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CUB Conference Preview: The View From the Top

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Amelia Lamb
Tags,  Energy,  Conference & Events


The tenth annual CUB Policy Conference is coming up fast, on Friday, October 16. Taking place online from 9:30am-2:40pm, this conference will explore the topic Finding Hope: Improving Our Energy Systems in the Age of COVID-19. Early Bird discount pricing ends on Monday, September 28, so we encourage readers to Register Now.

This is the third installment in a series of CUB Blog updates previewing each of the conference’s four panel discussions. In this installment, we are pleased to preview the beginning of the day’s agenda with the panel The View From the Top: A Conversation with NW Utility CEOs.

But first, another exciting piece of news: Oregon Governor Kate Brown will be delivering opening remarks at the start of the day. This is the Governor’s first time joining us for the CUB conference; we are grateful to her for setting aside this time and look forward to her remarks.

After Governor Brown speaks, CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks will take the virtual podium to present an opening keynote address. The year 2020 has brought widespread upheaval, both in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the form of massive wildfires throughout the West, and other extreme weather events exacerbated by a changing climate. These twin crises have revealed fundamental gaps in our preparedness, along with deep social inequities. Bob’s opening presentation will draw parallels and other insights between these crises that have had such profound impacts on our society throughout 2020, and ask where the lessons are that will allow us to adapt and prepare for the changes that lie ahead.

The energy utilities serving our region are in a unique position to address these issues, and the CUB conference is a unique opportunity to pull back the curtain and hear about what the utilities are doing to address the challenges of today and prepare for the future. When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, more data and testimonials are being collected and shared with the public every day about the impact on residents and utility customers. But it’s harder for a layperson to ascertain what is transpiring on the utility side of the meter: what are the utilities finding most challenging about responding to the pandemic? Utilities deal in risk and complex scenarios every day in the interest of planning their resource portfolios – did they have plans in place to address a pandemic or similar global crisis, and if so, what do those plans look like? If not, are they developing these plans now?

Climate change brings to mind other questions about risk management and mitigation. Past CUB conferences have dedicated much discussion to the prevention of severe climate impacts through strategies such as energy efficiency, demand response, renewables, battery storage, and transportation electrification. But how are utilities grappling with the effects that severe weather events are already having on their systems? How are they preparing for the increased disruptions that are being projected by climate scientists?

The upheavals of 2020 have also galvanized public awareness of racism and other systemic social inequities, and how these dynamics shape the outcomes of crises for people of color and other marginalized communities. The utility sector is not immune to these problems, as evidenced by widespread inequities in energy burden (which disproportionately affects low-income, Black, and Latino households). It is clear that utilities cannot solve these problems on their own – what do they see as their role in the work of anti-racism and equity?

In what has become a very popular pillar of the annual CUB Conference agenda, our panelists will address these and other questions in a rousing discussion moderated by Bob Jenks. Participating in the 2020 installment of The View From the Top are:

This is sure to be a fascinating conversation that will kick off a day of learning and collaboration. We hope you can join us! Visit the conference homepage for details on the day’s agenda and to register. You can follow CUB Conference updates on Twitter at #CUBCon20. Want an even easier way to stay plugged in to CUB Conference news? Sign up for our email list to get ongoing updates in your inbox.

The CUB Policy Conference is designed to educate energy and utility policy analysts, attorneys, advocates, regulators, and others working in and around the energy industry. CUB plans to apply for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for this event from the Bar Associations of Oregon and Washington.

A hearty thanks to our generous sponsors whose support makes the CUB conference possible, particularly Polar Bear sponsors NW Natural, Pacific Power, and Portland General Electric; Grizzly Bear sponsor Avista; and Media Sponsor Clearing Up.

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

10/01/20  |  0 Comments  |  CUB Conference Preview: The View From the Top

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