Preliminary Agenda

Karen Zelmar

Program Manager, IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Karen Zelmar is a program manager in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. She joined DOE in 2023 and currently leads the Home Energy Rebate Programs authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Previously, Karen worked as the Senior Vice President of Network Planning at Volta Charging and as the Director of Clean Energy Programs at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where she leveraged her experience in the technology industry while pursuing her passion for energy and sustainability. Karen has previously held leadership positions at multiple technology providers including AOL and Navteq, before moving into the energy industry. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University’s Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and an MBA from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Jeffrey C. Genzer

General Counsel, National Association of State Energy Officials

Jeffrey C. Genzer joined Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. in 1985. His practice has concentrated on energy and environmental counseling and litigation. He has worked on electric and natural gas ratemaking, energy project development, bulk power supply, transmission system issues, contract negotiation, franchise and municipalization issues, alternative energy sources, conservation and energy efficiency programs, including demand-side management and integrated resource planning programs.

In the environment area he has been involved especially in Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act issues and all phases of environmental reviews for energy projects.

He has appeared before a variety of federal agencies and state and federal courts, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a variety of state commissions, agencies and courts. He also has an active federal legislative practice. He has worked with a number of local and state governments throughout the United States from New York to Hawaii. Mr. Genzer presently serves as General Counsel to the National Association of State Energy Officials, the National Association of Energy Service Companies, the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association and the Energy Programs Consortium. He has spoken on numerous occasions, especially on federal legislative activities, energy, environmental and utility issues.

Prior to entering law school, Mr. Genzer served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia. He worked on a number of development projects and served as the first energy planner in the region. Mr. Genzer supervised, planned, and constructed numerous water systems and other construction projects. He also prepared legislation and successful grant proposals. While in law school, Mr. Genzer was employed at the National Consumer Law Center.

He monitored legislative and regulatory activities and wrote legal and policy memoranda in the field of energy law. After his second year of law school, Mr. Genzer clerked for Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. Prior to returning to the firm, he served as Staff Counsel to the Committee on Energy and Environment of the National Governors' Association. In that role he drafted legislation in the energy and environmental area, and served as the chief energy lobbyist for the Association. He provided legal analysis for the Governors on such issues as electric utility regulation, nuclear waste, oil overcharge refunds, toxic victims compensation, and natural gas regulation and a variety of environmental issues. Mr. Genzer also coordinated the activities of the state energy offices. His practice is focused on energy, environmental, utility and legislative matters.

Alyssa Latuchie

Director of Market Development for Federal and State Programs, Franklin Energy

Alyssa leads Franklin Energy’s programs that assist federal and state offices in meeting their energy goals, including those for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebate programs.?Before joining our team, Alyssa worked at the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department in the Energy Conservation and Management Division, helping implement economic diversification and energy efficiency programs for New Mexico.?Prior to that, she spent 10 years in the solar industry where she learned how impactful state and federal programs can be at opening a market for new and emerging technologies.

Alyssa received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics focusing on environmental studies from Kenyon College in Ohio. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics from the University of New Mexico.

Elizabeth Crouse

Tax and Renewables Partner, Perkins Coie LLP

For more than a decade, Elizabeth Crouse has provided business-focused solutions for U.S. federal, state, and international tax problems in a variety of transactions and investment structures. Her clients include top-tier strategic and corporate investors, developers, and operators in the renewable energy and fuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture industries.

Elizabeth advises clients on a range of U.S. federal income tax matters, including Investment Tax Credits (ITC) for renewable electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG), Production Tax Credits (PTC) for renewable electricity, hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and clean fuels, and the Section 45Q tax credit for carbon capture and sequestration. She is also working with clients to obtain federal government funding for manufacturing facilities in the renewable and carbon capture industries.

Elizabeth leads and provides tax counseling for tax equity investments and acquisitions and dispositions of projects and platforms, as well as structuring and coordination of project finance transactions. In addition, she has negotiated more than 3 gigawatts of safe harbor procurement contracts for renewable electricity projects and many more for renewable fuels projects. Elizabeth also works collaboratively with clients and colleagues on venture investments in climate tech companies, corporate sustainability programs, and private and public finance.  

Nationally recognized in the industry, Elizabeth is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences and webinars on topics including tax credits for renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen, renewable natural gas, energy storage, and carbon capture, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate sustainability topics. Elizabeth is the co-director of the Seattle chapter of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. She also chairs the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance’s Oregon Policy Subcommittee and is a member of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) Board Advisory Committee.

Elizabeth has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Energy and Tax law and the Washington Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.

Dan Burgess

Director, Maine Governor’s Energy Office

Dan Burgess, was appointed as the Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office by Governor Janet Mills in March of 2019. Governor Mills has set an ambitious climate and clean energy agenda, including the recent signing of legislation that requires emissions reductions of 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 and increases Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standards to 80% by 2030. Prior to his return to his home state of Maine, Burgess spent eight years working in leadership roles at the Massachusetts at the Department of Energy Resources and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Burgess has a business degree from the University of Maine Orono and a masters in Public Administration from Northeastern University.

David Terry

President, National Association of State Energy Officials

David Terry is the President of the National Association of State Energy Officials and has worked with NASEO in a variety of capacities since 1996. Mr. Terry leads NASEO's policy actions and programs in support of the 56 governor-designated state and territory energy directors and their offices. NASEO communicates the states' views on virtually all national energy issues. Mr. Terry has participated in governor-led policy meetings, testified before U.S. Congressional Committees and presented at White House and international energy forums.  Mr. Terry has 25 years of experience working on a range of energy issues for such organizations as the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy and Coalition and Energy Services Coalition. Prior to working in the energy area, Mr. Terry was researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and a statistical analyst for a consumer products market research firm. He received a BA degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and he has completed graduate coursework in statistics and marketing at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

John Williams

Executive Vice President, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

As Executive Vice President for Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Williams’ primary responsibility is to help guide state energy policy development. At NYSERDA, Mr. Williams oversees the Energy and Environmental Analysis unit, providing economic analysis and scientific research to best inform policy-makers in energy and environmental issues, as well as the Performance Management unit, which provides market characterization and evaluation, clean energy market insights and statistical analysis that all guide effective clean energy strategies. Mr. Williams serves as NYSERDA’s designee on the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment.

Mr. Williams’ previous work experience includes serving as Energy Counsel for the New York State Assembly; Staff Attorney for The Energy Project of the Pace University School of Law; and Financial Analyst for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, a combined electric and natural gas utility serving the largest markets in the state of New Mexico. Mr. Williams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Columbia University, a Juris Doctor degree from the St. John’s University School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in Environmental Law from the Pace University School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Afsaneh Beschloss

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, RockCreek

Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss is Founder and CEO of RockCreek. Previously, she was Managing Director and partner at the Carlyle Group. As the World Bank's Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer, she led the Bank's investments, balance sheet management, ratings, borrowings, and innovations in financial products. Prior to this, she led the World Bank’s investments and policy work for renewable energy, power, and infrastructure, as well as pioneering investments in wind and solar energy. Previously, she worked in corporate finance at JP Morgan.

Afsaneh has advised governments, central banks, and regulatory agencies on financial policy and energy policy. She serves on the board of trustees of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Rockefeller Foundation, and National Geographic, where she chairs the Investment Committee, Georgetown University, and chairs the PBS Foundation.

She was recognized by Carnegie Corporation in their "Great Immigrants, Great Americans 2020" list, received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award and the Institutional Investor Lifetime Achievement Award, and been listed among the “Most Powerful Women in Banking” by American Banker. She is the co-author of The Economics of Natural Gas (Oxford University Press) and author of numerous journal articles on innovations in finance, energy economics, and renewable energy investing.

Afsaneh holds an MPhil (Honors) in Economics from the University of Oxford, where she taught international trade and economic development.

Ravi Malhotra

Chief Executive Officer, International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology

Ravi has 34 years of experience as a social entrepreneur and engineer.  He has led award-winning R&D efforts and has successfully launched eight new social ventures.  For the past 20 years, Ravi has been focused on providing turn-key solutions for the green retrofit of multifamily properties through: ICAST (www.icastusa.org) – a leading national nonprofit that manages clean energy upgrades for multifamily housing including beneficial electrification and healthy home upgrades; and Triple Bottom Line Foundation (www.tblfund.org) – a CDFI that provides energy financing for affordable housing.

