Eleven Critical Issue Forums (CIFs) are planned that offer a full spectrum of vital content. They provide an opportunity for speakers and the audience to have a stimulating dialogue on important industry issues and trends.  Over 50 CEOs and senior executives will participate in the CIFs.

Wednesday, June 24, 10:30 – 12:00 noon

A. Low-Carbon Strategies
States, regions, and the Federal government are all considering (or have implemented) greenhouse gas limits.   An industry panel will discuss various means to ensure low-carbon operations such as new generating technologies, carbon capture and storage, and greener operations.

Moderator:
Tom Farrell, Chairman, President, and CEO, Dominion

Panelists: 

• Dennis Welch, EVP, Environment, Safety, Health and Facilities, American Electric Power
• Steve Snyder, President and CEO, TransAlta Corp. 
• Shelley Keller, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Exelon
• Amy Ericson, Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Alstom

 
B. Getting Renewables to Market
The power industry is developing significant renewable energy resources, but challenges remain in getting the power delivered where it is needed.  This panel will examine new transmission construction:  plans, obstacles, the role of government, and success stories.

Moderator:  
Steve Mitnick, Partner, Oliver Wyman / Marsh & McLennan 

Panelists:    

• Jeff Anthony, Utility Program Manager, American Wind Energy Association
• Joe Welch, Chairman, President, and CEO, ITC Holdings 
• Chuck Shivery, Chairman, President, and CEO, Northeast Utilities 
• John Cupparo, Vice President, Transmission, PacifiCorp 

 
C. Making Energy Efficiency a Sustainable Business
Energy efficiency business models vary by utility company.  This panel will discuss what energy efficiency means to them, how it can best be implemented, and how electric companies integrate efficiency into their business.

Moderator:  
Thomas King, President, National Grid USA (confirmed)

Panelists:  

• Debra Reed, President & CEO, San Diego Gas & Electric
• Ralph Cavanagh, Co-Director, Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council 
• Lisa Wood, Executive Director, Institute for Electric Efficiency 
• Jim Rogers, Chairman, President & CEO, Duke Energy 

Wednesday, June 24, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

A. Seizing “Stimulus” Opportunities
The Federal stimulus package has allocated significant funds to the DOE to be used on a wide range of energy-related initiatives.  One area that has already received funding is energy efficiency and weatherization.  The majority of these funds have been given to states, counties and cities.  This panel will introduce the various opportunities to utilities within the stimulus package and will then focus on how utilities can work with their states to initiate or grow programs that specifically meet policy goals around energy efficiency.

Moderator:  
David Owens, Executive Vice President, EEI

Panelists:  

• Dan Sullivan, President & CEO, PowerAdvocate
• Tom Schneider, Principal Analyst – Strategic Energy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Roland Risser, Director of Customer Energy Efficiency, PG&E
• Ted Schultz, Vice President, Energy Efficiency, Duke Energy 

B. Achieving Renewable Energy Standards
As governments consider renewable energy standards, more and more companies are pursuing renewable projects around the world.  This panel will present plans and projects for implementing renewable projects, and potential problems likely to crop up along the way.

Moderator:  
Dick Rosenblum, President & CEO, Hawaiian Electric Company

Panelists: 
 

• Peter Delaney, Chairman, President & CEO, OGE Energy (confirmed)
• Bill Harvey, Chairman, President & CEO, Alliant Energy (confirmed)
• Mary Powell, President and CEO, Green Mountain Power (confirmed)
• Hans ten Berge, Secretary General, EURELECTRIC (confirmed)

 
C. Electric Vehicles:  The Future is Now
Electric vehicles have tremendous potential to impact both the automotive and the power industries.  This panel will focus on current status of technologies, plans to utilize electric vehicles, and the potential impacts they might have on electric demand and supply.

