Security:

• In addition to the thousands of cameras the Venetian has throughout the property, they have increased our hired security presence, added off-duty officers, and significantly increased the number of temporary support staff and volunteers throughout the show.
• RE+ has an attendee hotline, which is printed on the back of all badges. The See Something, Say Something Security Hotline can be reached at (689) 257-0439. This number is staffed 24/7 during the show.

Accessibility and Inclusion:

• Available shuttle(s) to accommodate all attendees.
• ADA support & registration counters at Caesars Forum in registration.
• All sessions are subtitled via a QR code in each room.
• A nursing room is located at the Caesars Forum across from room 104/105 and the Venetian on Level 2 near room Bassano 2606.
• Gender Neutral bathrooms can be found at Caesars Forum across from room 104/105 and the Venetian on Level 2 near Bassano 2708 and Level 3 near Toscana 3609

This Solar 101 program is designed to help you get the most out of the upcoming RE+ conference. Join industry experts for a full day workshop designed for those who are interested in a crash course on the basics of the solar marketplace. Whether you are brand new to the industry or are looking to learn more about other sectors, the workshop will provide a wide overview of all things solar. This 101 program will cover a wide range of topics, including market growth dynamics, policy developments, solar and storage technology, siting & permitting, and the challenges & opportunities ahead.

Price: $450 for SEIA/SEPA Members | $550 for nonmembers

Monday, September 11 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Join us for RE+ Tonight with host Kal Penn, Actor, Harold & Kumar; Former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement; and host of Getting Warmer (Bloomberg Green climate change docuseries) part of the RE+ Opening Session.

Special Guests:

• Van Jones, CNN Host and President of Magic Labs Media
• Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO, EDP Renewables North America
• Annette Clayton, CEO, Schneider Electric North America

Following welcome remarks from Senator Jon Ossoff, State of Georgia; Sheri Givens, President & CEO, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA); and Abigail Ross Hopper, President & CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), RE+ Tonight will kick off the largest energy show on the continent with an entertaining and thought-provoking talk show designed to prepare you for the week ahead in Las Vegas.

Check back in the weeks ahead for updates on guests coming to RE+ Tonight!

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 9:30 - 10:30 AM

In the last few years, the solar and storage industry has been exposed to a wide variety of supply chain and trade challenges. From Section 337 cases to Auxin Solar’s anti-circumvention case, the U.S. solar and storage industry has had to adapt to uncertainty to maintain functional business operations. Industry experts will speak about current trade and supply chain issues, trade considerations on the horizon, and efforts to diversify supply chains.

Speakers: 

• Amir Yazdi, Deputy General Counsel, SEIA (Moderator)
• Costa Nicolaou, CEO, PanelClaw
• Keally DeWitt, VP, Marketing, Communications, and Public Policy, GAF Energy
• Grace Hsu, VP of Legal & People, Lunar Energy
• Jessica Lawrence-Vaca, Vice President, Government Affairs, SOLV Energy
• David Wilhoit, CEO, Wacker

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

To foster an equitable clean energy economy, the industry must prioritize communities that have been negatively impacted by previous energy developments. The Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA’s) focus on adder credits provides new tools that can benefit low to moderate income (LMI) communities and customers. What lessons have been learned and what tools have been developed since the passage of this legislation in August 2022? In this session, panelists will discuss how to leverage energy community and LMI adders in the IRA, and best practices for centering equity in the clean energy transition.

Speakers:

• Erika Symmonds, Vice President of Equity and Workforce Development, SEIA (Moderator)
• Pari Kasotia, Director and Head of Policy, Luminace
• Yesenia Rivera, Executive Director - Solstice Initiative
• Will Ellis, Director of External Affairs, Pepco
• Omar Blayton, CFO, Sunwealth Power 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Labor unions will play a critical role in growing the clean energy workforce. This quick talk will feature a case study exemplifying successful partnerships between the industry and unions. Attendees will gain understanding on how to connect with unions and organized labor and learn how these parties can work together on various projects.

Speakers:

• Stephanie Zawistowski, Director of Grassroots Engagement & Political Organizing, SEIA (Moderator)
• Adam Sokolski, EDF Renewables North America
• Aubrey Newton, Director, Northwest Laborer's Employers Cooperation Fund (LECET) (representing the LIUNA! Northwest Region) 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

The anticipated growth of the clean energy industry under the Inflation Reduction Act requires industry stakeholders to be ready to accommodate this expansion in the market. Alongside this growth, solar decommissioning policies are increasing throughout the country. What steps can stakeholders take to prepare for what’s next? Join this session to hear expert insights on recycling partnerships, the process for navigating decommissioning in project development planning, and how this moment can be leveraged as an opportunity to develop a more robust circular economy.

