Monday
March 11th
Power Quality Applications (Part 1)
Examine the challenges that face the industry in addressing real-world issues of managing power quality on both sides of the meter. In addition to the practical issues, techniques and approaches, leading-edge research will be presented for today’s issues as well as the increasing challenges presented by significant growth in electric end uses.
Speakers
- Bill Howe and Mark Stephens, EPRI
Conference Registration Open
Join us for the ultimate networking experience at Sip and Print, sponsored by UpLight and Qmerit! Kickstart your week by dropping by between 3-5 PM on Monday, March 11th to have your badge printed and mingle with industry peers while enjoying (1) complimentary beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage courtesy of our generous sponsor UpLight and Qmerit. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make meaningful connections! Registration located at the Savannah Convention Center in the River Concourse.
Tuesday
March 12th
Conference Registration Open
Power Quality Applications (Part 2)
Industrial Heat Pumps
Industrial heat pumps create significant process improvements as well as decarbonization opportunities. Explore the fundamentals as well as best applications of industrial heat pumps. The workshop will also take an in-depth look at the fundamentals, design parameters and applications of large heat pumps for campus and district energy systems.
Speakers:
- Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy, EPRI
Process Heating Electrification Applications
Getting EVs to Swift Grid Interconnection
Cold Climate Heat Pumps
Advancing Equity and Electrification
Electrification and decarbonization goals are unlikely to be met unless customers across society are included. Moreover, low-income and under-resourced communities can benefit from electrification and energy efficiency. This workshop with scenario and decision-making role playing and roundtable discussions will provide grounding in equity and energy justice, explore implicit bias and structural issues that can drive inequitable outcomes, and discuss strategic approaches and leading practices for productively engaging disenfranchised and disadvantaged households to advance equitable electrification.
Pre-Conference Workshop Lunch
Westin Grand Ballroom A-C
Vehicle to X Integration
Speakers:
- Gloria Fu, ConEd
- Sujit Mandal, Amazon
Non-Road Transportation
Workforce Development
Welcome Reception
Exposition Hall
Wednesday
March 13th
Conference Registration Open
Continental Breakfast
Chatham Ballroom Foyer
Plenary Session
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Chatham Ballroom
Part 1: Welcome to Electrification 2024
Welcome and opening remarks from EPRI CEO Arshad Mansoor. Southern Company President & CEO Chris Womack will follow with a presentation on the importance of electrification to the company and industry.
Part 2: The Power of Electrification
Molly Aeck, Customer Solutions VP at Georgia Power, will moderate a customer-focused discussion on the value and impacts of end-use electrification on the panelists’ respective businesses.
Panelists include:
- Glemon R. English IV, EV Transportation Director, Savannah-Chatham Public School System
- David Repp, Innovation Manager, Waffle House
- Christopher Smith, Chief Implementation Officer/General Counsel, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America
Morning Break
Exposition Hall
Educational Sessions
Gearing Toward a Net-Zero Future in Industry
Gearing toward a net-zero future is an imperative task that requires global cooperation and concerted efforts from all sectors of society. It encompasses a comprehensive transition toward sustainable practices and technologies aimed at eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Achieving net zero involves a multi-faceted approach, including decarbonizing energy production, promoting renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, transitioning to electric mobility, and adopting circular economy principles. By embracing a net-zero future, we can forge a path toward a cleaner, healthier planet, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. This session will focus on how large commercial organizations and industries are embracing these principles and moving toward a net-zero future.
Moderator:
- Baskar Vairamohan, EPRI
Panelists:
- Salvador Zambrano, Port of Los Angeles, LA Harbor Department
- Tracy Leslie, EPRI
- Scott Bishop, EPRI
- Trey Benincosa, Cox Enterprises
The 2030 Road Map: Getting From Here to There
What are the leading EV markets in the U.S.? Why? How much charging and supporting infrastructure is needed? What’s happening in the truck sector? What pace of action and investment is needed to reach 2030 goals?