Ravi holds a B.S in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, India, a Masters in Engineering and a MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Certificate in Clean Energy Financing from Yale University.

Ben Bolton

Senior Energy Programs Administrator, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Mr. Ben Bolton, Senior Energy Programs Administrator, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, serves as the lead Emergency Services Coordinator (ESC) for Energy and Infrastructure Branch Manager for Tennessee’s State Emergency Operations Center. In this capacity, he plays a central role in activities related to energy security, critical infrastructure, and energy policy. Since 2018, Bolton serves as chair of the NASEO Energy Security Committee and as DOE’s state representative on the FEMA Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG), advising the agency on national mitigation strategies. In 2022, Bolton completed the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy. He holds a B.A. in English and B.S. in Biology from Birmingham-Southern College and lives in Nashville, TN, with his 400+ varieties of Japanese maples.

Eddy Trevino

Director, State Energy Conservation Office, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Eddy Trevino is the Director of the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Through energy efficiency, SECO helps public entities improve working and learning environments. Energy efficiency assistance is provided through a technical assistance program, emerging clean energy technology program, education and training program, and an energy-efficiency revolving loan program. Mr. Trevino’s professional designations include a registered Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager. He has 35 years of engineering and management experience.  While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Trevino earned the following degrees: Bachelor’s in architectural engineering, an MBA, and a Master in Technology Commercialization.

Molly Cripps

Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Molly is the Director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs (OEP), which is comprised of two sections: the Governor-designated State Energy Office (SEO) and the State Facility Utility Management Section (SFUM). In addition to Molly’s energy-related work, she serves as the Director of Operations for the Bureau of Environment, including emergency and environmental response efforts.

Molly leads teams that focus on the design and implementation of clean energy and sustainable transportation programs and projects, including those funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, as well as Tennessee’s allocation under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT). She serves as Governor Lee’s designee to the State Energy Policy Council and represents TDEC on the Energy Efficient Schools Council and various TVA information exchanges and working groups. She also supports Governor Lee’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Council and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Drive Electric TN Consortium.  Molly has served on the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently serving as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee.

Prior to joining the State in 2010, Molly spent several years practicing law in Tennessee, with a focus on compliance and municipal liability defense. She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Judi Greenwald

Executive Director, Nuclear Innovation Alliance

Judi Greenwald is the Executive Director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance.

Ms. Greenwald has over 35 years of energy and environmental policy leadership experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, including the U.S. Congress, the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES, formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change). Highlights of her distinguished career include working on the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments as congressional committee staff; overseeing energy and environmental programs at C2ES and DOE; co-founding the Carbon Capture Coalition; advising U.S. state and regional greenhouse gas initaitives; and collaborating with stakeholders to advance both economic and environmental goals.

She has focused extensively on deep decarbonization through the interplay of public policy, technology innovation, human behavior, and markets. She served as Deputy Director for Climate, Environment, and Energy Efficiency at US DOE's Energy Policy and Systems Analysis Office, and the Senior Climate Advisor to the Energy Secretary. She is a fellow at Princeton University's Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. Ms. Greenwald received a B.S. in Engineering, cum laude, from Princeton University, and an M.A. in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University.

Janine Benner

Director, Oregon Department of Energy

Janine Benner is the director of the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). Janine joined ODOE in 2017 as assistant director for Planning and Innovation and was confirmed by the Oregon Senate as director in February of 2018. Janine came to ODOE from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where she served as associate assistant secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Janine also spent 12 years working for Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), as energy and environmental policy advisor, legislative director, and deputy chief of staff. She grew up in Portland, OR and has a degree in history from Princeton University.

Dr. Andrew McAllister

Commissioner, California Energy Commission

Commissioner Andrew McAllister is serving his third term on the California Energy Commission.
At the Energy Commission, he leads the policy area of energy efficiency, including the Building Energy Efficiency Standards, appliance efficiency, and load management and flexibility. More broadly, he is focused on enabling modern, data-rich analytical tools to support strong clean energy policy development and program implementation.
Commissioner McAllister has worked on energy deployment and policy since the early 1990s. He has worked across the world to deploy clean, cost-effective energy solutions with counterparts ranging from tiny remote communities to the largest of utilities. He administered two of California’s signature renewable energy programs, developed and operated energy efficiency programs for utilities, and conducted a broad range of policy-related research for California and the federal government.

He is a board member and immediate past board chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials, and a board member of the Alliance to Save Energy. His deep grounding in technology, policy, and the marketplace provides him with uncommon insight on the accelerating changes taking place in California’s energy sector.

Before joining the Energy Commission, he was managing director at the California Center for Sustainable Energy. He worked with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International, Ltd. in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa on renewable generation, load management, utility planning, and remote power projects. He was a project manager at an energy-consulting firm and an energy efficiency analyst at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Commissioner McAllister holds a master of science and a Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley and a bachelor of arts from Dartmouth College. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Ben Brouwer

Bureau Chief, Energy Office, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Ben Brouwer has served in the Montana Energy Office at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) since 2016, stepping into leadership of the office in 2023. The Energy Office delivers programs including energy emergency response, clean energy finance, and electric vehicle planning and deployment. Prior to joining DEQ, Ben spent nearly a decade working in local government and public interest organizations with a focus on Montana energy policy. Ben received a degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College.

Dr. Will Toor

Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office

In January 2019, Will Toor joined the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) as its Executive Director appointed by Governor Jared Polis. Will’s background spans transportation electrification, sustainable transportation, smart growth, electric vehicle policy, clean energy finance, green building policy, local government policy and regional planning. Prior to CEO, Will was Transportation Program Director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP). Before SWEEP, Will served as Boulder County Commissioner for eight years where he led the effort to create and adopt a countywide Sustainable Energy Plan, the BuildSmart green building code, the EnergySmart program, and the ClimateSmart Loan Program. Prior to being elected Boulder County Commissioner, Will served as Mayor of Boulder for six years where he developed Boulder's community transit network, EcoPass unlimited access transit pass programs, and policies for denser, mixed-use urban infill development as an alternative to sprawl. Will previously served on and chaired the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). He was appointed by Governor Ritter to the state Transportation Funding and Implementation blue ribbon panel, the Governor's Climate Action Panel, and the Regional Air Quality Council. He was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to the Air Quality Control Commission and the state oil and gas taskforce. Will spent 12 years as Director of the University of Colorado Environmental Center, where he developed campus sustainability programs in the areas of solid waste, building energy use, and transportation planning. Will holds a BS in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago.

Jason Lanclos

Energy Director, Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources

Jason Lanclos, P.E. (Jason) has worked at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) since August of 2018.  After serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) for the Governor’s Office since 2014, Mr. Lanclos took the opportunity to return to working in the oil and gas and emerging energy technologies sector at LDNR after working in private industry for almost 13 years.  Mr. Lanclos currently serves as the director of the State Energy Office and Technology Assessment Division of LDNR.  Mr. Lanclos is currently serving as the coalition representative for the State and Midwest region on CCUS technologies and is a central board member for the National Association of State Energy Officials.  Mr. Lanclos has worked on and managed a variety of projects/programs in the oil and gas sector during his time in private industry and managed one of the largest ecosystem restoration efforts for the State of Louisiana while at CPRA.  He holds a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Katie Dykes

Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Katie Scharf Dykes is the Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP).  She was nominated by Governor Ned Lamont to serve as the Commissioner of DEEP, and was confirmed on February 20, 2019.  Katie previously served as Chair of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) from 2015-2018, and as Deputy Commissioner for Energy at Connecticut DEEP from 2012-2015. Katie also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. (RGGI) from 2014 to 2017.  RGGI is a multi-state effort focused on reducing carbon emissions from electric generating facilities.  Katie joined CT DEEP in March 2012 after prior service as Deputy General Counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as a Legal Advisor to the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy.  She is a graduate of Yale College and the Yale Law School.

David Althoff Jr.