Speakers: 

• Bob Nicholson, Senior Manager of Sustainability, SEIA (Moderator)

• Michelle Simpson, Vice President, Clean Energy and Critical Materials, OKON Recycling
• Alyssa Edwards, SVP of Environmental Affairs and Government Relations, Lightsource BP
• Tina Jeffress, Senior Manager, Energy and Sustainability, Panasonic
• Scott Elias, Vice President of Policy and Market Development, CleanCapital

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Location: Showfloor

Strong national solar and storage industry standards are an essential component in ensuring responsible U.S. solar growth. As an American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Developer, SEIA’s standards serve as a foundation for responsible industry practices that help to create more efficient markets, reduce costs, and proactively manage risk for the industry. This session will highlight the importance of accredited industry standards and will include information on how interested in or affected stakeholders can participate in SEIA’s standards development process.

Speakers:

• Jennifer Martin, Director of Standards Development, SEIA
• Cesar Eizaga, Standards Development Manager, SEIA
• Evelyn Butler, VP, Technical Services, SEIA

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Due to a combination of technical, legal, policy and business challenges, residential solar incentive programs have typically only served customers with detached, single-family homes . Generally, renters and condominium owners have been unable to access the benefits of distributed generation programs, resulting in barriers to equitable access. This session will explore how the creation of 'virtual net metering' solutions can create a cleaner, more inclusive and resilient grid.

Speakers:

• Sara Birmingham, Senior Director of State Policy, West, SEIA (Moderator)
• Leland Keller, Energy Services Engineer, Fort Collins Utilities
• Micah Jasuta, Project Manager, Austin Energy
• Christopher Worley, Director of Public Policy, Sunrun
• Olivia Nedd, Senior Policy Director, Access & Equity Program, Vote Solar

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 represents a monumental win for renewable energy. Despite this, the bill was pushed through the Senate by a small margin. During recent debt ceiling negotiations, some Congressional representatives have indicated that they are looking to limit the bill’s benefits to the industry, suggesting the IRA will continue to be a topic of importance in future legislative sessions. As we look forward to a highly contentious 2024 election season where there could be significant alterations to both the makeup of the Congress and the White House, what are some of the possible concerns or opportunities regarding the IRA that may arise? In this session, experts will discuss how beltway politics have the potential to impact renewable energy growth and will focus on how the industry can continue working together to preserve the clean energy wins that we worked so hard to achieve.

Speakers: 

• Erin Duncan, Vice President of Congressional Affairs, SEIA (Moderator)
• Jaime Carlson, Head of Commercialization & Market Risk, SB Energy
• Anand Gopal, Executive Director of Policy, Energy Innovation
• Shawn Affolter, Vice President of Government Relations, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 | 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Showfloor

This session will reflect on the recent U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 2023 report, which states, “discrimination remains a substantial barrier to entry, retention, and advancement of women and people of color in construction....” The speakers will discuss how these challenges relate to the solar and clean energy industry’s construction and skilled trades workers. Then the speakers will shift gears to focus on opportunities for companies to take action and create a more inclusive workplace environment for all. The speakers will provide practical examples of their work to intentionally foster a more inclusive environment at their companies, and SEIA will invite the audience to get involved in Construction Inclusion Week coming up later this Fall.

Speakers:

• Erika Symmonds, VP of Equity & Workforce, SEIA
• ShaLonda Dwight, Director of Talent Acquisition & Diversity, SOLV Energy
• Riley Neugebauer, Solar Installer & Apprentice, Solar for Women and Namaste Solar Electric

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

More frequent severe weather events are leading to changes in building codes, insurance practices and financing options. Incorporating climate-related changes into project design is critical to creating resilient, insurable, and financeable projects as we accelerate the deployment of renewables. In this session, panelists will discuss best practices, analyses, and insight to help future proof planning practices.

Speakers: 

• Sara Kane, Co-Leader of Power & Renewables, CAC Specialty (Moderator)
• Joe Cain, PE, Director of Codes & Standards, SEIA 
• Dan Chawla, Head of Engineering, Natural Power
• Brian Ewing, Director, Utility-Scale Energy, SOLV Energy
• Claire Haack, Head of Section - Civil Engineering, DNV

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

As the electrical system becomes more distributed and reliant on lots of different smart technologies, it will be important to ensure that cybersecurity is incorporated into new devices, systems, and infrastructure so “security by design” is a core component of these systems. 

