right path to be taken – NECA is proposing a frank and open discussion of the key issues facing the New England electricity market – the search for reliability while maintaining affordability during the decarbonization transition. In addition, given the necessity of having customer cooperation and supplementing utility-scale resources with distributed energy resources to achieve policy goals of decarbonization, the last panel of the day will consider how the traditional delineation between wholesale and retail markets is shifting and perhaps fading. At the end of the day, we hope that we will be one step closer to a roadmap that will guide us towards the right path. 

SPEAKERS (Click HERE to read their bios.)

Luncheon Keynote: Spencer Glendon, Founder, Probable Futures (Click to view recent videos: Sohn Conference Presentation, Interview I, Interview II, Interview III)
Introducer: Joe Cavicchi, Vice President, Analysis Group

Conference Co-Chairs:
David Fixler, Of Counsel, Greenberg Traurig
Julia Frayer, Managing Director, London Economics International

Pre-Panel Overview of the Future Grid Reliability Study
Steven Judd, Supervisor, Economic and Environmental Planning Group, ISO New England

Panel I: Can Markets Get Us More Reliable?
Rosendo Garza (Moderator), Associate, Day Pitney LLP
Ben Griffiths, Director – New England Regulatory Policy, LS Power
William Hogan, Raymond Plank Research Professor of Global Energy Policy, Harvard University
Sheila Keane, Director of Analysis, NESCOE
David Patton, President, Potomac Economics (presenting virtually)

Panel II: Hedging the Near-and-Mid-Future Costs of Electricity
Molly Connors (Moderator), Policy Analyst – Manager, New England Power Generators
Dan Allegretti, Consultant, Sigma Consultants
James Rouland, Manager – Regulatory Policy, PPL Services/Rhode Island Energy
Heather Takle, President & CEO, PowerOptions

Panel III: Blurring of Wholesale and Retail Lines
Julia Frayer (Moderator), Managing Director, London Economics
Greg Geller, Head of Regulatory Affairs, USA & Canada, Enel North America
Caitlin Marquis, Managing Director, Advanced Energy Economy
Steph Ross, Grid Strategist, Green Mountain Power
Henry Yoshimura, Director, Demand Resource Strategy, ISO New England

COST:
NECA Members $520 | Non-Members $575 | Government $290 | Young Professionals Members $295 | Young Professionals Non-Members $325 | Students $125 | Virtual $275

Group rate hotel rooms are available at both the Hampton Inn Waltham and Embassy Suites Waltham. Limited shuttle service will be provided from each hotel to Waltham Woods.

Download the program HERE.

Become a sponsor! Learn more HERE (select premier or corporate in the dropdown to see benefits of each).

View who has registered so far HERE.

SWEP EVENT — The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line

Join the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, Massachusetts Chapter (SWEP-MA) for this online event with Linda Cohen.

What is the impact of kindness? In this highly interactive program, Cohen shares how kindness in the workplace, improves employee morale, elevates workplace culture, and reduces burnout. The size of the kindness action doesn’t matter. There is often an unexpected ripple effect and giving and receiving are often experienced differently. According to research from the University of California Riverside, 40% of our happiness is determined by intentional actions, not by genes (50%) or circumstances (10%). Cohen will encourage participation that will help attendees share ways to cultivate a strong culture of kindness. She will also share timely examples. This program will give your participants a variety of new kindness ideas and resources to implement immediately.

Linda Cohen is The Kindness Catalyst, a speaker, consultant and author of a new book, The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line. For more information check her website lindacohenconsulting.com.

The presentation will be 5-6 PM, EST, with optional networking from 6-6:30 PM, EST.

Co-sponsored with the Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP-CT) and the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA).

Register through the SWEP WEBSITE.

Cost: NECA and SWEP Members – $5 | Non-Members – $20

This meeting will run from 3 to 5 pm, with the HOUR OF POWER beginning at approximately 4 pm.

Board meetings are open to all NECA members. If you are not a NECA member, but wish to attend, please contact Marla Simon at marla@necanews.org before registering. Thank you.

This meeting will run from 3 to 5 pm, with the HOUR OF POWER beginning at approximately 4 pm.

Board meetings are open to all NECA members. If you are not a NECA member, but wish to attend, please contact Marla Simon at marla@necanews.org before registering. Thank you.

In-person meeting at Foley Hoag, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, with a virtual option. The meeting will run from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, with the HOUR of Power beginning at approximately 4:00 pm.

Please note that Foley Hoag requires all visitors to be vaccinated for entrance to the building. Visitors must check in at security upon arrival so walk-ins are not allowed.

Young Professionals Happy Hour!

Please join us Thursday, March 30th in Boston’s Lord Hobo Seaport (2 Drydock Avenue) for networking. The YP Happy Hour is a special chance to meet and create connections with professionals of similar experience across a variety of energy sector areas. There will be friendly discussions surrounding the latest changes and news in the energy sector and plentiful opportunity to exchange insights. Not only will this event be positioned as a YP networking event, but there will also be several NECA Board and Committee members in attendance who are great resources.

Complimentary appetizers will be provided, drinks are on a cash bar basis.

Thanks to Enbrige for sponsoring this event.

If you would like to learn more about the Happy Hour or the NECA Young Professionals Committee, please reach out to Mike Vittiglio and Andrew Bracken. 