Director, Energy Programs Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

David’s office, DEP’s Energy Programs Office, is involved in supporting, designing, and implementing energy-focused programs to encourage the development and deployment of energy efficiency, energy resiliency and alternative energy projects in Pennsylvania.  The Energy Program’s Office’s mission is to support energy activities which result in environmental improvements including mitigating the effects of and adapting to climate change.

David along with his staff have spent the last several years developing forward-looking plans centered on positioning Pennsylvania to take advantage of the clean energy economy. Recent products include: A 2021 Climate Action Plan and Climate Impacts Assessment for Pennsylvania, A Clean Energy Program Plan for Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Plan, Pennsylvania’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap, a Food Waste to Energy Assessment and an Energy Storage Assessment for Pennsylvania.  These foundational plans have led to the creation of various follow-on stakeholder groups including, the Drive Electric Pennsylvania Coalition and the Pennsylvania Energy Storage Consortium.

During his career with DEP, David has led the development and deployment of $125 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus funds, the $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Program, and the $15 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund.  Dave has also served as the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.  Dave and his staff also lead the very popular Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Programs which distributes nearly $5 Million annually to support innovation and emission reductions in the transportation sector.
Dave has proudly served the citizens of Pennsylvania through his work at DEP for nearly 30 years, is a life-long Pennsylvanian, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Hummelstown, PA.

During his career with DEP, David has led the development and deployment of $125 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus funds, the $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Program, and the $15 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund.  Dave has also served as the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.  Dave and his staff also lead the very popular Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Programs which distributes nearly $5 Million annually to support innovation and emission reductions in the transportation sector.

Dave has proudly served the citizens of Pennsylvania through his work at DEP for nearly 30 years, is a life-long Pennsylvanian, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Hummelstown, PA.

Nick Burger

Deputy Director, Energy Administration, District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment

Nick Burger is the Deputy Director of the Energy Administration. He was previously a Senior Economist at the RAND Corporation and the director of RAND’s Washington office. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and his research has focused on energy, climate, and resilience issues. At DOEE, Nick leads a team that is working to improve the District’s building energy efficiency, access to renewable energy, and clean transportation options. His team designs and implements a range of programs that make energy cleaner and more accessible for District residents.

Nick was a Lead Author on the Fourth Assessment Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and is the author of two dozen academic papers and reports. Nick has worked with Habitat for Humanity of DC for ten years, helping them construct eight Passive homes for District residents. He served as an ANC Commissioner in ANC 6B for four years and has worked extensively on zoning and housing expansion. Most recently he served on the District’s Green Building Advisory Council.

Julie Staveland

Assistant Division Director, Materials Management Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Julie is the Assistant Division Director for the Materials Management Division (MMD) within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and Director of the State Energy Program. She is responsible for overseeing energy, pollution prevention, and recycling grant and technical assistance programs. Programs range from energy efficiency and renewable energy, food waste reduction, recycling infrastructure, the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state and includes establishing program objectives, goals, and priorities, and determining operating policies and implementing methods within the context of federal, EGLE, and MMD policies, procedures, and guidelines. Julie also coordinates the Catalyst Communities Initiative.

Born and raised in Michigan, Julie lived in Alaska for 18 years where she received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast. She and her husband have 4 children, and spend as much time as possible outdoors hiking, camping, skiing, gardening, and raising chickens on their fledgling homestead. Julie is passionate about working with communities and businesses to meet them where they are on their decarbonization journey and to help them prepare for a sustainable future.

Mitchell Simpson

Director, Energy Office, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment

Mitchell Simpson is the director of the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), a division of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Simpson has managed various local, state, and federal programs and divisions in municipalities like Little Rock and in branches of state government including the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. At AEO, he directs the office’s energy efficiency, weatherization, transportation, financing, and market preparation programming. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Arkansas State University and a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Kenya Stump

Executive Director, Office of Energy Policy, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

Kenya Stump was appointed as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in March of 2020. Prior to that, Kenya served as Assistant Director for the Division of Energy Assistance within the Office of Energy Policy. Before her work in OEP, Kenya managed the environmental assistance programs at the Cabinet, including environmental leadership, brownfields, and compliance assistance with the Division of Compliance Assistance. She also served as an environmental scientist and policy advisor in the director’s office at the Division for Air Quality. Prior to her work in state government, she served as an environmental consultant with the Kentucky Business Environmental Assistance Program at the University of Kentucky. Kenya has master’s degrees in Environmental Science from the University of Kentucky and Public Administration from Indiana University. She graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BA in Chemistry and holds a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Systems.

Michael Furze

Assistant Director, Energy Division, Washington State Department of Commerce

Michael Furze is an Assistant Director at the Washington State Department of Commerce where he leads the State Energy Office. The Office catalyzes the transition to a clean and just energy future through policy leadership, investing in leading edge clean technologies, planning & responding to energy emergencies and expanding access to clean energy and environmental justice. Their work strengthens communities so that the people of Washington thrive in a clean, affordable and just energy economy.

He currently serves on the Board of the National Association of State Energy Officials and co-chairs the NASEO equity committee. Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning and a graduate certificate in Town Design from the University of New Mexico.

He waits patiently for the sun to emerge from behind the rain and clouds of the Pacific Northwest.

Richard Stover

Administrator, Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources

Richard Stover serves as the Adminstrator of the Idaho Governor's Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Prior to this role he served as Senior Counsel for Government Relations at Boise State University and was with Boise law firm Eberle, Berlin, Kading, Turnbow & McKlveen, Chtd., since 2005 where he served as shareholder and vice president and covered, in part, environmental and regulatory matters for private business as an attorney. He handled natural resources issues for Governors Phil Batt and Dirk Kempthorne, and has worked as assistant city attorney for the city of Boise and as a judicial extern for U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge. He is a board member for Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services, Inc., in Boise. Stover earned his bachelor's degree in politics and international relations from the College of Idaho and his law degree from the University of Idaho.

Lynn Retz

Executive Director, Energy Office, Kansas Corporation Commission

Lynn Retz joined the Kansas Corporation Commission’s Energy Division in December 2016. She was named Energy Director in May 2017. Prior to that, she worked in Legislative Post Audit for more than
eight years. Lynn worked as an attorney in private practice for several years and also worked for the
Kansas Performance Review Board.

Maria Effertz

Director, Division of Community Services, North Dakota Department of Commerce

Maria Effertz is the Community and Economic Development Lead with the North Dakota Department of Commerce. She works with the Main Street Program, ED&F developers and state liaison for community development programming. Prior to joining Commerce in April 2020, Maria worked in marketing and external relations for engineering and oil and gas development.

Maria has degrees in public relations, political science and management. Maria is from and currently lives near Velva, has two kids, two horses, one dog and too many cats to count.

The Honorable Peter Welch

Chair Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, U.S. Senate

Peter Welch has been a champion for working Vermonters throughout his career. Since his election to Congress in 2006, he has been widely recognized as a thoughtful and effective legislator who chooses governing over gridlock.

Peter’s record reflects his strong commitment to bringing people together to find common sense solutions to the difficult challenges facing our state and nation. In an era of partisanship, he has worked across the aisle to create jobs, increase access to affordable education and health care, invest in energy efficiency, protect our environment, and care for our veterans.

Peter was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1947. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1969. After working for a year in Chicago fighting housing discrimination as one of the first Robert F. Kennedy Fellows, he enrolled in law school at the University of California, Berkeley and graduated in 1973.

After law school, he settled in White River Junction, Vermont where he worked as a public defender before founding a small law practice. He was first elected to represent Windsor County in the Vermont Senate in 1980. In 1985, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to lead the chamber, becoming the first Democrat in Vermont history to hold the position of President Pro Tempore.

Congressman Welch walking on the street waving to people. In 2006, Peter was elected to Vermont’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His campaign gained nationwide attention for being the only contested congressional race in the country where both candidates refused to air negative ads.

In Congress, Peter is a leading advocate for energy efficiency, cutting the price of prescription drugs, investing in infrastructure, and expanding broadband and telemedicine in rural America.

Peter is a Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. He serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

He is married to Margaret Cheney, commissioner of the Vermont Public Utility Commission. They share a home in Norwich, Vermont.

