Wednesday, May 11
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Registration Open
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Welcome to RE+ Southeast
Chris Schroeder, VP, Strategic Solutions, SEPA
Abby Hopper, President & CEO, SEIA
9:05 am - 10:00 am
RE+ Southeast Opening Session: Utilizing Local Policy and Carbon Reduction Targets to Achieve Clean Energy Goals
Policy and technology innovation are accelerating regional efforts to meet clean energy commitments. Several southeast utilities are expanding their net-zero commitments, disclosing emission levels, and describing their carbon reduction plans in greater detail. On a smaller scale, there is an opportunity for innovative local policies to fast-track renewable project implementation. This discussion will walk through the efforts taking place on the ground to make the southeast a catalyst for clean energy.
Moderator:
Abby Hopper, President and CEO, SEIA
Panelists:
Kenneth C. Shiver, Chief Economist, Director of Planning, Regulatory & Strategy Support, Southern Company
Vicky Sullivan, Public Policy Director, Climate, Duke Energy
Thad Culley, Sr. Manager, Public Policy, Sunrun
Michelle Moore, CEO, Groundwell/TVA Board of Directors Nominee
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Expo Hall Hours
10:00 am - 11:00 am
SEPA Member Meet-up
brought to you by SEPA Working Groups 
Meet your SEPA peers at this networking event and learn how, by participating in a SEPA Working Group, you can collaborate in a meaningful way to develop solutions that accelerate the transformation to a clean energy system.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Networking Break & Exhibits
10:30 am - 11:20 am
Zero Sum Game: The State of Net Energy Metering in the Southeast
Net energy metering headlines have grabbed attention nationwide, led by developments in California and Florida. In the Southeast, the state of net energy metering can best be described as disparate. Panelists will discuss recent developments, ranging from newly proposed rules in Mississippi to successor tariff agreements in the Carolinas, and the future of net energy metering in Georgia. A particular focus will be placed on the importance of distributed rooftop solar generation’s potential contribution to regional utilities’ net-zero carbon commitments.
Moderator:
Autumn Proudlove, Senior Policy Program Director at NC Clean Energy Technology
Panelists:
Lon Huber, Vice President, Rate Design and Strategic Solutions, Duke
Will Giese, Southeast Regional Director, SEIA
Jim Purekal, Manager, Market Development and Policy, Sunpower/Board Member and Vice President, CHESSA
State Briefing: Kentucky
(10:30 am - 10:55 am)
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Kentucky. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenter:
Jason Baird, Limestone Group, representing Kentucky SEIA
Solar and Secondary Land Use: An Ecosystems Services Approach
(10:55 am - 11:20 am)
Ambitious clean energy goals, and a preference for low-cost, safe, and reliable solar power, promoted by state and federal policymakers, businesses, and consumers are driving sharply increased demand for small- and large-scale solar facilities throughout the United States. To increase acceptance of solar energy generating projects in communities where power production facilities have not been common, regulators, conservationists, landowners, and developers are exploring ways in which a solar project may provide local ecosystem services uplift. Common approaches include the co-location of agriculture or agrivoltaics, livestock grazing, planting to support pollinator species, and soil management to maximize carbon sequestration and soil formation. Once facilities are sited and operating efficiently and safely, a holistic examination of all ecosystems services (such as the U.K.’s SPIES tool) and coordination with stakeholders should guide secondary land use choices.
This session will examine the evolving regulatory requirements and guidance for secondary land use options; non-regulatory siting considerations such as agricultural and community land use priorities; and lessons learned from current multi-use projects. The panelists may explore ideal or “model” secondary land use regimes or best practices, areas of conflict and agreement among industry and other stakeholders such as agriculture and conservation, and how best to orient the industry towards an ecosystems services approach.
Presenter: Andrew Pinger, Senior Regional Environmental Manager, EDP Renewables North America
11:25 am - 12:15 pm
Utility Scale Storage in the Southeast
Energy storage technologies have made great advances over the past decade and new innovations are emerging daily as storage plays an increasingly important role in our electric grid, transportation system, and economy. Panelists will discuss a variety of perspectives on legal status and regulatory policy, insights gained from projects, business case and financial investment mechanisms, technology innovations, battery re-use and recycling, management system developments, and expanding market applications.