WHAT: NECA Annual Renewable Energy Conference
WHERE: Waltham Woods Conference Center, 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA
WHEN: Thursday, March 9, 2023 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Downloadable Schedule of the Day

OVERVIEW:
The NECA Renewable Energy Conference returns in person for the first time since March 2020, at the Waltham Woods Conference Center. As the industry experiences exponential growth and challenges and we look to the region’s 2030 climate change goals and beyond, join us for a day of in-depth conversations with experts about the real dilemmas and the possible solutions to meeting those goals. Topics include: new and creative ways to leverage renewables at the community level, the challenges of technology and financing risk, and strategies for repurposing fossil-fuel based assets as part of the region’s energy transition. In addition, we will offer multiple opportunities for meaningful networking.

CONFERENCE WELCOME:
Elizabeth Mahony, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (Virtual)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Maria Robinson, Director – Grid Deployment Office, US Department of Energy

PANELS:
Panel I: How Can We Develop the Assets Needed to Meet the Region’s Clean Energy Goals?
Moderator: Shane Early, Senior Counsel, Locke Lord 
Mark Sylvia, Chief of Staff, BlueWave Solar
Katie Theoharides, Head of Offshore Wind (East), RWE
Amit Barnir, Vice President, US – Network Infrastructure, Zenobē
Nickie Collard-Andrade, MA Bid/Workforce Senior Coordinator, Avangrid Renewables

Panel II: Managing Project & Technology Risks for the “Silver Bullets” of the Clean Energy Transition
Moderator: Andrew Kinross, Director, Power Advisory LLC
Ashton Whitcomb, Vice President, Javelin Capital
Stephanie Watson, Maine Offshore Wind Program Manager, Governor’s Energy Office
Rob Ritchie, Director of Energy Storage, Nexamp

Panel III: Consumers Stepping Up: If We Demand It, It Will Come
Moderator: Stephan Wollenburg, Senior Consultant, Sustainable Energy Advantage LLC
Larry Chretien, Executive Director, Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Patricia Stanton, Executive Director, E4TheFuture
Clifton Below, Chair, Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire
Maggie Downey, Administrator, Cape Light Compact

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS:
Courtney Feeley Karp, Senior Counsel, Klavens Law Group, P.C.
Omar Muneeruddin, Commercial Manager & Chief of Staff, NGV US Northeast, National Grid Ventures

Link to Speaker Bios

COST:
NECA Members $520 | Non-Members $570 | Government $290 | Young Professionals Members $295 | Young Professionals Non-Members $325 | Virtual Attendees $175 | Students $125

Not sure if your company is a member? Check NECA’s list of members before selecting your ticket.

SPONSORS:
Premier: ControlPoint Technologies | Foley Hoag | Klavens Law Group | NextEra Energy | Robinson + Cole | StoneTurn | Sustainable Energy Advantage
Corporate: Adler Pollock & Sheehan | Downs Rachlin Martin | Epsilon Associates | Eversource | London Economics International | McCauley Lyman | Murtha Cullina | Power Advisory | Prince Lobel Tye | Rath, Young and Pignatelli | TRC | VHB

EXHIBITORS:
NE Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership | TRC | United Civil | Vergent Power Solutions

Please visit the NECA home page to link to our sponsors’ websites.

View who has registered so far HERE. 

New England Wholesale and Retail Markets – Crisis and Opportunity

Calendar year 2022 into early 2023 has been an unprecedented period for wholesale and retail markets in the five restructured New England states.  Among other issues, consumers, market participants, utilities, regulators and legislators all have grappled with historically high wholesale and retail prices that have resulted in business challenges, consumer complaints and attention of regulators and legislators across the region, including:

• a Christmas Eve supply reserve shortage that triggered millions in generator non-performance fines;
• widespread challenge for utilities to secure cost-effective wholesale bids to meet default service obligations and resulting utility-self supply arrangements that raise potential costs and risks for consumers;
• business challenges for retail suppliers and municipal aggregators to secure cost-effective supply to meet service requirements or face default or even market exit risks; and
• regulatory investigations and potential legislative interventions on a wide variety of issues, including but not limited to changes on longstanding default service procurement processes. 

Our distinguished panel will examine and discuss this period of challenges, as well as potential opportunities for stronger retail and wholesale markets going forward. 

MODERATOR:
Rob Munnelly, Shareholder, Davis Malm

PANELISTS:
Molly Connors, Policy Analyst – Manager, New England Power Generators Association
Richard Spilky, Principal, Retail Analytics, Constellation
Patrick Roche, Director of Innovation, New England, Good Energy, L.P.

COST:
Members $50 | Non-Members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free

This meeting will run from 3 to 5 pm, with the HOUR OF POWER beginning at approximately 4 pm.

Board meetings are open to all NECA members. If you are not a NECA member, but wish to attend, please contact Marla Simon at marla@necanews.org before registering. Thank you.

Electrifying Gas Heating: The need, opportunity and challenges

Climate plans in Northeast states with statutory greenhouse gas emissions are clear: achieving climate goals may be challenging with the widespread use of natural gas to heat buildings. While there is some discussion about the role of renewable natural gas or hydrogen for the building sector, many agree that electrification will be the primary pathway to converting buildings from gas. Still, policymakers, implementers, and other stakeholders face challenges with translating this policy need into effective, affordable, and equitable programs. Join our panel of experts as they discuss the policy rationale for switching off gas heat, some of the practical challenges associated with converting customers, and policy options for promoting heat pumps to gas customers. If you work in climate policy and planning, electric and gas markets, or energy efficiency, this discussion is not to be missed!

PANEL:
Brett Feldman, Energy Efficiency Manager, Rhode Island Energy (Moderator)
Matt Nelson, Principal, Apex Analytics, LLC
Dave Lis, Director, Technology Market Transformation, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
Kristin Dupre, Vice President, Strategy and Development, Abode Energy Management

COST:
Members $50 | Non-Members $65 | Government $40 | Young Professionals $40 | Students Free