Peter Brehm

VP, Senior Advisor, CTC Global Corporation

Peter Brehm recently joined CTC Global as VP, Senior Advisor. Peter has extensive experience in strategy, business development, finance, and government relations.  He comes to CTC from American Superconductor, where he was successful in securing government policy initiatives and funding for several important commercial and national security related products and technology deployments.  Prior to his tenure at American Superconductor, Peter held leadership positions with Infinia, and with Daniel Industries (now Emerson Electric).  He leads CTC’s Government Relations efforts to establish policies and incentives that encourage and reward utilities to adopt Advanced Conductors.  Peter received his MBA, BS Mechanical Engineering and BA Economics from Rice University.

Bob Harrison

Senior Vice President, Engineering, Champlain-Hudson Express

Mr. Harrison is a senior engineering/construction executive with over 30 years of operating experience in diverse markets including power (generation and transmission), industrial gases and petrochemicals.  He joined Transmission Developers (now CHPE LLC) in 2015.

He previously served as Vice President, Energy Infrastructure at AECOM, where he managed over 30 energy infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on power and transmission projects in the Northeastern U.S.  He was also Vice President of Operations for EMCOR Construction Services where he managed execution of more than 200 energy and related projects throughout the US and Canada.

Mr. Harrison holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University at Buffalo where he served on the Dean’s Council in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and is past Chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Advisory Board.

He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and Vermont.

Harry Godfrey

Managing Director, Advanced Energy United

Harry Godfrey leads Advanced Energy United’s Federal Investment & Manufacturing Working Group. With experience in industry, federal government, and academia, Harry played a pivotal role in the passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Before arriving at Advanced Energy United, Harry worked at Invenergy and Opower, where he developed expertise in renewable generation and energy efficiency. He previously held positions in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Majority Whip James E. Clyburn.

Elizabeth Mahony

Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Elizabeth Mahony most recently worked for Attorneys General Andrea Joy Campbell and Maura Healey as an Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Advisor for Energy. Elizabeth served in the Energy and Telecommunications Division, focusing on utility clean energy procurements, solar program development, clean energy rate design, consumer protections, and legislative engagement. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Elizabeth was Acting General Counsel for the Department of Energy Resources and Committee Counsel to Benjamin Downing, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy before that. Prior to her work in the energy field, Elizabeth was an associate at a small litigation firm in Quincy, Massachusetts, and was Public Affairs Director for the late Senator Susan C. Fargo (D-Lincoln). She is a member of the Boston Bar Association’s Energy Committee. Elizabeth is a graduate of Marist College and Suffolk University Law School. She lives in Walpole.

Mark Glick

Chief Energy Officer, Hawaii State Energy Office

Dr. Elizabeth Doris

Director, Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Elizabeth Doris is the director of JISEA and has worked in domestic and international energy efficiency and renewable energy policy research for over 20 years. Doris has worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) since 2005, most recently serving as the laboratory program manager for NREL's State, Local, and Tribal Program. Doris has spearheaded several large initiatives at the laboratory, including the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project to support remote, island, and islanded communities in transforming their energy systems and increasing energy resilience. Doris also served as the NREL lead of the National Laboratory Directors' Council Community-Engaged Research initiative—a 17-laboratory group that identifies areas where national laboratories can increase mission effectiveness through engaging communities. Most recently, Doris served as senior advisor on energy justice within the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Chris Yunker

Managing Director, Resiliency, Clean Transportation and Analytics, Hawaii State Energy Office

Chris Yunker is the Managing Director for Resiliency, Clean Transportation, and Analytics for the Hawaii State Energy Office.  Mr. Yunker is an energy industry professional with a broad range of experience in a variety of functions and roles including start-ups, venture capital, and central station power plant development. Most recently Chris was the Rates and Analysis Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric where he oversaw rate design, forecasting and load analysis. Prior to that he held positions at SDG&E in Strategic Planning, Finance, RD&D, and Resource Planning. In these roles he oversaw the development of applications and served as an expert witness in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission covering topics ranging from rate policy, rate design, procurement and finance.  In addition Mr. Yunker has worked for Sempra Connections which installed micro-turbines in combined heat and power applications on the customer side of the meter as well as for GEA Power Cooling Systems, Inc. which developed condensing systems for steam turbines in utility scale central station power plants.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of California – San Diego and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.  He is also a professional engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering and a certified energy manager (CEM) through the association of energy engineers.

Joe Paladino

Senior Advisor, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy

Mr. Joseph Paladino has worked for most of his career in the advancement and commercialization of technology to address energy and environmental issues. His efforts in both private and public organizations have focused on waste management, energy efficiency, and electric infrastructure. His current focus is to work with regulators and utilities to incorporate grid modernization and resilience considerations into the grid planning process.

Mr. Paladino has an A.B. in Biology from Middlebury College and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a patent for a design for a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.

Caitlin Murphy

Group Manager and Senior Analyst, Strategic Energy Analysis Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Caitlin Murphy is a Group Manager and Senior Analyst in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Strategic Energy Analysis Center. Her research interests involve evaluating how energy policies and technology innovation impact the evolution, operation, and environmental impacts of the U.S. energy system. Caitlin’s research centers on renewable-based hybrid energy systems, including the economic, reliability, and operational impacts of coupling utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage technologies. Her recent analyses and publications have explored the deployment and revenue potentials of grid-scale solar-battery, solar-wind, and solar-wind-battery power plants across the United States. In the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act, Caitlin is also exploring the potential impacts of new and expanded incentives for domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies and decarbonization of the U.S. industrial sector.

Prior to joining NREL, Caitlin served for 3 years as a Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the U.S. Senate and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). She worked for one year in the Office of Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), where she developed legislation to accelerate the deployment of advanced energy storage, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean vehicle technologies. Caitlin also spent two years in DOE’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, where she applied state-of-the-art energy modeling to quantify the energy, economic, and emissions impacts of technology improvements and policies affecting the U.S. energy sector. Caitlin received her B.S. in Earth Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her Ph.D. in Geophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

Natalie Mims Frick

Deputy Department Leader and Energy Policy Researcher, Energy Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Natalie Mims Frick is a Deputy Department Leader and Energy Policy Researcher in the Energy Markets and Policy Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). She conducts and manages research and technical assistance for states on energy efficiency and DER policies, regulations, and programs. Among the projects she is leading are a new, multi-lab initiative to advance equity in grid planning, guidance on distribution equity analysis, and technical assistance on virtual power plants. Before joining the lab, Natalie was a consultant on demand-side management regulatory proceedings across the country. Previously, she was an Energy Efficiency Director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and a Senior Consultant at Rocky Mountain Institute. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.

Sherry Stout

Laboratory Program Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Sherry Stout is the laboratory program manager for NREL's State, Local, and Tribal activities, a program that supports numerous community-based collaborations in energy transitions and strategic planning, workforce development, and energy deployment research. Stout has built and/or led multiple technical assistance programs and projects at NREL to serve a diverse group of stakeholders, ranging from American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages to international governments and federal agencies. She is keenly interested in finding ways to better enable partner governments and stakeholders to achieve their energy goals through delivery of technical expertise.

Dr. Carolyn Snyder

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Carolyn Snyder is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry at the U.S. Department of Energy.  In this role, she leads offices that advance energy efficiency and reduce emissions from our nation’s buildings and industry while supporting U.S. energy security and manufacturing competitiveness.  She oversees over $800 million annually for R&D across U.S. national laboratories, private industry, and universities, as well as comprehensive partnerships with energy sector leaders, other federal agencies, and state and local governments to demonstrate and deploy these technologies and support the transition to a clean energy economy.

Previously, Dr. Snyder served as the Director of U.S. EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division where she led voluntary partnerships with thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations.  She also served as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a White House Fellow in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and Director of Delaware's Division of Energy & Climate.  She earned a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University, Masters Degrees as a Marshall Scholar from Oxford and Cambridge, and a B.A. from Amherst College.  Her scientific research has been published in Nature, Paleoceanography, and Climatic Change.