Moderator:
- Britta Gross, EPRI
Panelists:
- Dejan Antunovic, PepsiCo
- Jamie Dunckley, EPRI
- Joel Torr, Ford/FordPro
- Rachel Huang, SMUD
- Sujit Mandal, Amazon
Celebrating Successes
While building electrification is not new, the industry has hit its renaissance over the last 5-10 years. This panel will talk about successes in the industry that have advanced technologies, markets and programs around building electrification. It will cover the challenges faced and collaborative techniques that are enabling the industry to solve challenges around building electrification.
Moderator:
- Panama Bartholomy, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Panelists:
- Brian Urlab, Salas O'Brien
- Rebecca Foster, VEIC
- Ben Clarin, EPRI
- Chris Gray, RENU Communities
Equitable Electrification: Delivering economic benefits to empower local communities and uplift all segments of society
How can the benefits of electrification accrue equitably to everyone in society? Learn how electrification can uplift economically disadvantaged communities through initiatives that enable access to technologies and create local electrification-linked jobs.
Moderator:
- Arin Kaye, EPRI
Panelists:
- Shiloh Costello, SMUD
- Dr. Destenie Nock, Carnegie Mellon University
- Andrew Jones, Carnegie Mellon University
- Daniel Farrell, ACEEE
A Conversation With the Department of Defense: Electrification Priorities, Policy & Processes
As the world’s largest institutional energy consumer, the U.S. Department of Defense requires an abundance of energy to power its facilities, weapons systems and equipment both at home and abroad. While facing an array of operational demands that increase the amount of power required to integrate sensors and systems and perform mission critical functions, the DOD also faces a variety of threats to its installations and infrastructure from cyber attacks, climate change, and aging facilities and equipment. Electrification can help the DOD meet its energy and national security goals. This session will examine some of the electrification priorities, policies, and processes of DOD. Moderated by Mike Wu, who has extensive experience in government energy policy, we will look at DOD studies, demonstrations, prototyping and installation of electrification project processes. In addition, we will discuss U.S. Navy electrification priorities and how different or similar they are to the rest of DOD’s.
Moderator:
- Michael Wu, Converge Strategies
Panelists:
- Thomas Layne, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Tim Tetreault, ESTCP — Installation Energy and Water
- Michael Savena, Department of the Navy
- Christine Ploschke, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability
Track 7: Electrification & Grid Impacts
The Potential of Hydrogen for Indirect Electrification
Explore use cases for hydrogen in commercial and industrial process applications. Also investigate how we might improve the efficiencies in clean hydrogen production for greater access, including the use of new materials.
Moderator:
- Brittany Westlake, EPRI
Panelists:
- Neil Kern, EPRI
- Tatum Auvil, EPRI
- Paul Glanville, GTI Energy
- Scott Tjaden, Constellation
Track 8: Controlled Environment Agriculture
Lunch
Exposition Hall
Educational Sessions
Electrification of Heavy & Light Industries
This session will provide an overview of industrial segments and how electrification solutions vary for large process industries compared to light / assembly / fabrication. The discussion will connect the four pillars of industrial decarbonization: energy efficiency, electrification, low-carbon fuels (indirect electrification) and carbon capture / utilization / storage.
Moderator:
- Rick Ranhotra, EPRI
Panelists:
- Kiran Thirumaran, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Thirumaal Mahalingam, Electra
- B.J. Bernard, Surface Combustion
Scale Means Everyone. Yes, EVERYONE!
How do we make sure everyone is included in the transition? A 50% EV market share means we need to include urban consumers, rural, MDUs, disadvantaged, fleets, technology-rejectors and even overlooked or new voices. This is an equity and workforce opportunity, but charging stations must be reliable. What about neighborhood charging plazas? Curbside charging? Rideshare as a lever for change? What are best practices and lessons learned?
