Agenda

Tuesday, April 27 | 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Session I | Legislative Initiatives

Where does Colorado stand currently in terms of net-zero policies, including at the state and local governmental level? What specific climate policies and legislation might be forthcoming from state, local and federal governments?

Wes Parham

Director, Regional Government Affairs
Xcel Energy

Will Toor

Executive Director
Colorado Energy Office
Tuesday, April 27 | 8:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.

Session II | Energy Storage

New technologies could revolutionize storage of energy. What specific technologies are needed to achieve net-zero goals? What Colorado companies are involved in this effort, what are the challenges, and how quickly can these technologies reach the market?

Masood Ahmad

Resource Planning Manager
Platte River Power Authority

Mac Burns

Director of Product Management
Lightning eMotors

Joel Danforth

Energy Programs & New Business Director
United Power

Wayne Greenberg

CEO
E Source

Emerson Reiter

Senior Director Energy Storage
Pivot Energy
Tuesday, April 27 | 9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Session III | The COVID Effect

How has the global pandemic affected energy consumption and adoption of clean-energy technologies, and how can renewable-energy proponents leverage economic-recovery initiatives with net-zero goals?

Sam Shriver (moderator)

Partner & Director
Signal Tech Coalition

Christine Berg

Senior Policy Advisor for Local Government
Colorado Energy Office

Adam Crowe

Economic Development Manager
Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development

Berenice Garcia Tellez

Economic Sustainability Specialist
City of Longmont

Shayle Sabo

Project Manager
Larimer County
Tuesday, April 27 | 10:50 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Governor Remarks

Colorado could become 100 percent powered by renewable energy by 2040, a desire of Gov. Jared Polis. We’ll hear from the governor about his plans, including the costs, strategies for attainment and reasons behind the effort.

Jared Polis

Governor
State of Colorado
Tuesday, April 27 | 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

Session IV | Grid Resiliency

Local utilities have embraced ambitious goals toward net-zero emissions. What needs to happen on the utility front, and how are utilities deploying microgrids to ensure power continuity?

Justin Brant (moderator)

Utility Program Co-Director
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Darren Buck

Director of Power Delivery
Platte River Power Authority

Milton Geiger

Energy Resource Director
Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association

André Gouin

Business Technology Consultant
Xcel Energy
Wednesday, April 28 | 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Session V | Beyond Paris

The Biden Administration has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, but limits set by that agreement are not being met, and some businesses lack understanding of their part in devising a solution. What are some science-based goals that businesses can implement to do their part on climate change, how much will the greening of our electric grid help, and what other strategies are needed?

Rudy Verner (moderator)

Partner
Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP

Colette Crouse

Director of Client Services
Optera

Zac Swank

Manager
PACE – Boulder

Jon Walker

Sustainability Policy Manager
Lyft
Wednesday, April 28 | 8:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.

Session VI | Funding Innovation

Achieving net-zero status will require innovation on a massive scale. How will startups and innovators secure financing — including venture capital, angel investing and grants — to make it happen?

Quinn Antus (moderator)

Executive Director
Signal Tech Coalition

Ramsay Huntley

Sustainable Finance Strategist
Wells Fargo

Diego Lopez

Executive Director
Northern Colorado Clean Cities

John LoPorto

President & CEO
Starfire Energy

Paul Scharfenberger

Executive Director
Colorado Clean Energy Fund
Wednesday, April 28 | 9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Session VII | Designing High-Performance Districts

A recent NREL report heralds HPDs as an emerging strategy for fulfilling local, national and international commitments to net-zero goals. What are HPDs, how is this strategy being implemented locally, and what are the ramifications for building electrification, energy standards, etc.?

Chuck Kutscher (moderator)

Fellow & Senior Research Associate
RASEI, UC Boulder

Andrew Bush

Founder & Managing Principal
Morgan Creek Ventures

Tom Hootman

Principal
Form & Flow

Josh Radoff

Zero Carbon Cities Advisor
ICLEI

Sarah Zaleski

Senior Advisor
U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office
Wednesday, April 28 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Session VIII | Racial Justice & Climate Change

Climate change has a disproportionate effect on people of color. What strategies will be used to ensure that historically under-represented groups are prioritized in future climate planning?

Molly Saylor (moderator)

Senior Sustainability Specialist
City of Fort Collins

Maritza Arizaga

Senior Sustainability Specialist
City of Fort Collins

Rich Freeh

Programs Director, Climate Strategy
Urban Sustainability Directors Network

Danielle Henderson

CEO
Dream Energy Solutions

John Kefalas

Commissioner – District 1
Larimer County

Hollie Velasquez-Horvath

Sr. Director of State Affairs and Community Relations
Xcel Energy