On January 24, 1974, a group of five industry members met in the noisy basement of the Washington Hilton to discuss the possibility of establishing an association for the solar industry. They agreed to create "a broad-based trade association supporting prompt, orderly, widespread and open growth of solar energy resources now." This was the beginning of SEIA's five decades of advocacy, education, research, and industry leadership.
To help celebrate 50 years of solar and storage progress and chart the future for American energy, join visionaries and leaders from throughout SEIA’s history, who will share insights and behind-the-scenes moments from many of the industry’s biggest accomplishments and toughest challenges. Attendees will hear never-before-told stories from the early days of solar energy development, and gain valuable lessons from five decades of advocacy as we look to establish solar and storage as the driving force behind U.S. electricity in the next century.
Agenda
10:30-11:30 AM | Networking Brunch
11:30-12:00 PM | Welcome Remarks
- Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, SEIA
- Darren Van't Hof, SEIA Board Chair
- Rhone Resch, President and CEO, Solarlytics
12:00-12:45 PM | Reflections on SEIA's Founding and History
Join previous leaders and board members of the national solar trade association to hear about the innovation and motivation behind the formation of SEIA, how the organization made an immediate impact on U.S. energy policy, and the lessons learned for the future.
- Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, SEIA
- Fred Morse, President and CEO, SolStor Energy
- Scott Sklar, President, Stella Group
12:45-1:30 PM | From Rising Star to Powerhouse: The Evolution of a D.C. Trade Association
An all-star lineup of current and former SEIA staff will provide a glimpse into the major moments and victories that helped a small, fledgling trade association become a mainstay in Washington politics and a force behind the bold transition to a clean, equitable U.S. energy economy.
- Colin Silver, Senior Vice President of Content and Strategy, SEIA
- Katherine Gensler, Vice President of Government Affairs, Arevon
- Carries Cullen Hitt, Senior Director, Vineyard Offshore
- Scott Hennessey, VP of Federal Policy, Brookfield
1:30-2:00 PM | The Story of SEIA is the Story of Solar
In the 50 years since SEIA was founded, the solar energy market has grown exponentially in the U.S. To wrap up this anniversary forum, SEIA experts will showcase the tremendous growth of solar deployment over the last 50 years, and what might be in store for clean energy over the next half century.
- Steph Bosh, Vice President of Communications, SEIA
- Justin Baca, Vice President of Markets and Research, SEIA
