Advancing the Clean Energy Future

Featuring panel discussions on:

Utility of the Future

The advancement of viable, distributed energy technologies in the marketplace is happening quickly. Arguably, technology changes in the market are occurring faster than the regulatory structure governing utilities. The potential to structure a new energy system that embraces decentralized energy technologies is large. Utilities throughout the region are reacting to the changing landscape differently; some utilities are seeking to secure revenue through rate structure changes that could impose barriers to the deployment of new technologies. Others are re-envisioning their future role and the functions the utility will provide. Participants on this panel will be asked to describe their vision of the future and identify key steps to achieving it.

Panelists:

• Nathan Adams, Green Mountain Power
• Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.
• Jonathan Schrag, Guarini Center, NYU
• Peter Rothstein, NECEC

Leveling the Playing Field for Distributed Energy Resources

The current system for planning and paying for the energy system favors expenditures on poles and wires over investments that reduce demand for grid-supplied power. The failure to utilize all of the tools in the energy toolbox drives transmission and distribution costs higher than they would be if “non-wires alternatives” (NWAs) could compete on a level playing field. At the same time, successful policies and falling costs are leading to increasing investments in distributed energy resources. This panel will examine recent examples of utilizing NWAs and explore policy reforms that can facilitate competition and reduce transmission and distribution system costs.

Panelists:

• Scudder Parker, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
• Fran Cummings, Peregrine Energy Group 
• Jim Grevatt, Energy Futures Group
• Kerrick Johnson, Vermont Electric Power Company

The Role for Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Resources to Reduce Price Pressures in the Energy System

Flexibility in energy efficiency investment programs offers the potential to achieve specific objectives such as serving low-income customers or geographic targeting to defer infrastructure upgrades. States across the region are beginning to target efficiency programs toward peak demand for natural gas and electricity in winter months, in response to increased electric prices during these periods in recent years. This panel will explore current efforts to utilize efficiency investments to help alleviate this and other issues, and consider challenges to efficiency program design and implementation related to targeted efficiency.

Panelists:

• Jeremy Newberger, National Grid
• Eric Wilkinson, ISO-NE
• Michael Stoddard, Efficiency Maine Trust
• Jeff Schlegel, Efficiency Expert

Please RSPV here by February 11th.