Oregon Solar + Storage Energy Conference 2024: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2024 Oregon Solar + Storage Conference!
We are excited to have you join us this year.

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9:00am PDT

Transmission in Oregon - Opportunities and Challenges

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

Transmission in Oregon is constrained, just like most of the country. What opportunities are there to increase transmission? What can Oregon do to make things better? Come hear about current and future efforts to address transmission constraints.

Speakers

Jeff Watson

Savion

Jeff Watson is a Developer for Savion Energy, a utility-scale solar and energy storage development company based in Kansas City, MO. Jeff leads Savion’s development efforts in the Pacific Northwest, with a particular focus on projects within Bonneville Power Administration territory.He... Read More →

Kyle Kohne

Manager, Transmission Planning – TPP, Bonneville Power Administration

Kyle Kohne has over 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He started his career as an Electrical Engineer in the Division of System Planning at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). During his time at BPA, he spent twenty-four years as a Planning Engineer in the... Read More →

Sidney Villanueva

Founding Principal & Transmission Attorney, Blue Skies Law

Sidney Villanueva is a transmission attorney committed to advancing the clean energy transition with a healthy mix of creative ideas and straight talk. She founded Blue Skies Law, a full-service law firm dedicated exclusively to energy and public utility matters and mainly counsels... Read More →

Rep. Mark Gamba

State Representative, House District 41

Oregon State Representative Mark Gamba became deeply concerned with climate chaos over 20 years ago as a photographer for National Geographic when he was seeing in real time glaciers disappearing and coral reefs bleaching. He became deeply concerned because those effects were occurring... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
Belmont C

Policy Focus

11:00am PDT

PUC Round-Up

Wednesday October 23, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Belmont C

What's happening at the Oregon Public Utility Commission and how does it impact your work? OSSIA Board of Directors Secretary Marie Barlow will moderate a session with Interim Public Utility Commission Director Nolan Moser, Carra Sahler from the Green Energy Institute and Greg Adams with Richardson Adams.

Topics addressed will include utility rate increases, implementation of Oregon's Clean Electricity Standard, PURPA and avoided costs dockets and upcoming procurement procedure dockets.

Speakers

Marie Barlow

In-House Counsel, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, NewSun Energy

Marie Barlow is a dedicated renewable energy attorney with extensive experience in clean energy and solar regulatory and policy issues. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, Marie has successfully navigated complex legal landscapes to support the growth and development of... Read More →

Greg Adams

Principal, Richardson Adams, PLLC

Gregory Adams is a principal of the law firm of Richardson Adams, PLLC, in Boise, Idaho. Mr. Adams practices primarily in the fields of energy regulation, natural resources, and environmental law. He represents clients in administrative proceedings before state utility commissions... Read More →

Nolan Moser

Interim Executive Director, Oregon Public Utility Commission

Nolan Moser is currently serving as the interim Executive Director of the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Commission. In that capacity, he is responsible for management of the Commission’s Administrative Hearings... Read More →

Carra Sahler

Director & Staff Attorney, Green Energy Institute, Lewis & Clark Law School

Since joining GEI in the fall of 2020, Carra Sahler has focused on regulatory proceedings at the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Participating in a variety of dockets, on both the gas and electric side, Carra works to avoid fossil fuel lock-in, implement equitable decarbonization... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Belmont C

Policy Focus

1:00pm PDT

Utility Scale Siting: Balancing Energy Goals with Agriculture and Wildlife

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Belmont C

Oregon's Department of Land Conservation and Development has been conducting a rulemaking process to improve solar siting in Eastern Oregon. Come learn how the process is going, the challenges along the way, and possible options for improvement.

Moderators

Damien Hall

Attorney, Dunn Carney LLP

Damien represents both property owners and local governments, helping them navigate Oregon’s unique land use requirements and political sensitivities to controlled growth and land development. His approach is based on working collaboratively with developers, local government, and... Read More →

Speakers

Max Yoklic

In-House Counsel, NewSun Energy

Max Yoklic is in-house counsel for NewSun Energy, a renewable energydevelopment and investment company in Bend, Oregon. His practice concentrateson energy facility siting and permitting, with a particular emphasis on land use,including zoning, entitlements, and appeals. Max’s practice... Read More →

Jeremy Thompson

Energy Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Jeremy has worked for ODFW for the last 25 years, starting his career working on multiple wildlife areas around the state, and then moving to the district office in The Dalles where he worked as a biologist focusing on species management and land use. Jeremy recently took on the challenge... Read More →

Judge Joe Dabulskis

Judge, Sherman County

I am Joe Dabulskis, Sherman County Judge, 2019-present; Sherman County Commissioner from 2017-2018; a Veteran, a local wheat farmer for over 25 years; and I am the current Chair of CREA (Community Renewable Energy Association). In my free time, I love spending time with my wife, kids... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Belmont C

Policy Focus

2:30pm PDT

Day Ahead Markets and the Potential for Regional Market in the West

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Belmont C

Most of the western U.S. is unusual for not having an organized market, but changes are on the way. Experts will discuss current thinking and what regulators should investigate and avoid.

Moderators

Brandon Green

Manager of Policy & Market Strategy, Qcells USA Corp.

Brandon Green is the Manager of Policy and Market Strategy at Qcells USA where he supports the company’s development efforts in the ever-changing energy policy landscape of the West. Prior to working for Qcells, Brandon was a Regulatory Compliance Consultant on Puget Sound Energy’s... Read More →

Speakers

Connor Reiten

Vice President, Government Affairs, PNGC Power

Connor Reiten serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for PNGC Power, a Generation and Transmission (G&T) utility serving 25 cooperative members across the Pacific Northwest. In addition to leading PNGCs advocacy and external affairs functions, Connor sits on the Launch... Read More →

Matthew Hayes

Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Market Initiatives, Bonneville Power Administration

Matt Hayes is responsible for leading BPA’s public process for determining a policy direction on day ahead markets, and for managing BPA’s relationship with customers and constituents regarding BPA’s market initiatives. Matt also serves as BPA’s program manager for the Western... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Belmont C

Policy Focus

4:00pm PDT

Data Center Growth - Potential Impacts and Benefits

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Belmont C

Data centers are popping up all over Oregon, especially Eastern Oregon, with big impacts on the grid. What opportunities exist for renewables to power these data centers? How can communities best navigate and benefit from this new growth?

Moderators

Amy Berg Pickett

Principal, Developer, Sunstone.Energy

Amy has a BS in sustainability from Oregon State University that led to 10 years working in Utility Solar Scale development. The focus of this work is in the Northwest with a focus on Oregon. Amy is a Permitting and Stakeholder engagement specialist for solar farm development. Amy... Read More →

Speakers

Travis Metcalf

Energy Projects Manager, Amazon Web Services

Travis Metcalfe is an experienced energy strategist with over 20 years in the industry. As an Energy Projects Manager for Amazon Web Services, he supports the development of energy projects to power data centers across North and South America. Prior to AWS, Travis spent 20 years with... Read More →

Commissioner Dan Dorran

Commissioner, Umatilla County

Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran was born in Walla Walla, WA and grew up in Hermiston, OR where he attended school. After serving in the US Army, Dan attended Blue Mountain Community College and Oregon State University. After college he moved to Alaska and was quickly hired... Read More →

Shanna Brownstein

Director, Energy, Rowan Digital Infrastructure

Shanna Brownstein is Rowan Digital Infrastructure's Energy Director, responsible for Rowan's clean energy strategy with a focus on the West. She has over 15 years of experience in carbon finance and environmental commodities, utility engagement and partnerships, and energy policy... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Belmont C

Policy Focus