Moderator:  
Bill Johnson, Chairman, CEO and President, Progress Energy 

Panelists:  

• Ted Craver, Chairman, President and CEO, Edison International
• Jim Piro, CEO and President, Portland General Electric 
• Nancy Gioia, Director, Sustainable Mobility Technology and Hybrid Vehicle Programs, Ford Motor Company 
• Britta Gross, Director, Global Energy Systems and Infrastructure Commercialization, General Motors (invited)

Thursday, June 25, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

A. The Smart Grid:  Deploying at the Speed of ValueThe Smart Grid involves advanced controls, sensors, and other technologies, linked with an advanced communication network in order to provide a new level of control and consumer response.  However, due to the numerous paths to the smart grid, the use of novel and emerging technologies and rate designs, and concerns about the size of the investments, the smart grid may actually deploy at “the speed of regulation.”  Stakeholders are still debating the value of current versus future benefits, who wins or loses, and how to quantify the intangible.

Moderator:  
Becky Blalock, Senior Vice President and CIO, Southern Company

Panelists:   

• Suedeen Kelly, FERC Commissioner, Co-chair, Smart Grid Collaborative
• Jim Greer, Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Engineering, Oncor
• George Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability, NIST 
• Evan Gaddis, President & CEO, National Electrical Manufacturers Association  

 
B. Solar Energy
Solar energy is making notable contributions both on and off the grid.  Public expectations are high and many opportunities are available with new incentives and regulatory requirements to develop renewable and low-carbon power sources.  A panel of solar technology CEOs will explore the lessons that are being learned from new technology applications and identify possible areas for expanded collaboration and adoption of solar energy by utilities across the country.

Moderator:  
Don Brandt, Chairman, President & CEO, Pinnacle West Capital Corp. 

Panelists:  

• Roger Efird, President, Suntech America
• Bob Fishman, Chairman, President and CEO, Ausra 
• Tom Werner, CEO, SunPower 
• Jeff Wolfe, Chairman & CEO, groSolar 
• John Woolard, CEO and President, BrightSource Energy 

C. Carbon Trading, Offsets, and Carbon Pooling
The carbon markets are becoming one of the largest commodity markets in the world, with an active international marketplace in emissions allowances.  In addition, the use of offsets, including through carbon pooling arrangements, is an emerging strategy for cost-effective compliance.  This panel will look at the domestic and international carbon markets, emerging strategies, and lessons learned to date.

Moderator:  
James Rhodes, Chief Operating Officer, GE AES Greenhouse Gas Services

Panelists:  

• Betsy Moler, Executive Vice President, Exelon 
• Rich Rosenzweig, Chief Operating Officer, Natsource 
• Richard Sandor, Chairman and CEO, Chicago Climate Exchange 
• John Scowcroft, Head, Environment and Sustainable Development, EURELECTRIC 

Thursday, June 25, 10:30 – 12:00 noon

A. Potential Game-Changing Technologies
Pending policy issues will impact the industry, but so will emerging technologies that create tremendous pressure for change.  Come hear about new technologies for energy generation, storage, transmission and distribution. 

Moderator:  
Phil Mihlmester, Senior Vice President, ICF International

Panelists:    

• Bob Powers, President, AEP Utilities
• Hal LaFlash, Director of Emerging Clean Technologies, PG&E 
• Mike Howard, Senior Vice President – R&D, EPRI 
• Lynne Ellyn, Senior Vice President and CIO, DTE Energy 

B. Expanding Nuclear Energy
New nuclear plants offer both clean and reliable, base-load energy that will be critical to achieving carbon reduction, meeting future electricity needs and balancing greater use of intermittent renewable resources.   What is the status of the proposed plants, how much will they cost, and how many will ultimately come on line?  This panel will identify key opportunities and barriers and offer strategies and solutions to expand the role for nuclear.

Moderator:   
Jack Keenan, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer,
Pacific Gas & Electric

Panelists:  

• Jim Miller, President and CEO, Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
• Lloyd Yates, President and CEO, Progress Energy Carolinas 
• Jean Pierre Benque, President, Electricité de France Development
• Art Lembo, Senior Vice President – Power Group, URS Washington Division  

  

EEI Staff Contact

• Brian Farrell 
  bfarrell@eei.org  
  202-508-5649