Hans Riemer

State and Local Engagement, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Alexa Voytek

Deputy Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Alexa serves as the Principal Investigator for the U.S. DOE State Energy Program (SEP) in Tennessee, oversees TDEC OEP’s energy in transportation programming, and administers the State’s initial allocation under the VW Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust. Alexa also serves as the Coordinator for U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, through which she acts as a technical resource for fleets and individuals evaluating alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Alexa serves on the leadership team for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Transportation Committee and is an Advisory Group member for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Energy Technology Innovation Project. She serves as the Governor’s designee to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Regional Energy Resource Council, which provides guidance on how TVA manages its energy resources against competing objectives and values. Prior to joining TDEC, Alexa interned with the UN Division for Sustainable Development and the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most recently, Alexa served as Asst. Account Executive for the public relations firm Ketchum, Inc., where she was assigned to energy and technology related projects. Alexa holds an M.A. from Columbia University in Russian, Eastern European, Balkan, and Eurasian Studies and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, with a B.A. in History and Russian Language / Area Studies.

Josh Elliott

Director, Division of Policy and Programs, New Hampshire Department of Energy

Josh Elliott serves as the Director of the Division of Policy and Programs at the New Hampshire Department of Energy. The Division is responsible for a variety of assistance programs, sustainable energy programs, as well as the new federal funds made available from the IIJA and IRA. It is also tasked with drafting and updating the state’s State Energy Strategy. Prior to his work at the department, he worked for the New Hampshire State Senate in a variety of policy roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff. Josh graduated from Saint Anselm College with honors and earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago. In addition to his work at the Department, he serves as Governor Chris Sununu's designee on the Drinking Water Groundwater Trust Fund Advisory Commission and on the Bureau of Energy Management’s Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.

Julie Woosley

Director, State Energy Office, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Julie Woosley is the Director of the State Energy Office. She has worked with the NC Department of Environmental Quality for more than 25 years in water quality, air quality, pollution prevention, water infrastructure, waste management, and energy. Julie has served in many roles at DEQ, including Deputy Director in the Division of Waste Management, interim Deputy Director of the Division of Water Infrastructure, Hazardous Waste Section Chief, Industrial Assistance Section Chief, and Chair of the DEQ Leadership Forum.

Ms. Woosley holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree in management and community practice from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of the Leadership Triangle program (2005) and the Certified Public Managers Program (2011). Julie is also the Board Chair of NC GreenPower, where she has volunteered on the Board of Directors for more than eighteen years.

Kristofor Anderson

Director, Energy Resources Division, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

Kristofor Anderson is the Director of Energy Resources with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), which is the state’s energy office. Kris leads the state energy office programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program, the State Energy Program, and the Fuel Storage Tank Program. Kris joined GEFA as a program manager in 2010 and prior to that was a planning consultant and worked on a range of planning and management programs for federal and energy industry clients. At GEFA, Kris has managed millions of dollars of federal grants for energy efficiency, energy emergency planning, renewable energy, and weatherization.

Kris has a master’s of city and regional planning degree from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in geography from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Omar Dickenson

Principal, Guidehouse

Dr. Alyse Taylor-Anyikire

State, Local, Tribal, and Territory Program Manager, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, U.S. Department of Energy

Alyse Taylor-Anyikire, Ph.D., serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). She works on the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Engagement (SLTT) team advising on clean energy, equity, energy security, cybersecurity, and resilience. She is currently on detail to the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response as their SLTT Program Manager.

Prior to returning DOE, Alyse worked with the National Governor’s Association advising Governors’ offices on electricity policy, energy cybersecurity, as well as energy resilience.

Alyse has a doctorate and master’s in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a focus in renewable energy and public policy.

Jacob Corvidae

Principal, Rocky Mountain Institute

Jacob is a Principal in RMI’s US Program, where he leads work with states taking equitable climate action. He led the creation of The Carbon-Free City Handbook, and The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook, guides to help local governments across the world. In addition to supporting policy work and analytics, he is known for public speaking, facilitation, and equity solutions.

Jacob started at RMI in 2015 and formerly led the Residential Energy+ and Codes for Climate initiatives in the buildings program, in addition to supporting RMI’s Urban Transformations team.

He has worked in sustainable community development for over 20 years and was previously the Executive Director of?EcoWorks, a nonprofit in Detroit that works at the intersection of sustainability, buildings and social justice.

Eric Coffman

Division Director, Energy Program, Maryland Energy Administration

Eric leads the Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA) portfolio of energy programs, a broad portfolio of efforts funded by the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF). Th?is dynamic portfolio spans more than $40 million annually backed by a team of fifteen subject matter experts in the fields of resiliency, solar, wind energy, energy efficiency, energy finance, transportation electrification, infrastructure investment programs, biomass and other relevant topics.. His work includes grid modernization, clean energy deployment, energy efficiency, resiliency, smart cities technologies and more. Prior to joining MEA, Eric led the Office of Energy and Sustainability (OES) within Montgomery County’s Department of General Services (DGS). In his time with OES, he was responsible for the sustainability and energy performance of County operations as well as efforts before the Maryland Public Service Commision. In this capacity, Eric oversaw the procurement, financing, construction and commissioning of the County Government’s first microgrids. Before joining OES, Eric led the County’s climate and energy programs for the Department of Environmental Protection.  Eric is a Certified Public Manager, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Energy Procurement Professional among other qualifications.

David Park

Industry Affairs Director, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership

David Park is the Industry Affairs Director of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership. He is responsible for synchronization of fuel cell electric vehicle rollout with hydrogen supply chain. 

David’s background is transportation, the environment and public policy.

His mission is to motivate holistic sustainability through long-term, societal behavior change.

Dr. Cecilia Johnson

Technology Manager, Emerging Technologies Program, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. M. Cecilia Johnson is a technology manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office (BTO). She joined BTO in January 2022 and supports the building controls portfolio and BTO’s technology-to-market and market characterization efforts within the Emerging Technologies program.

Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Cecilia received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Washington in 2021, where her research focused on a novel catalytic system for carbon dioxide conversion. Concurrent with her studies, she served as a technical advisor for cleantech focused E8 angel investors and the associated Decarbon8-US investment fund. This sparked her interest in fostering emerging technologies and market transformation. Cecilia also engaged in additional science communication and outreach through the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington and at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. She received her B.S. in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Seattle University in 2016.

Dr. Sabrina Johnson

Senior Advocate, Housing Policy, People and Communities Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

As the Senior Housing Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Dr. Johnson champions more equitable federal housing policy and programs in partnership with national advocates that represent disenfranchised communities and low-income residents. Johnson serves on both NRDC’s national policy and building decarbonization teams. Her current focus includes building resilient communities, centering racial equity, and promoting affordable housing and housing justice. In her work at NRDC, Johnson prioritizes equitable housing access for BIPOC communities and federal policies and programs that center on low-income communities. She supports policy initiatives that reflect the best outcomes and communities’ lived experiences.

Johnson is a graduate of Long Island University Brooklyn and Walden University College of Education, where she earned her PhD. Previously, she worked as a grassroots organizer in Los Angeles and New York, co-creating safe and healthy community access programs that dismantle racial hierarchies. She is based in NRDC’s Washington, D.C., office.

Her academic background, professional skills, and lived experience enable her to communicate effectively, solve complex problems, and translate research into practice. She is passionate about creating positive social change and empowering communities through education and advocacy.

Robin LeBaron

Co-Founder and President, Pearl Certification

Robin LeBaron is the president, and co-founder of Pearl Certification, a national firm that is transforming the way homes are bought and sold in the U.S. by certifying high-performing homes and creating a platform that connects homeowners with the professionals who build, improve, sell, and finance high-performing homes. Prior to co-founding Pearl, Robin served as the Managing Director of the National Home Performance Council, a national non-profit organization created to promote energy efficiency upgrades in U.S. homes, where he led national efforts that developed energy efficiency, real estate home data, and certification standards, and authored guides on best practices in energy efficiency for the U.S. Department of Energy and other stakeholders. He previously served as the executive director of Hope Community, Inc., a non-profit based in East Harlem, New York, that built and managed 1,200 units of affordable housing, including the first affordable LEED Silver multi-family buildings in New York City.

Charles Newborn

Technical Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement Supervisor, IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Charles is a Birmingham, Alabama native currently residing in Chicago, IL. He holds a master's degree in natural resources and a graduate certificate in Global Sustainability as well as certifications from the Building Performance Institute. Charles has worked in energy efficiency for nearly 15 years leading demand-side management programs throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions. Prior to joining SCEP as the Technical Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement Supervisor, Charles held positions with SEEL LLC. as the Vice President of Program Operations and the state of Minnesota as the Weatherization Assistance Program Director.