What can clean energy companies and asset owners do to support this? This briefing will include an overview of nation-state cyber capabilities, a historical overview of cybersecurity incidents, specific threats to the clean energy grid of the future, resilience benefits of clean energy generation, storage, and distributed energy resources, as well as federal programs that focus on improving physical and cyber security in the energy sector.

Speakers:

• Matthew Hartung, Regulatory Compliance Manager, EDP Renewables (Moderator)
• Mara Winn, Deputy Director, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Risk Analysis Department of Energy
• Bheshaj Krishnappa, Director of Cybersecurity Policy & Reliability, SEIA
• Eric Valleton, CTO, SOLV Energy

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Traditionally, community engagement has been thought of as a means to meet minimum requirements. In many circumstances, decision-makers have only approached the public to inform them of their actions, especially in underserved areas. How can organizations modify their existing stakeholder engagement approaches to move beyond the inform stage and into the involve, collaborate, and empower stages? In this session, panelists will discuss some of the best practices for public engagement and provide insights into ways that decision-makers can gain community trust and collaborate to create “win-win” scenarios with all parties involved.

Speakers:

• Charles Bolden, Sr. Director of Congressional Affairs, SEIA (Moderator)
• Juan Parra, Director, Community Engagement, Nexamp
• Sarah Z Salem, Community Engagement & Partnerships Director, GRID Alternatives
• Sherrick Roanhorse, Senior Government Affairs Manager, PNM Resources
• Victoria Johnson, Global Equity Director, HDR

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 | 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Showfloor

Join us for the announcement of the Solar and Storage Industries Institute (S2) new initiative called the “Center For Model Policy Development.” As a resource for all state solar and storage advocates, state affiliates and organizations aligned in the fight for clean energy, this new center will be developing model legislation on keys issues facing state markets. Serving as a catalyst for change, SI2 is set to roll out game-changing tools to encourage deployment and harmonize state policy making across the country. This session will review the objectives of this new initiative and unveil the Center’s first two model polices on critical solar siting topics. 

Speakers:

• David Gahl, Executive Director, Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2)
• Sarah Conley-Ballew, Assistant Director of Development, Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2)

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

In June of 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on interconnection reform that proposed increased commercial readiness requirements for projects looking to move through interconnection queues. What do those requirements mean for power producers looking to bring their projects online? Specifically, how will these requirements impact those who are developing renewable energy generation? How should we determine which projects are “commercially ready”? Are FERC’s proposals of what constitutes “commercially ready” fair and respectful of existing business models? Experts in this panel will address these questions, analyze pre-existing interconnection requirements that some transmission providers have in place, and speak about what “commercial readiness” may mean in the context of different types of electricity markets.

Speakers:

• Mike Borgatti, VP, RTO Services, Gabel & Associates (Moderator)
• Melissa Alfano, Director of Energy Markets & Counsel, SEIA
• Gizelle Wray, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Savion

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Solar and agriculture coexist happily across the country and this partnership is becoming more logistically feasible and cost efficient every year. This session will explore what leaders in the agrivoltaic space are doing to collaborate across industry, government, landowners and academia in 2023 and beyond. Panelists will discuss the best bylaw practices for local municipalities and what industry leaders are doing to provide off-the-shelf agrivoltaic solutions at cost.

Speakers:

• Michele Boyd, Program Manager, Solar Energy Technologies Office, US Department of Energy (Moderator)
• Sarah Conley-Ballew, Assistant Director, Solar and Storage Industries Institute
• Lexie Hain, Director of Agrivoltaics and Land Management, Lightsource BP
• Ethan Winter, National Smart Solar Director, American Farmland Trust
• Lucy Bullock-Sieger, VP of Strategy at Lightstar Renewables, LLC

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Massive grid disruptions caused by extreme weather events, paired with rising electricity prices are pushing U.S. consumers to seek residential solar solutions that provide energy security. As environmental and policy factors continue to drive demand to new levels, it is imperative that we maximize interconnectivity and integration so these technologies can work together to drive down emissions and create a resilient grid. In this session, panelists will discuss how residential solar plus battery storage solutions are evolving to facilitate total home electrification and self-sufficiency, including new technologies, installer trends, accompanying utility grid service programs, and supply chain barriers and opportunities.

Speakers: 

• Joan White, Director of Storage and Interconnection Policy, SEIA (Moderator)
• Suzanne Leta, Head of Policy and Strategy, SunPower
• Josh Gould, Director of Innovation, Duquesne Light
• Zolaikha Strong, Senior Director Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Energy Technology, Generac
• Jon Monken, Principal, Converge Strategies

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Location: Showfloor

SolarAPP+ will give a performance review and discuss why the installer/contractor community is critical to the success of the solution.