Moderator:
- Pamela Fann, Impact Energy
Panelists:
- Rachael Nealer, JOET (Joint Office)
- Jeff Haase, Great River Energy
- Adam Gromis, Uber
Technology to Bridge the Gap
While many of the tools and technologies to electrify buildings are here today, there are still emerging technologies and approaches that are needed to enable electrification of all types of buildings. The thought leaders who are part of this panel will talk about those emerging tools, technologies and approaches needed to help bridge the technology gaps to electrify all types of buildings across climates.
Moderator:
- Lisa Tryson, Danfoss
Panelists:
- Keirstan Field, EPRI
- Stephen Hamlin, Danfoss
- Grant Kovac, Copeland
- John Thomas, Water Furnace
- Kelly Hearnsberger, Daikin
Multifamily Housing: Electrification strategies and success stories for hard-to-reach multifamily communities
Consideration of residential electrification opportunities often overlooks the multifamily housing sector, which is typically regarded as a “hard-to-reach” market. Learn about strategies and success stories for electrification in a variety of multifamily housing examples, including overcoming institutional and perceptual barriers while ensuring equitable access to technology.
Moderator:
- Reuven Sussman, ACEEE
Panelists:
- Ben Clarin, EPRI
- Lauren Westmoreland, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
- Madeline Kostic, Seattle City Light
Track 5: Department of Defense
Track 6: Low-Carbon Fuels in Electrification
Strategy and Resource Planning for Electrification Growth
This session will explore how the electricity industry is adapting or needs to adapt long-term resource planning strategies to account for higher levels of electrification and uncertain load growth. Topics include the need for improved load forecasting; use of new loads for potential grid services; accounting for new uncertainties; planning for EV growth; and the intersection of resource adequacy and long-term planning.
Moderator:
- Nidhi Santen, EPRI
Panelists:
- Valerie von Schramm, CPS Energy
- Juan Pablo Carvallo, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Mike Risavy, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
Electrification Opportunities and Community Benefits
Indoor agriculture / Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is expanding worldwide. The growing industry utilizes a range of electric technologies and unique form factors to deliver ideal growing conditions year-round regardless of climate and outdoor conditions. This panel of industry leaders will share how CEA can be sited within any community due to its ability to be located in shipping containers, storefronts, warehouses or specialized greenhouses, and how these farms can work with utilities and communities to potentially deliver a range of grid, environmental, community and societal benefits.
Moderator:
- Frank Sharp, EPRI
Panelists:
- Marc Oshima, Oshima Good Food
- Rick Vanzura, Freight Farms
- Dan Spatz, Healthy Flavors
Afternoon Break
Exposition Hall
Plenary Session
3:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Chatham Ballroom
Part 1: Driving Community Equity Through Electrification
Panel discussion on how government, NGOs and communities are driving policy and opportunity for low- to moderate-income customers in the transition to economy-wide decarbonization, moderated by Morgan Scott, EPRI Director of Climate READi and Sustainability.
Panelists include:
- Nathaniel Smith, Chief Equity Officer of Partnership, Southern Equity
- Sydney Roberts, Director of Technology & Market Solutions, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Chris Ayers, Executive Director, North Carolina Utilities Commission – Public Staff
Part 2: Putting Equity to Work in the Community
Panel discussion detailing field-implemented electrification technologies in low-to-moderate income communities. Discussions will include customer benefits, partnership structures, and approaches between New York utilities and the New York City Housing Authority to effect positive change.
Moderator:
- David Porter, Vice President, Electrification & Sustainable Energy Strategy, EPRI
Panelists include:
- Siobhan Watson, Senior Director of Sustainability, New York City Housing Authority
- Greg Elcock, VP Energy Efficiency & Distributed Resource Integration, Con Edison
- Daniella Piper, Chief Innovation Officer, New York Power Authority
Signature Party
Esplanade
Thursday
March 14th
Conference Registration Open
Continental Breakfast
Exposition Hall
Plenary Session
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Chatham Ballroom
Part 1: Welcome to Savannah
Remarks by Audrey King, VP Savannah Region, Georgia Power.
