Wrapping Up “The Future Starts Now”
Posted on October 24, 2016 by Amelia Lamb
Tags, Conference & Events
On Friday October 14, CUB held our sixth annual energy policy conference, The Future Starts Now, at the Downtown Portland Hilton. This was our most well-attended conference yet, and that success was mirrored in a full day of dynamic debate and conversation covering a wide range of energy policy issues currently facing the Pacific NW’s utility industry.
Bob Jenks opened the day with a presentation outlining current trends that, just a few years ago, were futuristic projections: consistent record-breaking global temperatures, declining NW energy demand, coal plant closures, the emergence of the transportation sector as the US’s “New Emissions Juggernaut”, rapidly declining solar prices, the evolution of CAISO into the West’s very first regional grid, and the new mandates and programs resulting from the passage of SB 1547, the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Act.
Bob Jenks chats with Lisa Schwartz - Lawrence Berkeley Lab (left) and Ruchi Sadhir - Governor’s Office, State of Oregon
From there, the program segued into our third annual CEO panel “The View From The Top”. With the aid of Bob Jenks’ moderation, the audience got many meaningful insights from Idaho Power CEO Darrel Anderson, NW Natural CEO David Anderson, Pacific Power CEO Stefan Bird, BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer, and PGE CEO Jim Piro (pictured at top). Hot topics included storm preparedness in a warming climate (on everyone’s minds because of the weekend storms threatening outages across the northwest), development of “renewable natural gas” by methane recapture, opportunities for low-income populations to benefit from energy efficiency, and increasing diversity in C-level utility management (this last topic spurred by a pointed audience question from Renewable NW Executive Director Rachel Shimshak).
PUC Chair Lisa Hardie gives Midday Keynote
PUC Chair Lisa Hardie illuminated the core issues of concern to utility regulators in her midday keynote address. Breakout sessions touched on topics as diverse as implementation of SB 1547 and specifically the Community Solar program, regulation of electric vehicles, the expansion of CAISO, modern rate design, and customer choice.
“How Will Our Solar Garden Grow?” Panelists, fr. left: B. McCarthy - PGE; J. Bissonnette - OSEIA; J. Peacock - OR PUC; L. Jones - A.G.’s Office, MN PUC (and new CUB Staff Attorney)
We ended the day on a high note as PUC Commissioner Steve Bloom presented Margie Harris, founding Executive Director of the Energy Trust of Oregon, with the inaugural Consumer Champion Award. Ms. Harris then gave the closing Keynote on Oregon’s past achievements in consumer and environmental advocacy, and where she envisions us going next. We are grateful to Margie Harris for all she has contributed to making Oregon a better place for energy consumers, and appreciate her participation in this year’s conference. We shared in the enthusiasm of her inspiring closing keynote when she said of Oregon’s history of progressive utility customer advocacy: “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished, but proud is not the same as satisfied. I am not satisfied. There is much more work to be done.”
PUC Commissioner Steve Bloom presents Consumer Champion Award to Margie Harris - founding Exec. Director, Energy Trust of OR
We are grateful to our sponsors, whose generous contributions made this conference possible. We couldn’t do it without their support.
• Polar Bear Sponsors:
• Grizzly Bear Sponsors:
• Brown Bear Sponsors: Bonneville Power Administration; Idaho Power; Oregon Department of Energy; Sunpower
• Honey Bear Sponsors: Avista Utilities; Energy Trust of Oregon; McDowell Rackner & Gibson PC; NW Energy Coalition; Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association; Renewable Northwest; Sierra Club
• Media Sponsor:
CUB Staff, Board members, and alumni reunite at the conference reception
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! You can also keep up to date with breaking news by joining our email list today!
12/27/16 | 0 Comments | Wrapping Up “The Future Starts Now”