Speakers:

• Stephen Pope, Solar APP+ Outreach Manager, SEIA

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Location: Showfloor

In this overview session, you’ll hear about on-going and coming efforts to propose revisions to key Solar & Energy Codes & Standards in upcoming hearings and forums.  Topics will include the building, energy, fire, structural, and electrical codes, and proposed changes affecting the California PV on new low-rise residential construction.

Speakers:

• Joe Cain, Senior Director of Codes & Standards, SEIA

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Location: Showfloor

Although it’s not even a year old, the Inflation Reduction Act has come under attack in Congress as partisan battles dominate the political landscape. In order to ensure that the hard-won progress contained in this landmark legislation stays in place for the long term, the solar industry must advocate and share stories of its impact in communities across the country.

Speakers:

• Scott Greenler, Manager of Grassroots & Legislative Advocacy, SEIA
• Jeremy Woodrum, Senior Director of Congressional Affairs, SEIA

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Many corporate sustainability teams are looking for ways to achieve their ambitious sustainability goals and initiatives. Some companies look to meet their goals by building onsite or offsite solar systems, others by using PPAs or virtual PPAs, some make tax credit investments through the ITC, and some purchase SRECs. There is no standard way of setting, achieving, and tracking sustainability goals and, often, progress is hard to measure. On this panel, speakers will discuss various pathways to meeting corporate sustainability targets, industry & corporate partnerships, and how policies, like the IRA, are shaping how corporates consider clean energy’s role in meeting their goals.

Speakers:

• Shawn Rumery, Senior Director of Research, SEIA (Moderator)
• Yuri Horwitz, Founder & CEO, Sol Systems
• Ben Catt, Chief Executive Officer, Pine Gate Renewables
• George L. Strobel II, Partner, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Monarch Private Capital

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

With new incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act’s for meeting specific labor provisions, there is a renewed focus amongst clean energy businesses to create successful apprenticeship programs and other strategic initiatives to develop a more diverse and sustainable clean energy workforce. In this session, subject matter experts will discuss best practices for working with diverse populations, securing full tax credit values in the IRA, and ensuring a skilled, diverse workforce pipeline to meet future industry needs.

Speakers:

• Becky Long, Senior Program Manager, Workforce Development & Inclusion, SEIA (Moderator)
• Bonnie Kunkel-Forest, Apprenticeship Coordinator, Home Builders Institute (HBI)
• Scott Canada, Executive Vice President, Operations, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Across the country, there are a vast spectrum of net metering policy structures and rate design arrangements. This session will cover different analyses of the solar and storage future and how rate design and market access are affecting clean energy growth. Panelists will discuss emerging innovations and solutions that meet the double aim of encouraging the deployment of distributed resources, and ensuring a more resilient and equitable grid.

Speakers:

• Kevin Lucas, Senior Director of Utility Regulation and Policy, SEIA (Moderator)
• Jennifer Potter, Director of Regulatory Innovation, Strategen
• Nick Jimenez, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
• Thad Culley, Director, Public Policy, Sunrun
• Gerhard Walker, Manager, Advanced Forecasting and Modeling, Eversource

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Codes and standards drive critical requirements that the renewable energy industry must meet. With update cycles to each code and standard differing in timing and content, it is important for the industry to be aware of the implications these updates may have on business operations. In this session, experts will address the current status of solar and storage codes and standards, what changes they see coming, and how those developments will affect market entry rules and regulations, equipment design and innovation, and installation design and construction.

Speakers:

• Evelyn M. Butler, VP Technical Services, SEIA (Moderator)
• Jason Fisher, SolarTech Consulting, Code Making Panel 4, NFPA 70
• Steve Gartner, Principal Engineer Renewable Energy / Sr. Structural Engineer, HDR

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Solar, storage, electrification, and other DERs are growing, and current interconnection strategies are unable to keep pace. Proactive hosting capacity planning represents one significant pathway to reducing the time and cost of interconnection. This planning framework moves away from the “one application at a time” process and allows utilities to forecast anticipated DER growth and hosting capacity constraints, and to invest in the necessary upgrades before DER customers request interconnection. This session will provide an overview of the various proactive hosting capacity planning frameworks states across the U.S. are considering or adopting and will recommend best practices that stakeholders can adopt in their jurisdictions.

Speakers:

• Radina Valova, Regulatory Vice President, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Dave Gahl, Executive Director, Solar and Storage Industries Institute
• Samantha Weaver, Coalition for Community Solar Access
• Yochi Zakai, Attorney, Shute, Mihaly, & Weinberger, LLP
• Erin Ankeney, Director, Interconnection, Freedom Forever