10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

The State of U.S. Natural Gas Infrastructure from a Regulatory Perspective

Recent events and policy discussions have brought the complexities of natural gas infrastructure to the forefront. In fact, the Northeast has been grappling with infrastructure constraints raising reliability concerns while trying to find sensible innovative solutions that can be supported by sound economic regulatory decisionmaking. This roundtable panel will be led by a Commissioner team seeking to discuss natural gas infrastructure with a combination of expert representatives from labor unions, utilities, consumer groups, and other stakeholders. Each panelist will offer some personal insights into the current state of affairs and where we may go from here. The panel will address a variety of topics including, but not limited to: 

1. Regulatory policies that impact infrastructure development,

2. Appropriate state energy planning that incorporates their renewable energy goals,

3. Consumer impacts on infrastructure from other policy rollouts such as electrification,

4. Studies and economic analyses of grid modernization efforts, and

5. Sound customer engagement practices. 

Co-moderators:

Hon. Greer J. Gillis, District of Columbia

Hon. Marion Gold, Rhode Island

Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey

Panelists:

Asim Haque, Commissioner Emeritus, Executive Director for Strategic Policy and External Affairs, PJM Interconnection

Erin Hutson, Director of Corporate Affairs, Laborers' International Union of North America

John O’Brien, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs, WGL

Jonathan Schrag, Deputy Administrator, Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission

Lori Traweek, COO, American Gas Association

Dena Wiggins, President and CEO, Natural Gas Supply Association 

Finding Clean Energy Solutions for Low and Moderate Income (LMI) Communities: The Crucial Role of Policymakers in Closing the LMI Energy Technology Gap and Listening to the Consumer Voice 

Part 1 of 2

This panel will help examine how to protect low and moderate  income (LMI) households from potential adverse consequences of new technologies. No one can benefit from energy savings more than LMI customers, who often pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than middle- and high-income consumers. LMI communities and consumers can be subject to challenges when trying to access new technologies and examine what are the technologies true economic benefits.

Regulators grapple with the proper role of the regulated utility in serving the LMI community with new and emerging technologies. In fact, regulators have a long history of striving to ensure underserved communities get fair access to and are afforded the full benefits of the energy grid regardless of economic wherewithal. This panel will explore best practices and lessons learned in these endeavors in seeking to increase the disproportionately low deployment of new and emerging technologies in the LMI community. The focus is on truly engaging in a dialogue on roles regulators can play in better serving this sector.

NOTE: This is a two-part panel discussion featuring opportunities for the panelists to showcase and demonstrate technology case studies and help foster partnerships across energy sectors to engage with the LMI community. 

Co-moderators: 

Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri

Hon. Sadzi Oliva, Illinois

Panelists: 

Joseph Dominguez, CEO, COmEd

Joe Hampton, President, Spire

Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel, District of Columbia Office of the People's Counsel

Jerrold Oppenheim, President and Founder, Democracy and Regulation

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Suzanne Sitherwood, CEO, Spire Energy

Finding Clean Energy Solutions for Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Communities: The Crucial Role of Policymakers in Closing the LMI Energy Technology Gap and Listening to the Consumer Voice

Part 2 of 2

This panel will help examine how to protect low and moderate  income (LMI) households from potential adverse consequences of new technologies. No one can benefit from energy savings more than LMI customers, who often pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than middle- and high-income consumers. LMI communities and consumers can be subject to challenges when trying to access new technologies and examine what are the technologies true economic benefits.

Regulators grapple with the proper role of the regulated utility in serving the LMI community with new and emerging technologies. In fact, regulators have a long history of striving to ensure underserved communities get fair access to and are afforded the full benefits of the energy grid regardless of economic wherewithal. This panel will explore best practices and lessons learned in these endeavors in seeking to increase the disproportionately low deployment of new and emerging technologies in the LMI community. The focus is on truly engaging in a dialogue on roles regulators can play in better serving this sector.

NOTE: This is a two-part panel discussion featuring opportunities for the panelists to showcase and demonstrate technology case studies and help foster partnerships across energy sectors to engage with the LMI community. 

