Webinar Connecting Faster: Flexible Interconnection and Proactive Investment as Complementary Tools May 13, 2026 60 minutes Watch On-Demand Members Free Non-members $79 Watch On-Demand This webinar is the second in a four-part series exploring how planning, interconnection, flexibility, and policy are evolving to meet this moment. Together, the series highlights emerging practices and real-world lessons for building a grid that is faster, smarter, more resilient, and affordable. As load growth accelerates faster than infrastructure timelines, utilities need tools that deliver capacity now while building for the future. This session will focus on: Flexible interconnection models and managed load strategies Proactive grid investment and anticipatory buildout Sequencing and layering short-term flexibility with long-term capital upgrades Regulatory frameworks that support faster connections without compromising reliability Rather than framing flexibility and investment as tradeoffs, the discussion will examine how they work together to reduce risk, improve speed to connect, and capture economic value. Watch On-Demand Not a member? Join a trusted, cross-sector community that leads the energy transition. Become a SEPA member today to unlock savings, expand your influence, and help move the industry forward. View Membership Info Share Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedIn About the Speakers Ben Shapiro Manager, Carbon-Free Mobility, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Elizabeth Turnbull Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Alliance for Transportation Electrification David Castle Senior Manager, Grid Policy, Southern California Edison Garrett Fitzgerald Senior Director, Research & Industry Strategy | Transportation Electrification, SEPA Garrett joined SEPA in 2021 as Principal, Electrification. He leads SEPAs work focused on the beneficial electrification of transportation and buildings. Garrett collaborates with the other SEPA focus area teams to help utilities and other stakeholders navigate a smooth transition to a highly electrified and low-carbon future. Prior to joining SEPA, Garrett spent 8 years working at Rocky Mountain Institute. While at RMI, he built and led the electricity program in India that works to accelerate the integration of electric vehicles and clean energy portfolios. During his tenure at RMI, Garrett managed the Fleet Electrification program, co-led the EV-Grid initiative, and was deeply engaged in work related to energy storage, distributed solar, and load flexibility. He has extensive expertise in technical and business model aspects of EV charging infrastructure, EV-specific tariff design, energy storage, and demand side flexibility. Garrett holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University and a MS and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University. Garrett is passionate about the environment and is an enthusiastic snowboarder, mountain biker, and general lover of the outdoors. He resides in the small town of Carbondale, Colorado with his wife Amy and his toddler son Noah.