AGENDA /
October 14
7:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M. Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 – 8:30 A.M. Continental Breakfast & Registration
8:00 – 9:00 A.M. NCSEA Annual Member Meeting
9:00-9:30 A.M.
Welcome | Keynote: Can America Still Build Bipartisan Consensus on Energy?
9:30 – 10:30 A.M.
Plenary: Energy Realities — Reasons for Rising Electricity Costs
Over the past five years, North Carolinians on average have seen electricity bills rise by more than 23%. With recent rate case proceedings and long-term utility capital investment plans, rates are projected to continue rising in order to keep up with demands for electricity, amongst a variety of other factors. This panel will help to break through the noise to help provide a fact-based conversation around the reasons for rising electricity costs in North Carolina and beyond.
Matt Abele, NCSEA
Venu Ghanta, Duke Energy
10:30 – 11:00 A.M. Networking Break & Exhibit Hall
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Track 1 Generation: Alternative Approaches to Broad-Scale Grid Planning
Historically, comprehensive grid planning has followed a standard approach through an integrated resource planning process reliant on large-scale generation to meet utility forecasts for demand. Given the unprecedented new demands for electricity, what are some alternative approaches that could be considered to quickly add new electrons to the grid at least cost for ratepayers. We'll talk about options like comprehensive DER planning, the role of energy efficiency, third-party load forecasting, and other innovative approaches to planning in this conversation.
Justin Somelofske, NCSEA
Sophie Watterson, RMI
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Track 2 Consumption: From pilot to program — innovative approaches to new utility programs
Innovative new technologies and policies continue to advance at breakneck speeds across the electricity sector - often designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities of the moment. Fortunately for North Carolina, we have a stakeholder engagement platform authorized through the NC Utilities Commission that enables the rapid embrace of these new innovations. What are the new technologies and pilots under consideration via the Rapid Protyping Docket? What new innovations should we be spearheading through this process? We'll talk about all of this and more on this panel.
Ethan Blumenthal, NCSEA
Stan Cross,
SACE
Marko Rosenfeldt, Enphase
12:00 – 1:45 P.M.
Lunch | Keynote Speaker | Panel
12:20 – 12:50 P.M.
Keynote
12:50 – 1:45 P.M.
Plenary: The New Energy Landscape — Geopolitics, Supply Chains, and North Carolina’s Future
The past few years have brought upon significant changes and disruptions to global energy supply and supply chains driven by geopolitical tensions, new approaches to trade policy, and the growth of the AI sector. This conversation will feature a panel of experts who shed light on some of those changes, and how they're set to impact the energy future of North Carolina.
Shasten Jolley, Greentech Renewables
Arianna Skibell, Politico
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