NCEW Look Ahead: Thursday September, 24

Good morning,

We are officially in the home stretch of National Clean Energy Week but the Policy Makers Symposium just keeps getting bigger. Today’s program is jam-packed, with sessions on clean energy jobs and workforce opportunities, growing the economy while reducing emissions in heavy industry, electrified transportation, and talking about clean energy and climate in conservative districts. We’ll hear from Karen Harbert, CEO of the American Gas Association, more Congressional policy makers including Reps. John Curtis and Kathy Castor, and so much more.

Did you know: Some of the most interesting conversations of the Policy Makers Symposium have been at our networking events after the panel sessions wrap up for the day. Definitely stick around this evening for your pick of two incredible changes to mix and mingle. One will be hosted directly on our event site, sponsored by EDPR, and a second presented in partnership with Greentown Labs, will join their live “EnergyBar” happy hour from Houston, TX to take a virtual spin around Greentown’s newest clean energy startup incubator.

Believe it or not, there is still time to register and see all of the remaining events live and beginning next week registrants can replay every session from the NCEW Policy Makers Symposium on-demand, right on the event site. As always, get live updates by following us @NCEWConf on Twitter.

In addition to our official programming listed below, there are several events being hosted by our partners at the end of this email, including a Federalist Society panel discussion featuring one of our favorite moderators from the NCEW virtual stage this week, Charles Hernick of CRES Forum, an NCEW Platinum sponsor. They are all free, so there’s no reason not to participate in at least one of these great clean energy events; if you haven’t participated in NCEW yet, today (and tonight) is your best chance!

Thursday, September 24

9:15 - 10:15 AM ET
Clean Energy Jobs Now and for the Future: A Workforce on the Rise
Clean energy jobs have been on a steady rise over the past decade, topping over 3.4 million jobs at the end of 2019. The business conditions under COVID-19 have impacted clean energy workers significantly, with nearly half-a-million people still unemployed. Bringing back these jobs in clean energy sectors and creating new ones can be a critical part of our economic recovery. As demand for clean energy continues to grow, so will the need to have a capable and well-trained workforce – representative of the diversity of our customers. In this panel, clean energy executives will talk about their current and future workforce needs, challenges, and opportunities; workforce development and recruiting programs in use; and the broad range of jobs offered in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors.

Beau Butler | Director, Valuation Services, Weaver
Ben Evans | Vice President of Public Affairs, Alliance to Save Energy
John Steele | Senior Director of Government Relations, Johnson Controls
Laura Thompson | Vice President, Flow Energy
Michael Van Brunt | Senior Director of Sustainability, Covanta Energy
Moderators: Lisa Jacobson | President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy; and Lynn Abramson | President, Clean Energy Business Network

10:30 - 11:00 AM ET
Karen Harbert, President and CEO, American Gas Association

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Texas' Path to Net Zero Emissions and CCUS Leadership
Texas is poised to become a leader in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS), a necessary component of the clean energy future. The panel will explore why Texas is poised to be a leader in CCUS, what policies are needed, and how investments in CCUS can help catalyze Direct Air Capture (DAC).

Ken Medlock | James A Baker III and Susan G Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics, and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University
Laura Goldberg | Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Communications, Center for Houston's Future
William Swetra | Senior Policy Analyst, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures
MODERATOR: Rich Powell | Executive Director, ClearPath

12:00 - 12:30 PM ET
Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), Member, House Natural Resources Committee

12:30 - 1:30 PM ET
Heavy Industry: Expanding the American Economy While Shrinking Our Carbon Footprint
In the wake of the pandemic, there is renewed emphasis on local supply chains, domestic manufacturing, and job creation in hard-to-decarbonize industrial sectors. Panelists will examine emissions reductions needs and opportunities in industry, with a focus on the relevance of “embedded,” or imported, carbon in the sector. The discussion will also highlight prospects for a U.S. comparative advantage in clean industrial processes and linkages to trade.

