The speakers will consider the viability of wind as a source for utility and commercial-scale power in the Southeast.  Topics will include Southeast wind resources, technology viability and fit, project development and public policy.

Nick Rigas, Director and Sr. Scientist, S.C. Offshore Wind Collaborative, Clemson University

Dr. Rigas is responsible for the design, construction and operation of the only facility in the world capable of testing 5MW to 30MW wind turbine drive trains with 30 percent overload capacity.  He is an adjunct professor for Clemson University.  Dr. Rigas also serves as the Vice President of Project Development for EcoEnergy where he is responsible for the development of more than 3000 MW of wind power projects throughout the Midwest and Arizona.  He holds a doctoral degree in chemical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

Amir Mikhail, Sr. Vice President, Engineering, Clipper Windpower

Dr. Mikhail is responsible for the design of Clipper’s new Liberty® 2.5 MW wind turbine.  He served as Vice President of Engineering for Zond and Enron Wind Corp. from 1989-2000. In those capacities he led the engineering design of the Z-class 550 kW to 1.5 MW wind turbines.  Dr. Mikhail has more than thirty publications in the wind power field and thirteen awarded patents. Dr. Mikhail received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Cairo and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Spencer Hanes, Director Commercial Policy, Duke Energy

Mr. Hanes is Director of Commercial Policy for Duke Energy.  He supports Duke Energy’s Commercial Renewable Energy businesses through state and Federal policy and development work, including Duke Energy Generation Services’ 750 MW of wind assets.   Mr. Hanes joined Duke Energy in 2008 to help develop the company’s regulated renewable energy strategy for compliance with the recently passed Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law.  Mr. Hanes led the development efforts of Duke Energy’s Coastal Wind Energy Demonstration Project in eastern Pamlico Sound before moving to the unregulated Commercial Business.  Mr. Hanes is a North Carolina native from Winston-Salem and holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado; a joint law degree and Master of Environmental Law and Policy from the Vermont Law School and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University.

The speakers will consider requirements for development of successful utility, commercial and residential-scale solar projects in the Southeast.  Considerations will include site location, power purchase agreements, project finance and public policy.

Amy Heinemann, Policy Analyst, North Carolina Solar Center.

Amy’s work includes researching state, local and utility incentives and policies for the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).  She focuses on policies in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest and also manages DSIRE Solar and the DSIRE Quantitative Database.  Amy’s research interests have focused on renewable energy development, climate change policy, industrial ecology, and corporate sustainability.

Amy has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the George Washington University and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Michael Shore, CEO, FLS Energy

FLS Energy has developed, designed, installed, and financed some of the most important solar energy projects in the Southeast.   Micahel’s company has grown from three employees in 2006 to over 50 employees today.   He has written extensively on sustainability issues, and has served on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Leadership Group and North Carolina’s Global Climate Change Commission.

Michael has a Masters in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a second Masters in Environmental Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kerinia Cusick, Director of Government Affairs, SunEdison

With a background in energy policy and renewable energy financial analysis, Kerinia Cusick works to develop solar friendly policies in states east of the Mississippi.  In this role, Kerinia primarily supports legislators, regulators, and energy offices focusing on creating solar markets in their states.  Kerinia joined SunEdison from Think Energy, a renewable energy consulting firm.  In that role, she worked with clients to evaluate the financial benefit of renewable energy technologies and did preliminary design of a state-wide renewable energy portfolio

Kerinia holds an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.  She is a co-chair of Women’s Council on Energy and Environment, and a member of the Board of Directors for Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industry Association.

Presentations:

State Solar Policy Trends – Amy Heinemann Download PDF

Commercial/Residential Solar – Michael Shore Download PDF

Utility Scale Solar – Kerinia Cusick Download PDF

Webcast

Watch the webcast here

The speakers will cover Southeastern solar resources, environmental and operating conditions, economic proposition and technology fit and availability.

Speakers

Richard Perez, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, State University of New York-Albany
Richard Perez has been associate editor of Solar Energy Journal since1995, and has published more than 120 articles and reports on solar radiation, renewable energy applications, and day lighting. He and his team advise the National Renewable Energy Lab on solar radiation profiles of the U.S. Richard built and lives in a passive solar photovoltaic home, and in 2000 received a U.S. patent for “Load Controller and Method to Enhance Effective Capacity of Photovoltaic Power Supply.” Perez earned a doctorate in atmospheric science from UAlbany (1983) and a diploma of advanced studies in external geophysics from the University of Paris (1978).

Nuri Demirdoven, Ph.D., Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company
Nuri is a member of McKinsey’s Electric Power & Natural Gas Practice and co-leads McKinsey Global Solar Initiative. He primarily serves global energy and materials clients focusing on electric power utilities, independent power developers and renewable energy OEMs. Nuri has been with McKinsey in Houston over 5 years. Prior to McKinsey Nuri worked with Air Liquide in France. Nuri holds a MS in Technology& Policy and PhD in Physical Chemistry both from MIT.