Dr. Lauren Ross

Multifamily Building Energy Efficiency Senior Technical Advisor, IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Lauren Ross currently serves as the Senior Technical Adviser for Multifamily Buildings on the Home Energy Rebates team within the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at DOE. In this capacity she works with states and industry stakeholders to help ensure DOE’s home energy rebates serve affordable multifamily building owners and their residents. Before joining DOE, she was the Senior Adviser for Housing and Sustainability at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development and before that, Senior Director of Policy at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). She has spent her career conducting program and policy research and providing technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders aimed at advancing equitable clean energy strategies, with an emphasis on inclusive decarbonization solutions for affordable housing. Lauren has a PhD in Urban Sociology from Temple University.

Adam Hasz

Implementation Advisor, IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Adam Hasz is an implementation advisor for the IRA Home Energy Rebates Program within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of State and Community Energy Programs. In this role, Adam is supporting States, Territories, and Tribes to apply for $8.8 billion in funding that will be used for home efficiency and electrification upgrades. Adam previously worked in the Building Technologies Office at DOE where he developed the Advanced Building Construction initiative and the Buildings Upgrade Prize. Adam joined DOE as a science and technology policy fellow in 2018 and holds a master's degree in urban planning from MIT.

Catie Dimas Snyder

Deputy Director, Leading by Example Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Catie Dimas Snyder (she/her) is the Deputy Director of the Leading by Example Division at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. In this role, she supports initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable and clean energy resources and facilitates building and vehicle decarbonization efforts within state government and public institutions of higher education. In addition, Catie manages strategic planning for the statewide zero emission vehicle incentive program, MOR-EV. Prior to joining the DOER in 2019, Catie spent six years in the nonprofit sector focusing on energy efficiency and demand-side management with state and provincial energy utilities and the federal government. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and political science from the University of Utah and master’s degrees in energy and environmental policy and international relations from Boston University. Her professional interest areas include everything from ecotourism to emerging technologies. Catie enjoys engaging in community events, going on long hikes in the Blue Hills Reservation with her family, and reading.

Nicholas Preservati

Director, West Virginia Office of Energy

Chad Kruse

Director of Public Engagement, UtilityAPI

Malcolm Woolf

President and Chief Executive Officer, National Hydropower Association

Malcolm Woolf is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydropower Association.

Woolf comes to NHA after decades of experience in the energy and environment field. He was a Senior Vice President with Advanced Energy Economy and has extensive markets experience. He served in a cabinet level position for Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley where he worked to promote affordable, reliable, clean energy, and he also led energy policy for the National Governors Association.

Woolf has experience in both the executive branch and Capitol Hill having served at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and as a Congressional committee staff member.

Woolf earned his law degree, as well as a Masters of Public Administration and Public Policy, from the University of Virginia. He holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Tufts University, with a year at Pembroke College, Oxford University.

Malcolm is the supporting NHA staff member for the CEO Council.

Campbell Delahoyde

Project Manager, IEM

Campbell Delahoyde is the energy lead for the State and Local Response and Recovery (SLRR) division within IEM’s International Homeland Security (IHLS) sector. He supports states, electric utilities, and other clients with hazard mitigation, emergency operations planning, grid resilience efforts, and strategic programming. Prior to his current role, he was the Senior Program Director of Energy Security at the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), where he supported state, regional, and national energy security and emergency management initiatives, primarily focusing on state energy security planning, energy systems analysis, and risk assessments. Mr. Delahoyde has also worked within the Federal Energy Sector Exercise Program and Emergency Response Organization (ESF-12) in the US Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). He is currently a Fellow with Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), and recently was selected to participate in the Energy Security Cohort of the EU-US Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Brian George

US Federal Lead, Global Energy Market Development and Policy, Google

Brian is responsible for energy regulatory and policy engagement across the federal government, including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy. In addition, he is responsible for energy regulatory and legislative engagement across PJM and the mid-Atlantic region, where Google datacenters represent a large and growing commercial load. Brian has extensive experience in wholesale electricity market design and energy policy.

Prior to Google, Brian was the Senior Director for Strategy and Government Affairs at the Electric Power Supply Association where he led policy development and federal legislative engagement for a membership consisting of over 150,000 MW of competitive power generation across the US.

Brian started his career as an economist at FERC, serving in roles across multiple offices, including the Office of Enforcement and the Office of Energy Policy and Innovation. Brian capped his service at FERC as a technical advisor to former commissioner Rob Powelson, where he advised on significant issues impacting all of the organized electricity markets.

Sara Bazemore

Director, State Energy Office, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff

Sara Pendarvis Bazemore is Director of the South Carolina Energy Office, within the Office of Regulatory Staff. Her team promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation through funding, education, technical assistance, and collaborative outreach efforts, while serving as an energy data clearinghouse. The State Energy Office implements strategies that maximize environmental quality and energy conservation and efficiency and minimize the cost of energy throughout the state.

Prior to joining the Energy Office in 2021, Sara practiced environmental and regulatory law for over 15 years both in the private and public sector. She spent much of her career in the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of General Counsel (DHEC-OGC). She prepared, negotiated, and litigated environmental matters before South Carolina’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and other judicial and quasi-judicial forums, including appeals involving the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, coastal law, CERCLA and more. Additionally, Sara served as the Deputy Director of the SC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management (DHEC-OCRM). In between her terms within the DHEC-OGC, Sara gained valuable insight and experience as an attorney in the private sector with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and most recently with D’Alberto Graham & Grimsley.

As a native Charlestonian, Sara developed a passion for the environment and public policy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina, where she was awarded the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. She earned a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Columbia International University (Seminary). Later, Sara earned her MEERM/JD dual degree (Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management from the USC School of the Environment, along with a Juris Doctor from the USC School of Law). Sara is also an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Law, where she teaches Energy Law and Environmental Law in SC.

Laura Carpenter

Policy Analyst, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Laura Carpenter is an Advisor for Partnerships and Technical Assistance in DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs where she works to develop and deliver targeted technical assistance and strategic initiatives that support the energy priorities of state and local governments and replicate the successful models and best practices of public-sector leaders to maximize energy and cost savings.

Prior to joining DOE, Laura led the energy services division of an engineering firm where she oversaw the development and execution of energy efficiency projects for commercial customers. Laura holds a Master's of Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Ward Lenz

Deputy Director for State Energy Programs, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

With nearly 30 years of experience in clean energy development, Ward Lenz brings a range of background and expertise to the U.S. Department of Energy. Ward started his energy career at the Iowa State Energy Office and also served as Energy Division (State Energy Office) Director for North Carolina during the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act years; where he ran an 80 person division to implement the State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program. In addition to working in state energy offices, Ward has also worked with several energy non-profits, most recently as Executive Director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, a membership association focused on policy advocacy in legislative and regulatory arenas. Whether in the public or private sector, Ward works to foster partner collaboration in an effort to find appropriate value propositions for energy consumers and producers. Ward strives to find methods to improve the human condition through economic development and environmental sustainability.

Curtis Thayer

Executive Director, Alaska Energy Authority

Curtis W. Thayer is the executive director of the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), the state's energy office and lead agency for statewide energy policy and program development. Prior to AEA, Thayer served as president and chief executive officer of the Alaska Chamber, the largest state trade association.

Previous to that position, he served as Commissioner for the Department of Administration and as a cabinet member for Governor Sean Parnell, with responsibility for 1,100 public employees and an annual budget of $350 million. Additionally, his public service includes time as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and working in Washington, D.C. with Congressman Don Young and Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski.

Before public service, Thayer worked on the management team of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company and for the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team.

Thayer has served on boards at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, Alaska Retirement Management Board, Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board, U.S. Chambers’ Committee of 100, and currently chairs the Alaska Board of Marine Pilots.

The Honorable Gene Rodrigues

Assistant Secretary for Electricity, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy

Gene Rodrigues is the Assistant Secretary for Electricity for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (OE). Mr. Rodrigues is a nationally recognized expert in clean energy policy and programs with over 30 years of professional experience in the field. Prior to joining OE, Mr. Rodrigues was Vice President in the Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure practice at ICF, a global advisory and digital services provider.