Robert Niven | Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Carbon Cure
Jason Walsh | Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
Tom Dower | Senior Director, Government Relations, ArcelorMittal
Kate Simonen | Executive Director of the Carbon Leadership Forum, Chair of the Department of Architecture, University of Washington
MODERATOR: Jessie Stolark | Public Policy & Member Relations Manager, Carbon Capture Coalition

2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Transportation: New Fuels and the Electrification of American Transportation
The transportation industry is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Panelists will address the ways in which commonsense climate change solutions address transportation emissions, including the role of electric vehicles, and emissions reductions options for sectors that are particularly difficult to decarbonize, such as marine and air transportation. The discussion will focus on federal policy and state and regional policy, including the Transportation Climate Initiative.

Rob Threlkeld | Global Manager for Sustainable Energy, Supply & Reliability, General Motors
Randy Bell | Director of the Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council
Vicki Arroyo | Executive Director of the Georgetown Climate Center, Georgetown University
Emma Russell | Vice President, Vision Ridge Partners, LLC
MODERATOR: Amy Brink, Vice President, State Government Affairs, Alliance for Automotive Innovation

3:15 - 3:45 PM ET
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Chair, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
Report from the Front Lines: How Conservatives Can Talk About Clean Energy
Clean energy is shaping up to be a decisive issue in the upcoming elections. Learn how top Republican pollsters and policymakers are talking about clean energy in this informative panel discussion.

Glen Bolger | Partner, Public Opinion Strategies
Rich Thau | President, Engagious
Carrie Coyner | State delegate, Virginia (R-62)
Nathan Ballentine | State representative, South Carolina (R-71)
MODERATOR: Mark Fleming | President & CEO, Conservatives for Clean Energy

Check Out These Additional Events from Our Partners!

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET
The Rising Renewable Gas Market: H2, RNG, P2G
The renewable gas industry includes much more than biogas and renewable natural gas. Markets have emerged for renewable hydrogen and several different ways to connect biogas, hydrogen, and excess solar/wind under the umbrella of power-to-gas. Where is the market growing fastest and where will the next opportunities be? Hosted by the American Biogas Council; click here for information.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM ET (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CT)
Iowa Clean Energy Week
Join the Washington Examiner and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions for a virtual event celebrating Iowa's recognition of National Clean Energy Week September 21st-25th with a discussion featuring long-time clean energy supporter Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R) focused on America’s rapidly innovating domestic energy industry and the economic importance of our clean energy workforce in Iowa. Register here.

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Biogas’ Role on the Path to Electrification
On the search for lower carbon energy, environmentalists and policymakers are driving the creating of narrow, electricity-only policies. However, real life is more complicated than these simple policies, especially when one looks closely at the transit, trucking, waste management, and state regulations. What role should renewable natural gas play? Can it help if the path to 100% electrification continues? Hosted by the American Biogas Council; click here for information.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT)
Greentown Labs EnergyBar
Greentown Labs is excited to announce the location of their new Houston incubator! Join them for an EnergyBar networking event to hear from partners and get further details on the new location and how this location will help them serve the city's climatetech community. Entrepreneurs, investors, students, and friends of climatetech are invited to attend, meet colleagues, and engage in a community that is focused on climate action at work. Click here to register.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
Creating Markets for Clean Energy Expansion
Policymakers in the West and the South are looking at the opportunity to grow access to renewable energy and lower electricity costs for ratepayers. Join EDP Renewables to discuss the value of competition and the opportunities for new clean energy development through the creation of organized markets. Join this event directly through the NCEW website.

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
It Can Be Done Live: The Future of Our Earth, presented by the Federalist Society
By 2050, 9 billion humans will share this planet and how we protect it is one of the most important questions of our time. How will we ensure that we can adapt to a changing climate, that we will all have access to clean air and fresh water, and that habitats are protected? While these goals have notable public support, reasonable people differ on the best methods to protect the environment. Are there more effective and less burdensome ways to accomplish these vital goals? Our panelists will explore the potential of human ingenuity to solve these problems and the conditions necessary to make those solutions a reality. We say it can be done. Speakers will include EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Charles Hernick, VP of Policy for Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and CRES Forum. Click here for more information.