Below you'll find the 2023 full conference schedule (subject to change) taking place in-person May 17-18, 2023. This year's topics will include resilience, post-IRA policy, electric vehicles and grid integration, rate design, decommissioning, carbon reduction plans, DEI and workforce development, and more.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Registration Hours
8:00 am - 8:45 am
Full Conference Networking Breakfast
8:45 am - 10:00 am
Welcome Remarks & Opening Session
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Exhibit Hall Hours
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Networking Break sponsored by 
10:30 am - 11:00 am
QuickTalk: Southeast Hydrogen Hub
Hydrogen has the potential to accelerate decarbonization in the United States, especially in difficult-to-abate sectors. Come hear about how the Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition, which includes major utility companies Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, Southern Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as Battelle, is working to organize the potential hub and secure funding from the Department of Education.
10:30 am - 11:30 am
IRA – The Renewable Energy and Economic Development Boom: Forecasts and Predictions
Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the clean energy industry in the Southeast has been buzzing with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Many have announced plans as they eagerly await guidance to explain how the legislation will be translated into detailed regulations, rules, and procedures. This session will explore the impacts of the IRA on clean energy deployment, manufacturing, energy efficiency, and electrification. Panelists will discuss how states are responding and what roles major stakeholders play in deploying IRA funding.
11:00 am - 11:30 am
State Briefing: Virginia
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Virginia. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
11:40 am - 12:30 pm
Advocating for Safe and Sustainable Decommissioning Practices in the Southeast
As clean energy projects continue to proliferate in the Southeast region, it's essential to consider policies and plans for the eventual end-of-life of these projects. Currently, the decommissioning policies in the Southeast vary by state. Some states, such as Virginia and North Carolina, have specific regulations in place that require project developers to submit a decommissioning plan as part of their permit application. Other states, such as South Carolina, have not yet developed specific policies related to clean energy decommissioning. By carefully considering the steps required for decommissioning, estimating the costs involved, and putting financial assurance requirements in place, we can ensure that clean energy projects are developed and operated in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.
11:40 am - 12:30 pm
State Briefing: The Gulf States (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi)
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in the gulf states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting these states.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Full Conference Networking Lunch
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
QuickTalk: Driving Equity and Inclusivity Forward in the Southeast
States across the Southeast are battling with historic poverty and income inequality. Increasing access to renewable energy resources through thoughtfully designed programs and initiatives that focus on LMI customers is critical to promoting energy equity and reducing energy burdens. During this panel, speakers will discuss the importance of access to affordable and resilient energy and how to better center equity in your work in terms of policy and deployment.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Carbon Reduction in the Carolinas
In a rare bipartisan move, North Carolina lawmakers in October passed House Bill 951. HB951 requires the NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) to take "all reasonable steps" to achieve 70 percent carbon emissions reductions from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As a requirement of the bill, The NC Carbon Plan Order, released on December 30, 2022, outlined near-term steps while leaving mid to long-term pathways to reaching the goals open. Meanwhile in South Carolina, Duke Energy has proposed new programs to foster economic development and strive towards 100% clean energy. Join this conversation where panelists will discuss what "reasonable steps" are being taken in the Carolinas and what is expected down the pike.
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
State Briefing: Tennessee
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Tennessee. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm
Quick Talk: New Approaches for Clean Energy Workforce Development
One of the most limiting bottlenecks in the continued progress of clean energy development will be labor force. In the United States record low unemployment, new funding opportunities by IIJA and IRA, and equipment cost reductions – potential jobs are created but deployment could be stalled by labor shortages. This session should enable states, municipalities, and NGOs work with contractors and developers to effectively design and implement training and certification programs to enable a workforce which uplifts local communities and creates a path for low earners to train and establish sustainable, well compensated employment. Outline a regional incentive program or certification program. Cover opportunities in the IRA, for energy centers or otherwise, to find funding, and demonstrate the benefit of training and certification as a reduction in cost for solar installers.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm
State Briefing: Kentucky
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Kentucky. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Networking Break sponsored by
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
QuickTalk: Circular Economy and Waste Management for Solar PV and
Li-Ion Battery Technologies
By 2050, there will be an estimated 10 million tons of solar PV waste and 20 million tons of Li-Ion waste in the US alone. The circularity of solar PV panels and Li-Ion batteries not only can reduce the amount of waste in landfills, but also can increase the stability of critical raw materials. Join this quicktalk to hear about strategies to increase recycling of clean energy technologies and take meaningful steps towards sustainability
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
State Briefing: Georgia
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Georgia. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
State Briefing: The Carolinas
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in The Carolinas. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
Navigating the Nation’s Largest Requests for Carbon-Free Energy: How Are Utilities Responding to Infrastructure Funding?
