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Monday, May 6, 2019 - THE HONORABLE KEVIN J. MCINTYRE GENERAL SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW? 

Many recent reports say we are facing a crisis and many argue it is critical to act now. Do Federal laws or the Green New Deal have a shot? Which ones? Which states have the most promising initiatives? What pricing approaches (e.g., carbon taxes) make sense? Can we or should we regulate away from what many say is a precipice (e.g., RPS, CAFE, EEPS, DR)? How about individual company commitments and technological advancement – are they critical? Bottom line - can we afford it all, or can we afford just to take partial measures? Come prepared to engage on these issues.

Moderator: Steven Mufson, Reporter, Washington Post 
Panelists:  
Krista Johnson, Director, U.S. Federal Government Relations, Shell Oil Company
Dr. Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist for Climate and Land Use Change for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), U.S.  Department of the Interior
Dr. Karl Hausker, Senior Fellow, Climate Program, World Resources Institute
Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath

SESSION A:  THE DISRUPTIVE DYNAMICS OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES

All indications are that we are moving to a system of more distributed energy resources (DERs). Development of home and community solar panels, microgrids, electric vehicles, and small-scale energy storage is rising. But what does this mean? How will system and utility planning need to change? What are the operational impacts and risks? How might regulators, costs and rates adjust? How quickly will investments shift, and will it differ by region? This session will highlight the complexity of orchestrating this shift to DERs, the need to anticipate that transition, and the means to manage it, without system disruption or undue costs. 

Moderator:  Greg Geller, Senior Director. Regulatory and Government Affairs, Enel X 
Panelists:
Gregg Dixon, CEO, Voltus
Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission
Lamar  Davis, VP, MISO 
Wendy Stark, SVP, Legal and Regulatory Strategy & General Counsel, Pepco Holdings 

Session B: Will FERC (Finally!) Resolve Electric Transmission ROEs? 

In the fall of 2018, FERC addressed the D.C. Circuit remand in Emera Maine v. FERC in proceedings involving the New England Transmission Owners, MISO Transmission Owners, and several other transmission-owning companies. The resolution of these cases will significantly impact the way transmission ROEs are calculated. With the briefing in the New England and MISO proceedings set to end in April, the panelists will be poised to address: 
• FERC’s proposed ROE methodology 
• Litigants’ positions in the New England TOs and MISO TOs cases, including advocacy for additional changes
• How the financial industry views FERC’s proposal

LUNCHEON Speaker

Speaker:  The Honorable Bernard L. McNamee, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

SESSION A: KEEP YOUR PRACTICE OUT OF JEOPARDY - IT'S ALL ABOUT ETHICS

This year, two teams of three energy practitioners will go head-to-head in a jeopardy-style legal ethics trivia challenge.  Be ready to cheer your favored team to a win in the following categories: “the client lawyer relationship,” “practice before FERC,” “oops I didn’t mean to upload that,” “conflicts of interest,”  and “new and improved.” Bar counsel and a FERC Administrative Law Judge will judge the responses and answer participant and audience questions.  Everyone wins in the end, by walking away with real answers from the experts on ethical challenges facing today’s energy practitioners.

Moderator: Sam Brumberg, Association Counsel, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives 
Jeopardy Contestants:
Adrienne Clair, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP
Susan Olenchuk, Partner, Van Ness Feldman LLP
Emma Hand, Partner, Dentons US LLP
Jon Schneider, Partner, Stinson Leonard Street LLP
Matt Rudolphi, Shareholder, Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C.
Bob Weishaar, Member, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC
Judges:
Saul Jay Singer, Senior Legal Ethics Counsel for the District of Columbia Bar
Chief Judge Carmen Cintron, Chief Administrative Law Judge, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Seth Guggenheim, Assistant Ethics Counsel, Virginia State Bar

SESSION B: LNG EXPORTS

Export of LNG is substantially impacting both foreign and domestic markets for the supply and transportation of natural gas.  The process of developing such projects ties into domestic and foreign gas supply, and requires interconnection with domestic sources of natural gas supply and transportation, all of which can profoundly impact natural gas prices and associated transportation rates.   The federal regulatory overlays associated with these commercial issues can be complex.  An esteemed panel from will discuss current trends in LNG project development, how the federal regulatory process impacts such projects, and predictions for the future.  

SESSION A: RTO GOVERNANCE:  THE BOARD PERSPECTIVE

Every RTO/Independent System Operator has established governance structures to meet their unique needs.  The Boards of Directors of each of these organizations play a critical role in managing and providing strategic guidance and oversight.  This panel of esteemed past and present Board members will explore the structure, roles and responsibilities of their respective organizations’ Boards exploring such issues as: how the Board is organized; the role of the Board relative to RTO/ISO management; and, how the Board interacts with RTO/ISO members and stakeholders, their market monitoring units, and other third parties.  The panel will also discuss how their Boards are helping to shape the strategic direction of each organization.

​Moderator:  David Doot,Partner and Chair of Energy and Utility Department, Day Pitney LLP's 
Speakers: 
Barney Rush, Board Member, ISO New England
Mike Curran, Former Chair MISO Board and current Board Member, ISO New England
Howard Schneider, Former Chair PJM Board, and Senior Consultant, Charles River Associates
Barbara J. Krumsiek, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Calvert Investments Inc.

SESSION B:  OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY: PARTNERSHIPS, DEVELOPMENT AND US JONES ACT

Learn about legal issues surrounding transmission lines in federal, state, local waters;  U.S. Jones Act application to offshore wind farms, and the role of the federal regulators; and Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection responsible for ensuring compliance with these laws.