Grid Evolution Midwest

Rate Design, Regulation, Electrification and The Midwest Energy Transition
February 22 - 23, 2021
Virtual
Register

5+ Hours

of Educational Content and Networking
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Topics:

  • Electrification
  • EVs
  • Rate design
  • Resilience
  • Regional policy and more

19+ Regional Experts

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Agenda
Networking Highlight: Meet attendees with similar interests during small networking sessions at the end of both days
All times are Central (CT)
Monday, February 22
  • Monday, February 22
  • Tuesday, February 23
  • 12:30 PM - 12:55 PM
    Small Group Networking Discussions
  • 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
    Putting the Pieces Together: Achieving a Carbon Free Energy Future in the Midwest
    Despite the challenges of 2021, the energy industry has made significant steps toward modernizing the electrical grid, adding clean generation, and planning for a carbon-free future. This conversation will discuss these efforts, including integrating new technologies and resources while keeping the lights and heat on 24/7 - especially during extreme and extended weather events as well as an investigation into what is needed over the next 5, 10, and 15 years at the state and regional level to achieve a carbon free energy system by 2050.
    • Carlos Restrepo
      Chief Technical Officer & Managing Director
      sonnen Inc.
      Speaker
    • Julia Hamm
      President and CEO
      Smart Electric Power Alliance
      Moderator
    • Rolf Nordstrom
      President and CEO
      Great Plains Institute
      Speaker
    • Veronica Gomez
      Senior Vice President Regulatory and Energy Policy and General Counsel
      ComEd
      Speaker
  • 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
    What Electrification Means in the Midwest
    Throughout the country, jurisdictions are investigating support policies and regulation to increase electrification. The midwest, however, is home to a robust natural gas industry, fueled by an abundance of supply, demand for high BTU heating/manufacturing, and established infrastructure for delivery. So what does the push to increase electrification mean here? How can the greater energy industry work to establish a just and thoughtful transition to a carbon free energy system?
    • Audrey Partridge
      Regulatory Policy Mgr
      Center for Energy and Environment
      Speaker
    • Margaret Cherne-Hendrick
      Lead Director, Energy Transition
      Fresh Energy
      Speaker
    • Sydnie Lieb
      Energy & Environmental Policy Mgr
      Xcel Energy
      Speaker
    • Trevor Drake
      Senior Program Manager, Electricity and Efficiency
      Great Plains Institute
      Moderator
  • 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
    Orchestrating the Transition to a Clean and Modern Grid in the Midwest
    Advancements are being made in both distribution planning and transmission planning but how can the Midwest coordinate these efforts to achieve cost effective, efficient, and socially beneficial decarbonization goals? Experts will discuss the role that Integrated Distribution Planning (IDP), Non-wires alternatives, DER aggregation implementation, and other pressing challenges contribute to the modernization of the Midwest energy system.
    • Bob Richhart
      Chief Technology Officer
      Hoosier Energy REC
      Speaker
    • Danielle Sass Byrnett
      Director, Center for Partnerships and Innovation
      NARUC
      Moderator
    • Emilie Tullis
      VP of Product and General Manager, Demand Management Solutions
      Uplight
      Speaker
    • Jessica Harrison
      Director of R&D
      MISO
      Speaker
  • 12:30 PM - 12:55 PM
    Small Group Networking Discussions
  • 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
    Midwest Regulator Roundtable
    This interactive roundtable discussion will feature Midwest utility commissioners who will share their thoughts on the most critical issues for the Midwest to address in order to enable utility business model innovation, integration of grid resources, and modernization of the energy system.
    • Dan Scripps
      Chairman
      Michigan Public Service Commission
      Speaker
    • Janet Gail Besser
      Managing Director
      Smart Electric Power Alliance
      Moderator
    • Matt Schuerger
      Commissioner
      Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
      Speaker
    • Rebecca Cameron Valcq
      Chairwoman
      Wisconsin Public Service Commission
      Speaker
  • 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
    Renovating Rate Design - Valuing Distributed Resources on the Grid of the Future
    From time of use rates to tariff-based approaches, Midwest states are consistently evaluating how to value distributed energy resources on the grid in a collaborative and economical manner. Join us for an expert discussion on how these different approaches are playing out in their respective jurisdictions.
    • Brad Klein
      Senior Attorney
      ELPC
      Moderator
    • Jennifer Peterson
      Manager of Regulatory Strategy and Policy
      Minnesota Power
      Speaker
    • Kevin Lucas
      Senior Director of Utility Regulation & Policy
      SEIA
      Speaker
  • 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
    Transportation Electrification in the Midwest

    Electric vehicles are an important component of the Biden energy and economic recovery strategy, and the Midwest will play an important role, from design and manufacturing to the infrastructure necessary to support the increase in personal, municipal, and commercial EVs. This session will investigate the policies, programs, and opportunities for the energy industry to support what could be a significant surge of demand throughout the coming decade.

    • Debbie Branson
      Manager, Electrification
      Madison Gas & Electric
      Speaker
    • Erika Myers
      Global Senior Manager, Electric Vehicles
      WRI
      Moderator
    • Garrett Fitzgerald
      Principal, Electrification
      Smart Electric Power Alliance
      Speaker
    • Kelsey Peterson
      Manager, EV Strategy & Programs
      DTE Energy
      Speaker
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Top Speakers

Carlos Restrepo

CTO and Managing Director, sonnen

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Carlos Restrepo

Carlos Restrepo, CTO, leads R&D and Engineering for sonnen, Inc. and is responsible for ongoing product innovations and development for the Americas, including energy storage systems, energy automation integration and sonnen’s virtual power plant technology for the US. He has over 18 years of experience innovating market-changing technologies in home automation, circuit protection and solar power electronics. He has lead technology-centric organizations minded on bringing solutions in energy management, lighting control, power conversion and safety. He has speared many important development efforts at Siemens, Eaton and SolarMax. As a thought leader and product innovator, Carlos holds several major patents, including a few on for Arc Fault technology from his work at Siemens.

Rebecca Cameron Valcq

Chairperson, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

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Rebecca Cameron Valcq

Rebecca Cameron Valcq was appointed by Governor Tony Evers as Commissioner at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for a six-year term beginning on January 7, 2019. Governor Evers also appointed her as Commission Chairperson for a two-year term effective March 2, 2019. Prior to her appointments, Becky was a partner at Quarles & Brady Law Firm in the energy, environment and natural resources practice group. Previous to that position, she was regulatory counsel for Wisconsin Electric Power Company where she advised management on all areas of regulatory law in multiple jurisdictions as well as compliance matters.

She is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and serves on the Committee on Water, and the Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity. She serves on the board of directors for the Organization of MISO States. ​​

Becky earned her undergraduate degree from Drake University and her law degree from Marquette University.

She was named a “40 Under 40” by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2013 and received a Girl Scout Leadership G.I.R.L. award in 2019. She has served on a number of non-profit boards of directors including Centro Legal, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee and the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. She was a member of the United Way’s Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Committee and Marquette University Law School’s Diversity Committee.

She resides in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin with her husband Rob and their two daughters.

Kelsey (Owens) Peterson

Manager, EV Strategy & Programs, DTE Energy

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Kelsey (Owens) Peterson

Kelsey Peterson is a manager for DTE Energy, a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services. Currently, Kelsey leads the team responsible for DTE’s light-duty EV strategy, including the Charging Forward program. Prior to joining DTE in August 2016, Kelsey was a quality manager at BMW in Greenville, South Carolina and Munich, Germany. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Michigan (2009) and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University (2015).

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