Governors’ Advisors’ Energy Policy Institute

June 12 – 13 | Washington, D.C

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) held its annual Governors’ Advisors Energy Policy Institute June 12 – 13, 2018, in Washington, D.C. The institute provided governors’ energy advisors with the opportunity to hear about best practices, technology developments, and emerging issues from state and national experts.

Prior to the Policy Institute on June 11, 2018, NGA held a pre-institute workshop on offshore wind.

Agenda

Presentations

 

June 12, 2018

States-Only Breakfast Part 1: Improving State Resiliency

Welcome and Introductions: State Roundtable on Key Energy Priorities

Speakers:

• Sue Gander, division director, Environment, Energy, and Transportation (EET), NGA Center
• Christine Harbin, senior advisor for external affairs, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy
• Edward McGinnis, principal deputy assistant secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Daniel Simmons, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Energy Markets and Sector Trends

Speaker:

• Linda Capuano, administrator, Energy Information Administration

Policy and Regulatory Approaches to Unlocking Technology and Innovation

Speakers:

• Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO, Energy Storage Association
• Paul Bailey, CEO, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
• Sara Baldwin-Auck, Director, Regulatory Program, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Richard Meyer, Managing Director for Energy Analysis, American Gas Association
• Maggie Molina, Senior Director of Policy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
• Matt Crozat, Senior Director, Policy Development, Nuclear Energy Institute

Moderator:

• Tom Simchak, NGA Center

Lunch and Keynote — Transforming Utilities to Exceed Customer Expectations

Speaker:

• Mary Powell, CEO, Green Mountain Power

Break-out Sessions

1. Nuclear
   • Speakers:
     • Emma Cimino, director of government affairs, Office of Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
     • Mischa Fisher, chief economist and advisor to Illinois Governor Rauner
     • Edward Kee, chief executive officer, Nuclear Economics Consulting Group
     • Brad Williams, senior advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
2. Solar
   • Speakers:
     • Lori Bird, principal analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
     • Hayley Williamson, assistant general counsel, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
     • Sushma Masemore, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
3. Energy Efficiency
   • Speakers:

• Amy Royden-Bloom, manager state energy program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Rory Spangler, program manager, Maryland Energy Administration
• June Tierney, commissioner, Vermont Department of Public Service

Power Sector Resilience – Roles for Governors

Speakers:

• Puesh Kumar, director of preparedness and exercises, Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Division, U.S. Department of Energy
• Scott Aaronson, vice president, Security and Preparedness, Edison Electric Institute
• Alex Whitaker, energy and environment policy advisor, Office of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper

 

June 13, 2018

Smarter States, Smarter Communities

Speakers:

• Lori Sorenson, chief operating officer, State of Illinois
• Angela Navarro, deputy secretary of natural resources, Commonwealth of Virginia

PURPA Reform Updates

Speaker:

• Jennifer Murphy, director of energy policy and senior counsel, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Beneficial Electrification in the Transportation Sector

Speakers:

• Matthew Nelson, director of government affairs, Electrify America
• Vignesh Gowrishankar, associate director, Energy and Transportation Program, NRDC

Lunch and Keynote – The Role of Data in a New Energy Future

Speaker:

• Chandu Visweswariah, president & chief executive officer of Utopus Insights

Distribution and Transmission System Planning in a World of Changing Resources

Speaker:

• David Littell, principal, Regulatory Assistance Project
• Leo Asuncion, director, State of Hawaii Office of Planning
• Chris Yunker, energy systems and planning program manager, Hawaii State Energy Office
• Michael Schwing, energy systems and planning branch, Hawaii State Energy Office

Closing Remarks and Wrap-up

Speaker:

• Sue Gander, NGA Center