2015 Program

8:45AM OPENING REMARKS

• Dan Reicher, Interim President & CEO, ACORE; Executive Director, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University

KEYNOTE

• Anthony F. Earley Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, PG&E Corporation

SESSION 1: RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE WEST: THE NEWEST "CONVENTIONAL" ENERGY SOURCE
How to play a role in the new energy marketplace

As states meet and exceed their renewable energy generation targets, and existing coal and nuclear plants are retired or shut down, a new energy landscape has emerged in the West. This session will illuminate what investors and developers need to know to play a role in this new marketplace.

• State RPS policies have largely succeeded but need reinvigoration. What is the next-generation state policy signal that will ensure reliable, resilient and affordable power?
• The Western water crisis: renewable energy’s role in smarter resource use
• How will EPA Clean Power Plan targets affect western states’ adoption of renewables?
• How are the diverse generation profiles of renewables revolutionizing how electricity is managed and delivered?
• Growth prospects for the market in 2016
• The role of the Pacific Rim in renewable energy technology development and financing

Moderator:

• Steve Vavrik, Chief Commercial Officer, Apex Clean Energy

Speaker:

• Marc Peterson, Executive, Regional Sales, GE Power & Water
• Ted Brandt, Chief Executive Officer, Marathon Capital
• John McWilliams, Associate Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy   
• Richard McMahon, Vice President, Energy Supply and Finance, Edison Electric Institute

SESSION 2: DRIVING DEMAND FOR RENEWABLES WITH & WITHOUT FEDERAL POLICY
Are new financing structures bridging the gap?

The renewable energy industry is facing continued policy uncertainty and a potential future of reduced federal support. New innovative financing structures have emerged to help bridge the gap. As renewables markets mature, will this be enough to continue driving demand in western states?

• What is the projected impact on solar investment in the short and long term if the ITC is adjusted or not extended?
• How are western wind energy markets behaving without the PTC?
• What policies are needed for further development of hydropower, geothermal, bioenergy, ocean and waste energy systems?
• How will current tax equity structures be affected?

Moderator:

• Joe Desmond, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Government Affairs, BrightSource Energy, Inc.

Speakers:

• Timothy Kemper, CPA, Partner, Renewable Energy Industry Practice Co-National Director, CohnReznick
• Dan Adler, Vice President for Policy, Energy Foundation
• Scott Graybeal, Senior Vice President, Energy Infrastructure Segment, Flextronics
• Nancy Sutley, Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

SESSION 3: FIRESIDE CHAT

Ira Ehrenpreis, investor and board member of several exciting energy innovation companies, will host a Fireside Chat with two energy luminaries.

Moderator:

• Ira Ehrenpreis, Managing Partner, DBL Partners

Speakers:

• David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Peter Davidson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aligned Intermediary 

• Mateo Jaramillo, Director of Tesla Energy, Tesla Motors

SESSION 4: EXPANDING CAPITAL MARKETS: FINANCING RAPID GROWTH
Insight on financial markets from the nation’s leading investors

A panel of top financial institutions will debate how the financial landscape has changed over the last twelve months and explore what to expect from the market moving forward, including in the West.

• Tax equity, yieldcos, green bonds, MLPs, REITs, securitization: how do these compare as financing methods for renewables?
• How are financiers valuing innovative technologies like storage and smart grids?
• Looking ahead at how the financing landscape is expected to change in the next 12 months

Moderator:

• Chris Radtke, Managing Director, Credit Suisse
• Kerri Fox, Head of Structured & Project Finance, North America, BBVA

Speakers:

• Mike Eckhart, Managing Director, Global Head of Environmental Finance and Sustainability, Citigroup
• Skip Grow, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
• Chris Buddin, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
• Daniel Brown, Director, Utilities Power and Renewable Energy, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

SESSION 5: FINANCING INTEGRATED ENERGY SYSTEMS
Energy storage, smart grids, microgrids, and integrated renewables

The western U.S. is leading the development and adoption of energy storage and advanced grid technologies to maximize the efficiency of renewable energy generation. As these technologies approach commercialization, what can investors and others expect upon entering this marketplace?

• Who are the most promising commercial and utility-scale storage and ancillary service companies to watch?
• How successful is the CPUC storage feed-in tariff, what have we learned so far and what else should be considered to facilitate storage development?
• Military adoption of storage and microgrid technologies for energy resiliency: what are the private-sector opportunities?
• To what extent can storage projects be financed through non-recourse project finance?
• What financial mechanisms can be used to finance integrated energy systems?

Moderator:

• Brian Carey, US Cleantech Advisory Leader, PwC

Speakers:

• Darren Van’t Hof, Director, Renewable Energy Investments, US Bank
• Dan Juhl, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Principal Executive Officer, Juhl Energy
• Tim Derrick, Vice President of Global Services, SunEdison
• Gary High, SVP Solutions, Landis+Gyr

• Dan Reicher, Interim President & CEO, ACORE; Executive Director, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University

PLENARY SESSION: VIEW FROM THE C-SUITE 

Perspectives on strategic opportunities and challenges in renewable energy.

Speakers:

• Basilio Guerrero, Chief Financial Officer, Acciona Energy US & Canada Global
• Peter Moritzburke, Vice President, Market Development, E.ON North America
• Brad Buss, Chief Financial Officer, SolarCity
• Nigel Cockroft, General Manger - USA, JinkoSolar USA, Inc.