He has also garnered 23 years of industry experience at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. During his tenure at SCE, he represented the company in regulatory proceedings and held leadership positions over the company’s portfolio of demand-side management programs and policies, which helped to ensure the provision of affordable, reliable, and resilient electric service for over 15 million people in Southern California. 

Over his professional career, Mr. Rodrigues held leadership positions in industry nonprofit organizations, including most recently as a member of the board of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, as the chair of the board for the California Efficiency & Demand Management Council, and as chair of the outreach committee for the bipartisan Alliance to Save Energy’s Active Efficiency initiative. Previously, he served as the chair of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency and on the boards of the China-U.S. Energy Efficiency Alliance and California’s Low-Income Oversight Board.

In recognition of his industry leadership, in 2012 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented Mr. Rodrigues with its Climate Leadership Award for individual leadership.

Mr. Rodrigues is a graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and Northern Arizona University.

The Honorable David Turk

Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Prior to his nomination as Deputy Secretary, Turk was the Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he focused on helping countries around the world tackle their clean energy transitions. He also directed reports on the digitalization of energy systems, the future of clean hydrogen, and a project tracking progress on a wide range of clean energy technologies.

During the Obama-Biden Administration, Turk coordinated international technology and clean energy efforts at DOE. During this time, he helped spearhead the launch of Mission Innovation—a global effort to enhance clean energy innovation.

Turk also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the U.S. National Security Council, where he coordinated interagency legislative affairs efforts by the full range of national security agencies and provided legislative advice to National Security Council decision-making. He also previously worked at the U.S. Department of State, including as Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change and helping to coordinate New Start Treaty ratification efforts in the U.S. Senate.  

Earlier in his career, Turk worked in both the U.S. Senate, primarily on national security issues, and as the Staff Director of the National Security Subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee.

Turk was born in Quito, Ecuador and raised in Rock Falls, Illinois. He is a graduate of both the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Virginia Law School. He and his wife, Emily Turk, have three children.

Thomas Bartholomew

Associate Director for Policy and Compliance, Energy Administration, District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment

Thomas Bartholomew is the Associate Director for Policy and Compliance with the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment. He works on policies and programs to equitably decarbonize the District’s energy and transportation systems including working before the District’s Public Service Commission to support the District’s climate goals, administering the District’s Solar for All Program, and supporting vehicle electrification and other forms of low and zero emission transportation.

Kerry Campbell

Environmental Program Manager, Energy Programs Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Kerry Campbell is an Environmental Program Manager in the Energy Programs Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  He oversees staff who support the Pennsylvania Climate Program, the State Energy Program, Energy Security Program, the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, among other climate and clean energy initiatives, including implementing programs from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act..  He previously worked for the Air Quality and Waste Management programs in DEP and was a Research Assistant at Penn State University.  He received an M.S. in Agronomy, and B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Resource Management, all from Penn State.

Andrea Denny

Acting Branch Chief, State and Local Climate and Energy Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Andrea Denny is the Acting Branch Chief for the State and Local Climate and Energy Program in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. The program offers tools, training, and technical resources to help state, local, and tribal governments achieve their climate and energy goals. She is also on the leadership team for EPA’s new Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program.

Ben Serrurier

Government Affairs and Policy Manager, Fervo Energy

Ben Serrurier leads the Government Affairs and Policy team at Fervo Energy, a developer of next-generation geothermal projects. Prior to joining Fervo, Ben work on federal energy policy and wholesale power markets with RMI’s Carbon-Free Electricity Practice. He holds a BA from Whitman College and an MEM from the Yale School of Forestry.

Dr. Kevin Jones

Acting Program Manager, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, Geothermal Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Kevin Jones is the Acting Enhanced Geothermal Systems Program Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO). He joined GTO in 2021 as the DOE Manager and Strategy Lead for the flagship EGS demonstration project, the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE). Prior to his time at GTO, Kevin worked for ExxonMobil where he gained experience in every phase of the oil and gas asset life cycle, from research and exploration, through development, to late field life production. His industry experience includes research on geochemical indicators of hydrocarbon migration, disposal well permitting and modeling, geologic model construction, reservoir simulation, well placement and infrastructure optimization, well planning and execution, and more. Kevin graduated with a BS in geology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a MA and PhD in Geochemistry from Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Cassandra Cole

Ph.D. Candidate of Economics, Department of Economics, Harvard University

Cassandra is a PhD candidate in economics at Harvard University, where she conducts research in the intersection of environmental economics and public finance. Cassandra studies government policy as it relates to the environment both in the United States, where she studies policies encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, and in low- and middle-income countries, where she researches water provision and drought policy. Prior to her studies at Harvard, Cassandra worked as a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Cassandra holds an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics and economics from Brown University.

Dan Merchant III

Principal, Government Services, Resource Innovations

With more than 15 years of experience in the electric and gas utility sector, Dan started his career at what grew to be the largest and fastest energy consulting firm in North America. He later went on to co-found a software firm in Austin, TX and in 2017 was nominated as a finalist in Technology for the Forbes “30 under 30” most influential list. After a successful exit in 2019, he took a role in Chicago building out the customer success and delivery team for an energy firm prior to their successful acquisition by Schneider Electric. He then joined Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) as the North American sales lead for their connected thermostat line (Sensi) where he also received a patent (W-R-22-015) for HVAC thermostat controls. In his current role at Resource Innovations – which is a Inc. 500, woman-led, fastest growing energy firm in North America – he leads the Government Services practice focusing on new market development with state and federal clients.

Keishaa Austin

Acting Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Joseph Nyangon

Deputy Director for Partnerships, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Joe Nyangon is the Deputy Director for Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). He is a distinguished energy economist with engineering education and an expert in electricity market innovation and power systems. He was most recently a Power and Utilities Innovation Lead and Senior Consultant at SAS Institute, based in North Carolina. There he led the development of advanced new solutions for the energy and utilities industry by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and predictive analytics technologies, leading to improved strategic investment decisions, integration of clean energy technologies, and accelerated commercialization of groundbreaking technologies.

Wahleah Johns

Director, Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Wahleah Johns is the Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. She is responsible for upholding and advancing the Office of Indian Energy’s mission to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Johns is a member of the Navajo (Diné) tribe and comes from northeastern Arizona. Her background is in renewable energy and community organizing, having co-founded Native Renewables, a nonprofit that builds renewable energy tribal capacity while addressing energy access. Her work with the Black Mesa Water Coalition and Navajo Green Economy Coalition has led to groundbreaking legislative victories for groundwater protection, green jobs, and environmental justice. In 2019, she was awarded the Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellowship.

Under her tenure, the Office of Indian Energy’s budget has more than tripled, from $22 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 to $75 million in FY 2023. This growth provides additional funding to support tribal communities in pursuing their energy sovereignty and energy goals and includes an additional 30 positions for the Office.

Johns is deeply honored to work with the Office of Indian Energy to help native communities lead the way in the transition to clean energy.

Luke Bassett

Director of Policy and Program Impact, Inflation Reduction Act Program Office, U.S. Department of Treasury

Luke H. Bassett is a Senior Advisor and the Director of Policy and Program Impact at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Inflation Reduction Act Program Office. Previously, as a former Senior Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, he advised Chairman Joe Manchin III (D-WV) on climate, renewable energy, energy tax, and research and development policy. In that role, he drafted or negotiated major provisions of the Energy Act of 2020, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Prior to joining the Energy Committee, Bassett was Associate Director of Domestic Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress and previously served as an appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy in the Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Bassett has master’s degrees in environmental management and ethics from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Yale Divinity School, a bachelor’s degree from Emory University, and is originally from Milton, West Virginia.

Emily Wilbur

Director, Division of Energy, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Chip Little

Government Affairs Manager, Colonial Pipeline

Chip Little, Government Affairs Manager, Colonial Pipeline. Mr. Chip Little has 30 years of experience in Government Affairs, with 23 of those years in the energy business. He is currently Government Affairs Manager for Colonial Pipeline, a 5,500-mile refined products interstate pipeline headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. In this role, Mr. Little is responsible for managing state and local government affairs in five southeastern states. Previously, Mr. Little served as a regional Manager, External Affairs for Mirant Corporation, a wholesale power generator based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dayna Cobb

Director, Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Dayna Cobb took over as Director of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Controls’ Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy at a critical and historical time for the Division, and her leadership since July 2019 has led to a series of successes across a range of initiatives.