Moderator:
Alyssa McQuilling Ph.D., Project Lead, Energy Storage, Southern Research
Panelists:
Edward May, Managing Partner, Energy Intelligence Partners Consulting
Raafe Khan, Energy Storage Development and Strategy, Pine Gate Renewables
Dmitri Moundous, Senior Manager of Storage Business Development, Cypress Creek Renewables
State Briefing: Virginia
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Virgina. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenters:
Stephanie Johnson, Executive Director, CHESSA
Jim Purekal, Manager, Market Development and Policy, Sunpower/Board Member and Vice President, CHESSA
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Networking Lunch
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Corporate and Public Entities: Unpacking Renewable Procurement
Corporate and public entities in the Southeast are searching for ways to reach their sustainability goals in the most economic and sensible way possible, while avoiding buying their way out. Panelists will discuss how today’s top regional buyers are making sense of the many options available, and identifying unique ways to reach their goals.
Moderator:
Gregg Jacobson, Associate, King and Spalding
Panelists:
Steve Levitas, Senior Vice President for Regulatory and Government Affairs, PGR
Craig Fisher, Project Manager, Distributed Generation Solar EPC, Origis Energy
Andrew Williams, VP Policy and External Affairs, SolSystems
Carson Harkrader, CEO, Carolina Solar Energy
Case Study: Microgrids for Resilience
(1:15 pm - 1:45 pm)
Coastal communities throughout the Southeast are becoming increasingly vulnerable to disruptive weather events caused by a warming climate. This presentation will include an overview of best practices for microgrid design and learnings from the Kentucky Regional Microgrids for Resilience study which outlines natural disaster outage risk and the ability for strategic deployment of microgrids to provide enhanced resiliency for critical infrastructure.
Presenter:
Carolyn Dougherty, Analyst, Research and Industry Strategy, SEPA
Case Study: The Role of Green Hydrogen in Accelerating the Transition to Carbon-Free
(1:45 pm - 2:15 pm)
Hear insights on how Southern Company is preparing for short term business opportunities and future forecasts for the predicted incorporation of hydrogen into the energy system over the next decade.
Presenter: Noah Meeks, Principal Research Engineer, Southern Company
2:20 pm - 3:10 pm
The State of Demand Flexibility: Balancing the Grid in the Southeast
Grid edge technologies and load shaping strategies are becoming increasingly appealing to both customers and grid operators. As intermittent clean energy grows, demand reducing and building capabilities of new technologies will help balance the grid while providing compelling customer benefits. Panelists will discuss an overview of recent successes as well as opportunities to further advance clean customer sited resources.
Moderator:
Chris Schroeder, VP, Strategic Solutions, SEPA
Panelist:
Mike Smith, VP, Business and Technology Strategy, South Carolina Electric Cooperatives
Shadea Mitchell, Director of Client Marketing, Virtual Peaker
State Briefing: Tennessee
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Tennessee, including new state legislation and TVA opportunities. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenter:
Gil Hough, Executive Director, TenneSEIA
3:10 pm - 3:30 pm
Networking Break & Exhibits
3:30 pm - 4:20 pm
Southeast Cooperative Roundtable
Cooperative utilities are well-positioned to innovate in response to rapidly changing conditions, from wholesale power prices to emerging technology adoption, and evolving customer desires. This session will investigate how southeast electric cooperatives are rapidly pivoting in response to today’s market demands, and how others in the clean energy industry can learn from these best practices.
Moderator:
Peter Muhoro, Chief Strategy, Technology & Innovation Officer, Rappahanock Electric Cooperative
Panelists:
Jeff Pratt, President, Green Power EMC
John Lemire, Director, Grid Management, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
Lauren Waldrip, Executive Director, Arkansas Advanced Energy Association
4:25 pm - 5:15 pm
Mobility Opportunity: Electric Vehicles and Buses in the Southeast
Despite quickly establishing itself as the nation’s nexus of electric vehicle and bus manufacturing, Southeast EV adoption still lags other regions when it comes to customer adoption. New federal dollars from the Infrastructure Bill will provide opportunities for new investments to drive adoption. Panelists will explore the potential of electric vehicle adoption in Southeast states from multiple stakeholder perspectives, including utility programs, municipalities, and manufacturers.