SESSION 6: THE WESTERN WATER CRISIS: RENEWABLE ENERGY’S ROLE IN SMARTER RESOURCE USE
Monetizing the value of water security

Constrained water resources in the West will have tremendous effects on health, economic stability, and environmental security. Renewables will play an essential role in future resource planning. This panel will examine the necessity of factoring water savings into the value of energy projects.

Moderator:

• Dan Reicher, Interim President & CEO, ACORE; Executive Director, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University

Speakers:

• Jeffrey Mount, Senior Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California
• Catherine Sandoval, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission

SESSION 7: THE TRANSFORMATION OF WESTERN TRANSPORTATION MARKETS 
Financing the build-out of clean transportation infrastructure while integrating renewables

Western states, especially California, are serving as important case studies for the rapid build out of electric vehicles. This session will examine policy and financing issues related to infrastructure development and discuss how to properly integrate renewables.

• What are appropriate business model(s) for the owning and operating of EV charging infrastructure?
• What is the responsibility and role of various stakeholders in financing EV infrastructure including utilities, EV and hydrogen vehicle manufacturers, charging providers, retail store owners and government entities?
• What are the specific financial tools and partnerships that could accelerate this financing?
• What role does policy and finance play in increasing the amount of EV charging stations powered by renewable energy?

Moderator:

• Tyson Ekerle, ZEV Infrastructure Project Management, Office of Governor Jerry Brown

Speakers:

• Puon Penn, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
• Michael Krauthamer, National Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, NRG Evgo
• Alan Westenkow, Director of Business Development, Proterra Electric Busses
• Craig Scott, National Manager, Advanced Technologies Group, Toyota Motor Sales, USA

NETWORKING BREAK

SESSION 8: FINANCING MIDDLE-MARKET RENEWABLE ENERGY
Project assets in the $10 – $70 million range

The middle market represents an opportunity (and challenge) for investors to take advantage of an expanding class of renewable energy assets. How can investors benefit from the rapid growth in this area?

• What is the risk and return profile for projects in the middle market?
• What are the best strategies to leverage tax equity and debt finance in middle market investments?
• How can investors take advantage of rapid growth in this area?
• What are the best strategies to mitigate costs and enhance returns on middle market projects?

Moderator:

• Izzet Bensusan, CEO and Founder, Karbone
• Bill Harrison, Executive Director, Project Finance North America, BBVA

Speakers:

• Chris Diaz, Senior Vice President - Renewable Energy, Seminole Financial Services
• Travis Bryan, Chief Operating Officer, OneEnergy Renewables
• Christian Fong, Chief Financial Officer, Renewable Energy Trust Capital, Inc. 
• Dick Rai, Manager, PNC Energy Capital

SESSION 9: CORPORATE PURCHASERS: THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW CUSTOMERS? 
Examining business rationales and financing options in this fast growing segment

Leading Fortune 500 companies are procuring renewables to hedge against rising energy costs, ensure reliable and resilient power, and support sustainability objectives. This session will explore financing, policy, and other issues related to greater generation in support of corporate interests.

• What are the optimal contracting and financing options to increase renewable energy use?
• What are the key policy issues affecting procurement and what are effective strategies to improve the bottom line and lower energy costs?
• How can renewable energy credits be designed to optimize procurement and company sustainability objectives?
• How can renewable energy be delivered to ensure reliable and resilient power for critical functions at information data centers?

Moderator:

• Shalini Ramanathan, Vice President, Origination, RES Americas

Speaker:

• Peter Freed, Data Center Energy Program Manager, Facebook
• Rick Needham, Director, Energy & Sustainability, Google
• Ed Feo, President, Coronal Management
• Quayle Hodek, Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Choice Energy

NETWORKING BREAK

SESSION 10: ARE YIELDCOS THE NEW NORMAL OR JUST A BUBBLE?
Perspectives from renewable energy developers, investors, and analysts

The use of private and tax equity financing remains central to the growth of renewables. Yieldcos have emerged as an appealing solution to drive down the cost of capital and attract a new set of investors. This session will discuss the successes and challenges that yieldcos face as more emerge.

• Do we need MLP applicability?
• What impact will rising interest rates have on the yieldco business model?
• How yieldcos are consolidating US renewable ownership and what that means
• Is there a concern among industry players about market saturation? How much investor demand is there for yieldcos?
• Is there an asset price bubble forming as yieldcos look to third parties to acquire assets?

Moderator:

• Matt Cheney, Chief Executive Officer, CleanPath Ventures

Speakers:

• Mike Garland, Chief Executive Officer, Pattern Energy
• Matthew Ptak, Director, Blackrock
• Frank Nicklaus, Vice President, Greentech Capital Advisors
• Uday Varadarajan, Principal,Climate Policy Initiative

SESSION 11: THINK TANK: WESTERN POWER MARKET EXPANSION

This think tank will gather thought leaders to debate and discuss frameworks for how to integrate increasing renewable energy generation across a larger geographic area in the West.

• Integrating the balancing authority areas of PacifiCorp, NV Energy, Puget Sound Energy, and other utilities into CAISO’s market
• What investment opportunities will emerge?
• Interstate transmission of renewable generation from resource areas to demand centers; building out markets in Wyoming and Idaho
• Solving the challenge of intermittency at scale through regional collaboration

Moderator:

• Nancy Saracino, Partner, Crowell & Moring

Speakers:

• Jon Wellinghoff, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
• Angelina Galiteva, Board of Governors, California Independent System Operator
• Jonathan Weisgall, Vice President, Legislative Affairs, Berkshire Hathaway Energy