Anthony Coker, Sr. Director of Strategic Partners, Suniva, Inc.
Anthony is responsible for solutions development, key customer relationships and global product certifications. He is also a board member of with Technology Association of Georgia’s Smart Grid Society. Anthony has held management, sales, marketing and engineering roles with GE Plastics, Dow Corning/Hemlock Semiconductor, Accenture, Software AG, ITW Chemtronics, and Davy Powergas/McKee. He holds a BChE from Georgia Tech and has pursued an executive MBA at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business.

Presentations:

Southeast Solar Resources – Richard Perez

Solar Economics – Nuri Demirdoven

Solar Technology and Suitability – Anthony Coker

Webcast

Watch the webcast here

Speakers:

Marvin Burchfield, Decker Energy International
Mr. Burchfield has held roles in construction, sales, engineering,research, operations, development, acquisitions and executive management. He has been personally involved in the development,ownership and operation of energy assets for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as a vice president of Decker Energy International,Inc. (DEI) and serves on the Board of Managers for Biomass EnergyResources. Mr. Burchfield earned a Bachelor of Science degree inAgricultural Engineering from Clemson University in 1987.

Since 1982, DEI has developed or acquired fourteen diverse energy projects totaling nearly 1,000 megawatts of generating capacity and$700 million in total investment, including six renewable energy biomass fueled facilities. With a current total installed wood fired capacity of 88 megawatts, prior involvement with other biomass projects in excess of 200 megawatts, a current late stage development of a 40 megawatts facility in Connecticut, a 60 megawatts facility in northeastern North Carolina, a 55 megawatts facility in southeast Georgia, a 50megawatts facility in eastern Texas, DEI is one of the most experienced independent developer / owners of wood residue fueled electric generation in North America.

Amish Shah, Sutherland
Amish Shah, a member of Sutherland’s Tax Practice Group, handles matters involving domestic and international tax planning and tax controversy. He has significant experience advising clients regarding incentives for investments in, and production of, renewable and alternative energy, including nonconventional fuels tax credits,alcohol fuels credits, biodiesel credits, production tax credits, and investment tax credits, as well as excise tax credits for alcohol fuels, biodiesel and alternative fuels.

Amish also advises clients with respect to the U.S. Department of the Treasury grant for renewable energy projects and has been involved in obtaining IRS rulings on energy tax credit matters. B.S., University of Maryland,1993 J.D., with honors, George Washington University Law School, 1999.

Presentations and Webcast:

Southeast Biomass: Project Development Incentives and Challenges – Amish M. Shah

Biomass to Power – Marvin Burchfield

The webcast can be seen here.

Speakers:

Valerie Thomas is the Anderson Interface Associate Professor of Natural Systems in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy. Valerie works on the energy, environmental and economic implications of biomass and other energy systems. Her current work includes assessment of alternative aviation fuels for the U.S. Air Force, assessment of algal biofuels, and assessment of bioenergy resources in Georgia, and assessment of the costs of new electricity generation in the southeast.

Valerie received a B. A. in physics from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Cornell University. She has served on research staffs of Carnegie Mellon and Princeton and was a Lecturer in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. In addition, Valerie was an American Physical Society Congressional Science Fellow. She is a member of the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Marie Walsh is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Tennessee, Head of M&E Biomass (a private consulting firm), and serves as shared faculty with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). She holds a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Illinois College, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.

Marie was formerly a Research Staff Economist and Leader of the Integrated Systems Analysis Task in the U.S. Department of Energy Biomass Feedstock Development Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Major projects included the development of a county level database of biomass feedstock supply (agricultural residues, energy crops, forest residues, mill residues, urban wood wastes); analysis of the potential for, and impacts of, producing energy crops; economic impacts of using corn stover to produce ethanol in the Midwest; and economic impacts of using biomass for co-firing in the Southeast.

Marie was selected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional Science Fellow, and worked at the U.S. Congress–Office of Technology Assessment where she conducted analysis of policy issues related to agricultural biotechnology. She participated in several studies and was project director for the study Industrial Uses of Agricultural Commodities.

Nathan McClure currently leads the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Forest Utilization, Marketing, and Development program. He also serves as the Director of Forest Energy and Development for the agency. Nathan has worked in a variety of positions over the past 25 years with the Commission. He is a Georgia Registered Forester and a Society of American Foresters Certified Forester. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources Management.

Nathan serves as a member of the Society of American Foresters Climate Change and Carbon Sequestration Task Force and the Southern Agriculture and Forestry Energy Resource Alliance steering committee. He also received the SAF National Field Forester Award in 2005.

Michael (“Mike”) H. Burnside is president and chief executive officer of Catchlight Energy LLC, a biofuels joint venture between Chevron and Weyerhaeuser. He has held this position since the venture was formed in February 2008.