Moderator:
Lakin Garth, Senior Manager, Research and Industry Strategy, SEPA
Panelist:
Stephanie Gossman, Electric Transportation Manager, Georgia Power Company
Maria Brown, National Bus Fleet Account Manager, Chargepoint
State Briefing: Alabama
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Alabama. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenter:
Daniel Tait, Executive Director, Energy Alabama
5:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Expo Hall Happy Hour
sponsored by 
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Networking Reception at STATS
Thursday, May 12
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration Open
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Full Conference Networking Breakfast
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Expo Hall Hours
9:15 am - 10:15 am
Business Lab:
Technical & Economic Opportunities at The Grid Edge
Room A403
Discussion Leader:
Brian Patterson, Chairman, EMerge Alliance
Just as personal computers and other digital devices didn’t realize their full value until they were interconnected into local area networks, and eventually the Internet, microgrids won’t yield their ultimate compounded value until they are interconnected into campus, neighborhood, and community microgrid networks at the grid edge. This round table will discuss the technical means and potential “energy-as-a-service” business models for the so-called Grid-of-Grids that can do for electricity what networks and the Internet did for information. Recognized experts involved in actual projects involving planning, modelling, engineering, construction, and operation of various private, third-party and utility microgrid networking use cases will be on hand to help participants explore the opportunities. System users, engineers, installers, operators, and owners are all invited to join into this provocative and enlightening “Grid-edge” discussion.
Helpful for system users, engineers, installers, operators, and owners.
Room A403
Discussion Leader:
Travis Warren, Business Development, Energy Division, AmTrust Title
Join AmTrust Title for a Business Lab roundtable discussion about title insurance basics and energy project development. We’ll discuss why title insurance is needed, how to get started, and dive into the differences between residential & commercial title orders compared to energy orders. This is your chance to ask us all the questions you have always been curious about.
Helpful for project developers, utilities, lenders, and investors.
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Opportunities for DERs in the Southeast
Customer energy decisions are impacting utility planning and operations decisions across the Southeast. How can utilities, municipalities and policymakers harness the benefits of customer-sited DERs? This session will discuss the opportunities for solar, storage and electric vehicles to provide grid benefits, resiliency benefits, and cost savings to customers and utilities alike.
Moderator:
Wesley Holmes, Chief Innovation Officer, Essense Partners
Panelists:
Brandon Irons, Sr. Account Executive, Utilities, Stem
Thomas Kiggen, Manager, Business Development, Distribution-Scale Power, EDF Renewables
Tolu Omotoso, Director, Energy Solutions, NRECA
Lauren Waldrip, Executive Director, Arkansas Advanced Energy Association
State Briefing: Carolinas
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in the Carolinas. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenters:
John Burns, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association
Ivan Urlaub, Chief, Strategy & Innovation and Director of Equity Diversity & Inclusion, NC Sustainable Energy Association
10:00 am - 10:15 am
Networking Break & Exhibits
10:15 am - 11:05 am
Achieving Equity Through Access in the Southeast
As the solar industry continues to scale, equitable access to clean energy is increasingly necessary. Panelists will discuss ways in which governments and utilities are working to create equal opportunities for everyone to reap the benefits of solar energy, and the work still left to be done.
Moderator:
Lindsey Hallock, Southeast Senior Regional Director, Vote Solar
Panelists:
Lauren Barchi, Community Solar Specialist, Nexamp
Chandra Farley, Chief Executive Officer, ReSolve
Karla Loeb, Policy Advisor, Arcadia
State Briefing: Georgia
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Georgia. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenters:
Tully Blalock, SVP & General Counsel, SolAmerica/Co-Chair of Policy at Georgia SEIA
Brion Fitzpatrick, Director of Business Development, Nexamp/Co-Chair of Policy at Georgia SEIA
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Room A403
Discussion Leader:
Paige Muehlfelder, CSM, Get The Referral
What is Customer Experience (CX), how does it differ from customer service, and how can optimizing it drive growth for your business? Discover how to design a Customer Experience so effective that current customers will turn into your most important source of new leads.
Helpful for sales teams, business development, and customer service.
11:10 am - 12:00 pm
All About RTOs: Energy Markets in the Southeast
The advancement of energy conversations is impossible without the mention of RTOs, but how and why were RTOs created, and what are their many functions today? Panelists will discuss RTO markets and the role of the market monitor, coordination among RTOs, regulatory oversight, resource adequacy planning, and SEEM and SEEM comparison to existing RTOs.
Moderator:
Gizelle Wray, Director of Regulated Markets, Savion Energy
Panelists:
Noel Black, Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Southern Company
Nick Guidi, Federal Energy Regulatory Attorney, SELC
Jamey Goldin, Energy Regulatory Counsel, Global Energy Markets and Policy, Google
Maggie Shober, Research Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
State Briefing: Florida
This deep dive session will cover an in-depth look at the clean energy landscape in Florida. Drop in for a briefing and discussion on issues impacting the state.
Presenters:
Jim Purekal, Manager, Market Development and Policy, Sunpower
Scott Thomasson, President, Sunbelt Strategies
Justin Vandenbroeck, President, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association