Non-Wires Alternatives: Insights from the Nation’s Leading NWA Projects

Brenda is a Director at SEPA and has focused much of her time investigating the proliferation and integration of resources along the grid. She covers a range of topics including integrated distribution planning, non-wires alternatives, and demand flexibility. Prior to joining SEPA, Brenda worked as a consultant on Utility of the Future and grid modernization efforts.

She holds a master’s degree in sustainable development from the University of St. Andrews, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from Emory University.

Tiger Adolf is Member Services Director for the Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) and provides organizational support for the Utility Load Management Exchange (ULME). She supports PLMA’s strong communication and educational services for PLMA members Interest Groups, training, webinars, workshops, and conferences for PLMA and with member-hosted stand-alone courses and allied organization events.

Tiger previously served as the Director of Program Design and Market Development at Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), and ANSI accredited standards and professional certification organization. Before joining BPI, Tiger was the Executive Director of a the Wyoming Energy Council, a nonprofit low-income weatherization provider, and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor organization. A recovering attorney, Tiger retired from the Wyoming Bar in 2013.

Steve Cowell is president of E4TheFuture, dedicated to achieving a strong and prosperous U.S. clean energy economy. Cowell is a rare entrepreneur whose service ethic is woven into a core focus on the public good. He founded and has directed numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy organizations, including Conservation Services Group (CSG) in 1984. He was the organization’s chairman and CEO until the 2015 sale of its assets. Under Cowell’s leadership, CSG designed and implemented conservation and renewable energy programs for utilities, state agencies, and other entities nationwide ultimately providing services to more than 3.2 million businesses and households. Cowell successfully advocated for energy efficiency as a least-cost power supply option. He helped to create and build the residential energy efficiency industry through sound public policy, legislation, and establishment of trade ally networks as well as delivery of cost-effective programs. Cowell is a graduate of Brown University and has been honored with major industry awards.

Mark Sclafani is the Senior Program Coordinator of Demand Response at Central Hudson. Mark is responsible to oversee the company’s demand response portfolio, non-wires alternatives projects, and development of benefit-cost analyses for DSM programs.

Before this role, Mark spent several years designing, implementing, & evaluating Central Hudson’s Energy Efficiency Programs, while working collaboratively with regulatory staff on policy related aspects. Mark also acted as an Associate District Director of Business Development, focusing on project management and key account relations. Mark has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Sarah has worked for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for 25+ years. She is currently a Non-Wires Project Manager in Transmission Inventory Availability, Transmission Services. Sarah received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Portland in 1996 and a Graduate degree in Applied Energy Economics from Portland State University in 2002.

Sarah has held several jobs at BPA spanning from market research, power/transmission rate development, to working through policy and procurement issues to accelerate non-wires integration at BPA.