Prior to Catchlight Energy, Mike worked 33 years for Chevron and held a variety of assignments in manufacturing, planning and analysis, and finance functions, most recently as project manager to establish the biofuels joint venture, and prior to that role, as Americas regional manager for Chevron Oronite Company with responsibility for additive manufacturing and supply operations in the U.S., Brazil and Mexico.

A native of Baltimore, Md., Burnside received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in business administration from California State University.

Presentations and Webcast:

Southeast Biomass:
 Highest and Best Use – Mike Burnside

Forest Bioenergy: Opportunities for Georgia and the South – Nathan McClure

Biomass Resources: A Macroeconomic Perspective – Marie Walsh

Biomass Energy in the Southeast – Valerie Thomas

The webcast can be seen here

Speakers:

Marilyn Brown, Professor, Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology
Visiting Distinguished Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Marilyn A. Brown joined Georgia Tech in 2006 after a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. At ORNL, she held various leadership positions and led several major energy technology and policy scenario studies. Dr. Brown remains affiliated with ORNL as a Visiting Distinguished Scientist.

Dr. Brown has authored more than 200 publications including a recently published book on Energy and American Society: Thirteen Myths.  Her research interests encompass the development and deployment of sustainable energy technologies and issues surrounding the commercialization of new technologies and the evaluation of energy programs and policies.  Dr. Brown serves on the board of directors of the Alliance to Save Energy, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Skip Laitner, Director, Economic Analysis
American Council for Energy Efficient Economy

Skip Laitner is a resource economist with more than 35 years experience in energy and economic impact studies, public policy analysis, and economic development planning. From 1997 through mid-2006 he served as the Senior Economist for Technology Policy within EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. In that capacity, Skip was awarded EPA’s 1998 Gold Medal for his work with a team of EPA economists that helped lay the foundation for the Kyoto Protocol on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In 2003 he was acknowledged as a technology leader when given the “CHP Champion” award by the U.S. Combined Heat and Power Association. In June 2006 he joined the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE) as a visiting fellow and senior economist. Skip has written more than 160 papers and reports in the fields of community and economic development, decision sciences, energy and utility costs, and natural resource issues. Skip has a master’s degree in resource economics from Antioch University.

Ken Ostrowski, Director, McKinsey & Company

Mr. Ostrowski is the leader of McKinsey’s North America Electric Power and Natural Gas (EPNG) Practice, and co-leads the Global EPNG Practice. Over the course of his career, he has served electric power, natural gas, and industrial clients in refining their strategic aspirations and direction, and aligning the organizational, regulatory, and operational elements necessary to execute.

Before joining McKinsey & Company, Mr. Ostrowski was an intern at the Congressional Budget Office, and completed the two-year Financial Management Program at General Electric Company.  He received an M.B.A. in General Management with honors from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.

Presentations & Webcast

Energy Efficiency: Imagine the Possibilities – Skip Laitner

Low Hanging Fruit: Energy Efficiency in the South – Marilyn Brown

Perspectives on Energy Efficiency – Ken Ostrowski

The webcast can be seen here

Southeast Energy Demand to 2030

Speakers:

Alan Beamon, Director, Coal and Electric Power Division
Energy Information Administration
US Dept. of Energy

Alan Beamon is the Director of the Energy Information Administration’s Coal and Electric Power Division.  He has worked on electricity analysis projects since 1984.  His responsibilities include the development and maintenance of the coal, renewable and electricity components of EIA’s National Energy Modeling System (NEMS).  NEMS is used each year to produce the Annual Energy Outlook, which provides projections through 2030 of energy consumption and prices. It is also used to prepare special studies, including those requested by Congress or the Administration.  Key areas of analysis have included the development of National SO2 Allowance Database and analysis of the impacts of the Clean Air Acts Amendments of 1990. Recent work has focused on the impact of proposed environmental regulations on the electricity sector–especially efforts to reduce nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and carbon dioxide. Alan received his degree in economics from the College of William and Mary in 1982.

Michael Schaal, Director, Oil and Gas Division
Energy Information Administration
US Dept. of Energy

Michael Schaal is the Director of the Energy Information Administration’s Oil and Gas Division. His primary focus is on producing the oil and natural gas and biofuels projections for EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook.  Mr. Schaal’s prior experience includes working as a professional engineer with Bechtel Corporation of San Francisco where he was involved in economic analysis, engineering, construction, and operations of first-of-a-kind facilities, and as a consultant with Energy Ventures Analysis, Inc. advising clients on natural gas and power sector issues.  Mr. Schaal received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the California State University in 1986, and his Masters degree in Mineral Economics from The Pennsylvania State
University in 1995.

Presentations and Webcast:

Alan’s Slides: Outlook for US Electric Power

Michael’s Slides: Outlook for Liquid Fuels and Natural Gas to 2030

What is the Energy Information Administration?

Archive of WebCast