With the growing emphasis on carbon reduction, utilities across the country are issuing solicitations for carbon-free energy in their request for proposals (RFPs) on an unprecedented scale. In 2022, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced an RFP for 5,000 MW of carbon-free energy that must be operational before 2029. This bold decarbonization effort is the single largest carbon-free RFP in U.S. history. In this conversation, panelists will discuss TVA’s RFP, particularly the objectives and structure, and compare different approaches that other utilities have taken when it comes to transforming their generation mix and stakeholder engagement processes.
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
State Briefing: Arkansas
This briefing will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Arkansas. Drop-in for a discussion on issues impacting the state.
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Happy Hour in Exhibit Hall
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Networking Reception
*this is a ticketed event; admission is included with Full Conference passes
Thursday, May 18, 2023
8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Registration Hours
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Full Conference Networking Breakfast
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Exhibit Hall Hours
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Third Party Ownership – Does it Make Sense in the Southeast
Third party ownership (TPO), also referred to as a solar lease or power purchase agreement, is a prevalent alternative to traditional solar financing. Given the adders reflected in the Inflation Reduction Act, there is potential for a resurgence in the market, but does it make sense in the Southeast? This panel will explore the good and the bad behind leases and PPAs, the restrictions they face under current regulations within specific states, how the industry can best leverage these financial products, particularly under the latest guidance from the Treasury Department, and consumer protection needs and provisions.
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Adapting to Climate Change: Strengthening the Southeast through Resilience
Severe weather events in recent years have exposed vulnerabilities in the US power grid, highlighting the need for improved resilience measures. The Southeast region is particularly susceptible to hurricanes, flooding, and other extreme weather events that can disrupt the energy supply and compromise grid reliability. In this session, experts will explore the different levers being used to address resilience in the Southeast region, including policy and technological solutions. Speakers will discuss how broader energy market reform may be part of the solution and how renewable energy can relieve pressure on the grid. They will also discuss the lessons learned from Winter Storm Elliot and other recent events, and how they can inform future efforts to prepare for extreme weather events.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Networking Break sponsored by
10:30 am - 11:30 am
The Evolving Rooftop Solar Landscape
Net energy metering headlines have grabbed attention and sparked a debate about fair solar compensation and incentives nationwide. How should customers be credited for their solar generation? Panelists will discuss recent developments in Georgia, North Carolina, and Arkansas. A particular focus will be placed on distributed rooftop solar generation’s potential contribution to regional net-zero carbon commitments and grid needs.
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Mobility Opportunity: Electric Vehicles and Buses in the Southeast
Despite quickly establishing itself as the nation’s nexus of electric vehicle and bus manufacturing, the Southeast still lags other regions in customer adoption. New federal dollars from the Infrastructure Bill and the IRA will provide opportunities for new investments. How can the region seize this opportunity to not only increase adoption, but expand beyond private ownership into shared e-mobility services (including transit), and charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, and usable for all populations? Panelists will explore the potential of equitable transportation electrification in Southeast states from multiple stakeholder perspectives, including utility programs, municipalities, and manufacturers.
11:40 am - 12:30 pm
Roundtable discussion: What’s Next for the Southeast?
Wrap up RE+Southeast with a roundtable discussion that will feature analysis, forecasts and best guesses from our panel of industry leaders to help prepare you for the Southeast’s bright future addressing carbon reduction goals, land use and interconnection, to name a few.