Co-moderators: 

Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri

Hon. Sadzi Oliva, Illinois

Panelists: 

Corey Capasso, Founder and CEO, Urbint

Joseph Dominguez, CEO, COmEd

Joe Hampton, President, Spire

Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel, District of Columbia Office of the People's Counsel

Jerrold Oppenheim, President and Founder, Democracy and Regulation

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

The Affordability Challenge – Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) 

Joint with the Committee on Water and Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest

Despite water service’s historic undervaluation, some customers still struggle to afford water. Affordability issues are likely to rise to the forefront as costs increase to address critical infrastructure replacement and safe water quality requirements. This panel will examine affordability policies such as low-income tariffs along with any issues that impede such policies from being implemented.

Moderator: TBA 

Panelists:

Larry Dickerman, Senior Director Public Policy, Landis + Gyr

Jeff Hughes, Teaching Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Additional panelists TBA

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Committee on Gas Business Meeting

Agenda: 

• Introductions of new members of the Committee on Gas
• Round robin pipeline safety exchange
• Resolutions (if needed)

Co-moderators: 

Hon. Brandon Presley, Mississippi

Hon. Swain Whitfield, South Carolina

Panelists: 

Hon. Tonola Brown-Bland, North Carolina

Zoe Cadore, Policy Advisor, American Petroleum Institute

David Chislea, Manager, Gas Operations Section, Michigan Public Service Commission

Sherina Edwards, Commissioner Emeritus, Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP

May Va Lor, Energy Researcher, Laborers' International Union of North America

1:30 - 1:45

Introductory Remarks and Orientation to RNG

Hon. Julie Brown, Florida

Dan LeFevers, Director, State & Consumer Programs, Gas Technology Institute

Understanding Real World Deployment of RNG through Case Studies 

As the RNG market continues to grow, this panel will explore the technical capability of renewable natural gas to meet market demand and will examine the potential role that RNG can play in meeting sustainability and emissions targets. The following panelists will discuss the growing market for RNG beyond just the transportation market and into direct use thermal applications. They will explore market decisions, various motivations to peruse RNG projects, RNG as a climate policy compliance tool, how buyers and sellers connect, and other questions.

Moderator: Hon. Paul Kjellander, Idaho

Panelists:  

Ryan Childress, Manager, Business Development, Dominion Energy

Blaine Collison, Senior Vice President, David Gardiner and Associates

Brian Jones, Senior Vice President, M.J. Bradley & Associates

Emily O'Connell, Director, Energy Markets Policy, American Gas Association

Jeff Stander, Senior Project Developer, Ameresco

Connecting the Dots between Supply and Demand: Integrating RNG into a Safe, Reliable, and Efficient Pipeline Network

Growing interest in RNG has led to questions for state regulators on how our current pipeline infrastructure may be affected by increasing RNG concentrations. Interconnecting RNG to the network requires coordination between project developers, utilities, and state regulators. This panel will explore issues related to RNG interconnection, including gas quality, integration, safety, and the efficient delivery of RNG to end users.

Moderators: 

Hon. D. Ethan Kimbrel, Illinois

Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey

Panelists:  

Jay Hopper, Vice President of Business Development, Aria Energy

Stuart Nachmias, Vice President, Energy Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Con Edison

Jamie Ormond, Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst, Renewable Natural Gas, California Public Utilities Commission (invited)

Kristine Wiley, R&D Director, Gas Technology Institute

Bringing the Renewable Heat: How Renewable Natural Gas Market Dynamics Are “Burning Up” Preconceived Notions of Traditional Regulatory Structures and Planning

Joint panel with the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment and the Committee on Water

The speed at which RNG markets continue to move make it increasingly difficult to match with traditional notions of integrated resource planning, procurement, and cost effectiveness analytical frameworks. Not to mention, legislatures are warming up to the idea of renewable thermal portfolio standards, incentives, and carbon reduction strategies that continue to drive these markets into unchartered territory. This panel of experts will discuss how regulators can approach these market developments to ensure that their states are prepared to take advantage of this rapidly developing resource. Panelists will discuss strategies and tools that allow customers to take advantage of RNG offerings, including the developing voluntary and compliance markets.  

Moderators: 

Hon. Megan Decker, Oregon

Hon. Mary-Anna Holden, New Jersey

Panelists:  

Ben Gerber, Executive Director, Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc.

Zach Kravitz, Director, Rates & regulatory Affairs, NW Natural

Tanya Peacock, Public Policy and Planning Manager, Southern California Gas Company

McKenzie Schwartz, Analyst, Gas Utility of the Future, National Grid