Part 2: Policy Implications for an Electrified Future
Presentations and panel discussion on the impact of policy and regulation on electrification and economy-wide decarbonization.
Moderator:
- Audrey King, VP Savannah Region, Georgia Power
Panelists include:
- Bert Brantley, President & CEO, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
- Representative Chuck Martin, Georgia State House of Representatives
- Hunter Hill, Executive Director, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
Part 3: Electrification Regulatory Opportunities & Challenges
Panel discussion on the influence of state regulation in electrification and economic/community development.
Moderator:
- Phil Dion, Sr. Vice President, Edison Electric Institute
Panelists include:
- Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, Georgia Public Service Commission
- Commissioner Katherine Peretick, Michigan Public Service Commission
- Commissioner Sarah Freeman, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Morning Break
Exposition Hall
Educational Sessions
Electrification of Heavy Mobile Non-Road Equipment
The work performed by heavy machineries in ports, industrial facilities construction, mining and agriculture requires delivery and short-term storage of dense energy reserves at the point of operation to literally move the earth and perform other material movement operations needing heavy horsepower prime movers. Duty cycles are long, payloads are heavy and environmental conditions are harsh requiring this mobile equipment to carry its energy source along with it, historically in the form of energy-dense liquid fossil fuels. As a result, these have been challenging sub-sectors of industrial mobility to decarbonize via direct electrification with battery-electric options. The challenges and opportunities for direct and indirect electrification of heavy mobile equipment will be discussed in this panel.
Moderator:
- Perry Stephens, EPRI
Panelists:
- Mark Cosby, Orange EV
- Paul Harkness, Port of Savannah (Garden City Terminal)
- Robert Bond, Tri-Lift Industries Inc.
- Rob Wozny, Shell
Why Is a Truck Not a Building? Why Is Electrifying at Scale so Hard?
This session will lay out major challenges and solutions to electrification at scale, including fleet electrification and today’s regulatory paradigms. Do today’s rules work? Who has it figured out?
Moderator:
- Phil Jones, ATE
Panelists:
- Lydia Krefta, PG&E
- Dawn Fenton, Volvo Group North America
- Raghu Sudhakara, ConEd
- Karen Kemerait, NCUC
Making Buildings 'Smart'
From smart thermostats to connected water heaters to AI-enabled voice assistants, the market for behind-the-meter smart devices that improve comfort and convenience, and provide energy management capabilities, has exploded over the last few years. What is the future value of smart buildings and connected communities, and how can it be realized?
Moderator:
- Edwin Hornquist, EPRI
Panelists:
- Amit Paul, Prescriptive Data
- Christopher Malotte, Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Paul Steffes, Steffes
- Rich Brown, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Electrifying K-12 School Campuses: Benefiting essential community infrastructure and enhancing curricula
School campuses offer exciting opportunities for transformative growth in electrification, while also serving as a showcase for educators and students to experience new technologies. Learn more about how utilities and third parties have partnered with schools to help achieve electrification and decarbonization goals while adding new, relevant learning modules into the curriculum.
Moderator:
- Agatha Kazdan, EPRI
Panelists:
- Clay Hoover, TVA
- Dr. Denise Watts, Superintendent, Savannah Chatham County Public School System
- Alicia Brown, City of Savannah
- Glemon English, EV Transportation Director, Savannah Chatham County Public School System
- Robbie Ferris, SFL+Architects
Track 5: Department of Defense
T&D Investment Planning for Large-Scale Electrification
What new approaches and techniques will drive T&D investment planning to enable fleets, residential/commercial EV charging and other peak-increasing end uses?
Moderator:
- Alison O’Connell, EPRI
Panelists:
- Jun Wen, Southern California Edison
- Jeremiah Deboever, EPRI
- Elyssia Lawrence, Portland General Electric (PGE)
Track 6: Low-Carbon Fuels in Electrification
Track 8: Controlled Environment Agriculture
Lunch
Exposition Hall
Educational Sessions
Emerging Technologies in Industry
Many new emerging electro-technologies and indirect electrification technologies are being introduced in the industrial market. Process heating technologies, such as microwave-enhanced chemistry, acoustically enhanced drying and low-cost heat pumps to make high-temperature steam are being developed and demonstrated around the country. Also, new indirect electrification technologies, such as ammonia and methanol as energy carriers, are seeing applications in industrial processes. This session will focus on new and emerging technologies for industrial electrification and decarbonization, and organizations behind the efforts to commercialize them.
Moderator:
- Ammi Amarnath, EPRI
Panelists:
- Neil Fromer, Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech
- Michael Baldea, EPIXC
- Irfan Khan, The Dow Chemical Company
- Keith Jamison, IEDO, U.S. Department of Energy
Enough With the Pilots - Let’s Get to Scale!
The 2030 goals loom large. And every year there’s less time left to solve the challenges of getting to scale. Let’s talk about solutions to the major barriers in processes, supply chain, workforce, etc.
Moderator:
- Mike Rowand, EPRI
Panelists:
- Missy Henriksen, EEI/Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD)
- Michael Berube, U.S. Department of Energy
- Lincoln Wood, Southern Company
- Mike Maten, GM
Scaling Up
While several of the technologies and approaches for building electrification have been individually tried and tested in a number of one-off field demonstrations, and while hundreds of consultant reports have repeatedly shown through various sophisticated simulation models about the benefits of scaled adoption, there is still a huge chasm to be crossed from small-scale demonstrations to widespread adoption and market transformation. This session will describe approaches and processes for making electrification happen at scale across a large portfolio of buildings and communities. The industry leaders in market transformation will share their insights.
Moderator:
- Ryan Dougherty, Geothermal Exchange Organization
Panelists:
- Panama Bartholomy, Building Decarbonization Coalition
- Kevin Powell, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
- Frank Rapley, Energy Solutions
- Siva Sankaranarayanan, EPRI
Growing Electrification Opportunities in Agriculture, Farming, Manufactured Housing and Beyond
Consideration of electrification opportunities often overlooks rural communities, which are typically regarded as a “hard-to-reach” market. Learn about strategies and success stories for electrification in a variety of rural cases, including farming and agricultural applications.
Moderator:
- Omar Siddiqui, EPRI
Panelists:
- Keith Dennis, Beneficial Electrification League
- Allison Hamilton, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
- John Weldy, Clayton Home Building Group
Track 5: Department of Defense
Beyond Hydrogen—Other Low Carbon Fuel Opportunities
Many other opportunities for low-carbon fuel use exist across the economy. Explore the different fuels, applications, benefits and approaches for production and distribution of these alternate fuels.
Moderator:
- Perry Stephens, EPRI
Panelists:
- Steven Panova, EPRI
- Rob Steele, EPRI
- Sofia Furstenberg, Furstenberg Maritime Advisory
Track 7: Electrification & Grid Impacts
Track 8: Controlled Environment Agriculture
Afternoon Break
Exposition Hall
Plenary Session
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Chatham Ballroom
“How Far Can We Go?”
The Closing Plenary Session will look to electrification in the 2030 timeframe. Interactive panel sessions with industry and stakeholder leaders will address opportunities and challenges for success, including technology impacts, return of industry to the United States, building stock opportunities and the importance of customer engagement. Featured will be preparing for electric vehicles —50% penetration by 2030—fact or fantasy?
Moderator:
- Rob Chapman, Sr. VP Energy Delivery & Customer Solutions, EPRI
Speakers include:
- Adam Raphael, Amazon
- Jed Proctor, Daimler Truck
- Brice Adamson, President, Enterprise Fleet Management
- Calvin Butler, President and CEO, Exelon
