REV2016: Policy & Regulatory Dynamics

Federal Energy, Environment & Business Updates
9:45 to 10:15 am
Featuring: Senator Patrick Leahy, Congressman Peter Welch.

Shifting Regulatory Landscapes: Impacts on Renewables in Vermont
10:25 to 11:20 am
Featuring: Andy Raubvogel, Esq., Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel &  Hand; Kimberly K. Hayden, Esq., Paul Frank + Collins.

Panelists at the forefront of renewable energy legal advocacy work offer updates on recent regulatory changes in Vermont including net metering, independent power producer energy sales to utilities (PURPA), wind sound, complaint protocols, and recent Public Service Board and Supreme Court decisions on renewable siting.

Beyond the Peak: Integrating Markets & Public Policy to Create Grid Wide Efficiency
11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Featuring: Charlotte Ancel, GMP; Eric Johnson, ISO-NE; Abigail Anthony, Acadia Center; Rick Weston, Regulatory Assistance Project; Scudder Parker, VEIC.

Regional electricity markets are designed to meet New England’s need to maintain reliability by selecting the lowest-cost resources without considering state or regional energy and climate goals.  Innovative non-wires  alternatives such as storage, micro-grids, and smart meters, etc. create value and savings for ratepayers while also helping meet clean energy and climate goals.  Panelists will share successes of and future plans to implement these non-traditional solutions and discuss policies and market evolution needed to enable greater growth of new low-carbon investments.

Regional & Town Planning to Achieve 90% by 2050: Implementing Act 174 to Grow our Climate Economy
2:00 to 3:15 pm
Featuring: Jon Copans, Department of Public Service; Melanie Needle, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission; Steve Nicholas, Institute for Sustainable Communities; Paul Costello, Vermont Rural Development Corporation.

Comprehensive clean energy and climate planning by local and regional governments offers an opportunity to drive economic development while also achieving community environmental and resilience goals.  Attend this session to learn about the newly proposed regional and town planning guidelines and efforts underway by communities in Vermont and around the country to plan for energy independence.

State of the Grid
2:00 to 3:15 pm
Featuring: Hantz Presume, VELCO; Eric Johnson, NE-ISO; Kerrick Johnson, VELCO.

Regional Round Up: Northeast Renewable Energy Policy Developments 
4:35 – 5:30 pm
Featuring:  Mike Trahan, Northeast Solar Energy Market Coalition; Sean Garren, Vote Solar; Dan Bosley, New England Clean Energy Council; Mary Sprayregen, Deputy Director of Policy and Public Affairs, VEIC.

Panelists involved in clean energy policy and regulatory proceedings from around the region will share insider perspectives on proceedings to modernize the grid, renewable energy valuation, interconnection, community access to renewables, and market drivers.  Highlights include New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) and vaDER tariff proceedings, and Massachusetts’ new energy diversity legislation.

Renewables for All: Expanding Access for Low & Fixed Income Households
10:10 – 11:00 am
Featuring: Riley Allen, Regulatory Assistance Project; Melanie Santiago-Mosier, Vote Solar; Nate Hausman, Clean Energy States Alliance; Kathy Beyer, Housing Vermont.

Storage Project & Policy Successes: Enhancing Renewables Integration & Resilience
11:10 am – 12:15 pm
Featuring: Todd Olinsky-Paul, Clean Energy States Alliance; Zach Robinson, Northern Reliability; Stan Faryniarz, Daymark Energy Advisors; Charlie Van Winkle, Northern Reliability.

Energy storage technologies extend the benefits of renewable energy to provide resiliency behind the meter.  New battery technologies offer promising solutions to reducing peak demand and grid challenges.  Panelists will provide insights into which battery storage solutions best fit a variety of customer needs and new policy initiatives underway to help grow storage markets.  Learn how adding storage and solar to a low-income residential project increased cost savings for tenants and helps keep the lights on when the grid goes down.