The Division oversees such diverse programs as Delaware’s electric vehicle and clean energy rebate programs, energy efficiency grant program for businesses, state energy policy, federal consistency in relation to coastal environmental issues and Delaware’s National Estuarine Research Reserve. Her Master of Science degree in Applied Chemistry from Delaware State University, and her experience as Chief Operating Officer for an international corporation that provides expert detection and mapping survey services for the oil and gas, environmental and mineral industries, made her well-suited for the Director position.

She oversaw the Division’s development of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan, which brought together past efforts and current science in both emissions’ reduction and increased resiliency strategies to create a comprehensive road map for climate action.

Under her leadership, the Division also conceived and brought to fruition the Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative. TEDI aims to offset carbon emissions, improve air and water quality by planting 1 million trees. All Delawareans can help by planting a tree and entering it online on a TEDI Tracker database.

Expanding the scope of outreach both within the Division and across DNREC, has also been a priority under Director Cobb’s leadership. She was instrumental in development of DNREC’s partnership with Delaware State University on a two-year research project to identify ways DNREC can improve public outreach and community involvement, with a focus on traditionally underrepresented communities.

Director Cobb is at the forefront of DNREC’s efforts to preserve our environment, improve accountability and improve the quality of life for all Delawareans.

Greg Todd

Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

Greg Todd has served on the Duchesne County Commission since 2015 but resigned in September 2022 to accept the appointment from Governor Cox to be his energy advisor and director of the Utah Office of Energy Development.

Prior to his public service, Director Todd spent decades of his career in the oil and gas industry, where he enjoyed working in various states and leading multiple innovative projects.

Director Todd recently moved to South Jordan, Utah to be closer to work, making it the first time he’s permanently lived in the Wasatch Front. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary/physical education from Brigham Young University.

In his free time, Greg enjoys watching all levels of sports, from high school to professional. Living in rural Utah for most of his life, he became an avid fly fisherman and enjoys the outdoor life that Utah has to offer. Among all else, he loves spending time with his wife and family, especially the grandchildren.

Chris McKay

General Manager, NOMAD Power Systems

Mr. McKay has over 25 years of experience with distributed generation, renewables, and energy storage. His expertise includes product development, product management, and new business development. Mr. McKay has managed fleets of systems with hundreds of generation assets connected to utility distribution networks around the world. He has developed and executed contracts directly with utilities, investors, and commercial/industrial users. His ability to manage growth while meeting customer needs will help Nomad Transportable Power Systems expand rapidly while maintaining quality and performance.

Glenn Davis

Director, Virginia Department of Energy

Prior to being appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin as Director of the Virginia Department of Energy, Glenn Davis represented Virginia’s 84th District in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2014-2023 where he served as Chairman of the House Education Committee and Subcommittee Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Glenn also served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science where he chaired the cyber security and blockchain subcommittees.
Prior to his service in the Virginia General Assembly, Glenn served on the Virginia Beach City Council from 2008-2014.

Professionally, Glenn began his entrepreneurial career out of a one-bedroom apartment when he was 26. In 2007, his telecommunications management firm was named by the Inc. 5000 as one of the 100 fastest growing IT companies in America. After the acquisition of a publicly traded national IT company, Glenn’s company became a national provider of IT and telecom solutions.

Glenn has served as Chairman of Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, was a founding board member of Green Run Collegiate, a charter school connected to the Green Run community where he grew up and is a past president of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Southeast Virginia.

Glenn attended George Mason University, is a graduate of the EO/MIT Entrepreneurial master’s program and the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and received the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the Regent University School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Prerna Tomar

Director, Public Policy, Samsung

Prerna Tomar is a Director and Senior Public Policy Counsel in Samsung’s US Public Affairs Office.  She is focused on environment and sustainability policy within the Public Policy team and leads Samsung’s efforts on IRA home rebates implementation, among other issues.  Prerna analyzes legislation and regulations at the federal and state level, coordinates with Samsung’s global and US business teams, including engineers, to develop Samsung’s public policy positions, which are driven by the company’s innovative technology and help advance sustainability, including by way of energy efficient products.  Prerna has helped deploy public policy strategies and engages with think tanks, NGOs, and government officials to help exchange ideas and drive well-reasoned outcomes.  Prerna is a proud Samsung employee for over 10 years and was a part of the team that led Samsung to win the rare and distinguished ENERGY STAR Corporate Commitment Award in 2021.  Prerna serves as an elected representative of the Responsible Minerals Initiative Steering Committee and has previously chaired various trade associations’ environmental policy committees.  Prerna attended Northwestern University for her undergraduate education where she focused on Political Science and Legal Studies and later attended the University of Chicago Law School.  Her favorite activities in her free time include yoga, meditation, and writing poetry inspired by family and friends.

Jeremy Williams

Program Manager, Building Energy Codes Program, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Jeremy Williams is the Program Manager of the Building Energy Codes Program within the Building Technologies Office. He oversees BTO’s activities supporting advanced energy efficiency and decarbonization through building energy codes, which establish standards for energy use, health, comfort, resilience and environmental performance in residential and commercial buildings. 

Since 2011, he has represented the Department in its building code research, development and analysis activities, including participation in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and Standard 90.1. He has served as a member of the IECC Residential and Commercial Energy Committees, as well as the Standard 90.1 and National Green Building Standard technical committees. Jeremy also oversees DOE's code technical analysis and assistance work, which supports states and local governments in successfully implementing their codes. He has a particular interest in compliance and validating the impacts of codes in the field, which ensures their benefits are realized by U.S. homes and businesses. 

His educational background includes an M.S. degree in Construction Management from Michigan State University and a B.S. in Business and Education. Jeremy is also a former college instructor teaching courses in construction management and high school chemistry and physics teacher.

Alison Hahn

Acting Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Reactor Fleet and Advanced Reactor Deployment, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Mrs. Hahn has been with the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy since 2011. She has managed several programs including the Advanced Methods for Manufacturing and the Nuclear Science User Facilities within the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies program and, most recently, the Light Water Reactor Sustainability program. Currently, she is the acting Director for Nuclear Reactor Deployment which is focused on modernizing technologies and approaches applicable to both advanced reactors and light water reactors and supporting the deployment of a variety of advanced reactor designs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from John Hopkins University.

William Prindle

Vice President, Sustainable Energy and Climate, ICF

Mr. Prindle is a senior strategist for ICF’s energy and sustainability business. His subject matter expertise ranges from policy analysis and energy analytics to program design and field implementation. He has more than 40 years of experience in the energy field, specializing in national and state policy development, utility-sector efficiency programs as well as building codes and appliance standards. His international work has included energy planning, resource potential studies, program design, building energy codes, and appliance labeling and standards. He has testified before legislative and regulatory bodies, served on numerous nonprofit organization boards, and made several major media appearances as an energy efficiency expert. He holds a Master’s degree in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Alejandro Moreno

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Alejandro Moreno is the Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  He provides strategic advice leadership in the strategic planning, execution, and oversight of the EERE portfolio.

Previously, he served as the Office's Renewable Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary and as the Director of the Water Power Technologies Office.  In addition to his roles at DOE, he has served in the energy groups of the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, where he designed and led regulatory reform programs to spur investment in clean energy and rural electrification. Mr. Moreno holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Alan Zelenka

Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation, Oregon Department of Energy

Alan is the Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation at the Oregon Department of Energy. His team works on energy efficiency, renewable resources, sustainable transportation, energy planning, and climate change issues.

Before joining ODOE he was the Energy Services Leader for Kennedy/Jenks Consultants for over 10 years, a consulting firm where he worked with clients all over the west on climate change, energy efficiency, and renewables.

Prior to that Alan worked at Emerald PUD in Eugene for over 21 years, where he was the Power Manager.

Alan Zelenka graduated with a degree in political-economy from UC Berkeley, and got his master’s degree in energy planning and policy from the University of Oregon.

In his spare time, Alan is in his fourth term as a Eugene City Councilor.

Joe Pater

Director, Office of Energy Innovation, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Paul Spitsen

Energy Technology Specialist, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy