Program

Program subject to change. Please check back soon for more details.

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Sunday, October 14th, 2018

3:00pm to 5:00pm

Renewable Energy Procurement 101

Working Session

Wendel Rosen Conference Center (1111 Broadway)

This session will offer an introduction to corporate procurement in the U.S., covering the basics of offsite deal structures, contracts with utilities, and renewable thermal solutions. Experienced buyers will share best practices and success factors. Participation is for buyers only.

Check-in and registration for the Summit will be available.

5:00pm to 7:00pm

Reception & Registration

Networking

District (827 Washington Street)

Monday, October 15th, 2018

7:30am to 9:00am

Breakfast & Registration

Networking

Lobby

9:00am to 9:15am

Welcoming Remarks

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

REBA leadership will welcome attendees and set the stage for the Summit.

9:15am to 9:45am

REBA Announcement

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

Attendees will be the first to hear about the future of REBA.

9:45am to 11:00am

Opening Keynote: Robert Swan

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

Raised in Yorkshire, England, Robert Swan is the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. After seeing first-hand the effects of Climate Change, Robert has dedicated himself to protecting Antarctica and our planet at large. Positive participation and a committed team have enabled Robert to educate and stimulate people across the globe. Robert will engage REBA Summit attendees on what it takes to be the leader and predecessor in creating new models and sustainable solutions for the future.

11:00am to 11:30am

Break

11:25am to 12:30pm

Innovation Showcases

Breakout

These showcases will feature the latest innovative projects and strategies in renewable energy procurement and markets.

11:30am to 12:30pm

Leadership & Impact: Going Beyond "Additionality"

Innovation Showcase

Corporate purchasers of renewable energy often use the term “additionality” as a proxy for impact, but this may not be the appropriate metric. Join a dynamic conversation moderated by Tim Juliani of WWF, to explore ways to evaluate and describe the impact that you are driving individually and ways to accelerate collective decarbonization of the energy system.

Presenters

James Critchfield, Director, Green Power Partnership, EPA
Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100
Gloriamar Gomez, Energy Manager, Climate Change, Renewables & Regulatory, Dow Chemical Company

How Can Blockchain Transform the Energy Sector?

Innovation Showcase

The Energy Web Foundation (EWF) team will present existing and forthcoming opportunities to apply blockchain technology to transform energy procurement and indeed the energy sector as a whole. Key innovation include Origin—a new open-source, blockchain-based application for renewable energy and carbon markets running on the Energy Web designed for renewable energy procurement, tracking, and reporting. EWF will describe its work, technological roadmap, ways to participate in market demonstrations, and other opportunities to engage.

Presenters

Douglas Miller, Sr. Associate, The Rocky Mountain Institute
Jon Creyts, Managing Director, The Rocky Mountain Institute
Krutarth Jhaveri, Research Assistant, Center for Sustainable Systems

Your Renewable Energy Story: Communicating About the Corporate Renewable Energy Journey

Innovation Showcase

Join Sir Robert Swan for a session on storytelling and how your renewable energy purchase can serve as a platform for communicating about your company's commitment to sustainability. Facilitated by Kevin Haley from BRC, this session will look at compelling storylines in energy and climate action, discusses challenges and opportunities to both internal and external communications, and draw from participants' experiences to create a toolkit that helps your company get the most out of its renewable energy deal announcement.

Presenter

Sir Robert Swan, OBE, BA, FRGS, 2041 ClimateForce
Kevin Haley, Program Manager, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute

Deal Structures for Smaller Buyers: Aggregation and Beyond

Innovation Showcase

Akamai and 3Degrees will lead this session aimed at smaller corporate renewable energy buyers who struggle with the conundrums of the VPPA process: the need to invest time and resources, financial risks, and long-term commitment. The session will outline processes, including aggregation, to create simplified transactions; but more importantly, to draw out conversation from the small buyers about specific barriers they are facing and potentially right-sized solutions.

Presenters

Nicola Peill-Moelter, Sr Director Sustainability, Akamai Technologies
Erin Craig, VP, Energy and Climate Practice, 3Degrees
Lily Donge, Principle, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute
Roberto Zanchi, Senior Associate, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute

Going From 0 to 60: How to Win Internal Buy-In for Your VPPA

Innovation Showcase

AT&T and Fifth Third Bank will share the story of how they succeeded in winning internal buy-in and execute their VPPAs. The focus of this Innovation Showcase session will be on highlighting strategies that can help VPPA buyers navigate their company's internal shareholder process, and how to survive and thrive after a “No” answer.

Presenters

Shannon Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability, AT&T
Scott Hassel, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Fifth Third Bank
Rachit Kansal, Associate, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute
Chris Partridge, Membership Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Institute

Meeting Corporate Clean Energy Requirements in Virginia

Innovation Showcase

Virginia has recently seen an upswell of renewable energy policy and proposals that bolster its renewable energy market, including placing 5 GW of wind and solar in the public interest, ambitious carbon regulations under development and new proposals for green tariffs and integration of renewable resources into utility resource planning. Hear from some of the companies that have been engaged in pushing these changes, as well as a representative from the Governor’s office to discuss how large buyer involvement has played a key role in the ongoing transformation of Virginia’s energy system.

Presenters

Angela Navarro, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Office of Governor Ralph Northam
Bruce Frandsen, Sr. Manager, Global Utilities and Sustainability, Equinix
Steve Chriss, Director, Energy and Strategy Analysis, Walmart
Caitlin Marquis, Manager, AEE

An Integrated Approach to Greening the Grid: The Colorado Energy Plan

Innovation Showcase

Hear from Xcel Energy - Colorado’s Regional Vice President on the process to develop and approve Xcel’s transformative Colorado Energy Plan that substantially reduces emissions, adds firm renewable energy and retires coal. Learn how this approach benefits customers and how customer engagement was key to receiving approval by the Commission.

Presenter

Jerome Davis, Regional Vice President, Xcel Energy
Marty Spitzer, Senior Director, Climate and Renewable Energy, WWF

Replacing Natural Gas for Thermal Needs: Advancing the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Market

Innovation Showcase

Come hear how Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) has been successfully deployed by buyers like L'Oreal, with lessons for how these projects can be successful and what's replicable. Much greater potential exists for RNG to reduce emissions and meet thermal energy needs so Element Markets will help explain the barriers and potential for scaling RNG markets to provide renewable alternatives to fossil-based natural gas.

Presenters

Jay Harf, Vice President EHS&S Americas, L'Oreal
Randall Lack, Chief Marketing Officer, Element Markets
Jerry Bloom, Senior Counsel, Winston & Strawn LLP

Working with Multi-State Utilities to Maximize “Impact”: Adding New Renewable Energy with Broader Grid Benefits

Innovation Showcase

Is it possible to help drive a renewable energy project that has high local impact AND can be executed directly with your local utility? Come learn about innovative customer-utility approaches that PacifiCorp has taken to help customers add new, local renewable energy projects that drive broader grid benefits in a cost-effective way across two states. Join a conversation on what might be replicable in other areas and how to engage with your utility to get there.

Presenters

Scott Bolton, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Customer Solutions, PacifiCorp
Gary Hoogeveen, President, Rocky Mountain Power, PacifiCorp
Priya Barua, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, WRI

Solving for the Next Round of Utility Solutions: Lessons in Integrating Customer Goals in Resource Planning

Innovation Showcase

Learn about two innovative approaches that utilities are taking to make it easier for existing customers to meet their renewable energy goals efficiently and cost-effectively in their service territories. What are the barriers at the utility, customer and regulatory level; and what is needed from the utility and customer for these approaches to be successful?

Presenters

A. Wilson Mallard, Director, Renewable Development, Georgia Power Company
Aakash Chandarana, VP, Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Xcel Energy
Lori Bird, U.S. Energy Director, WRI
Rachit Kansal, Associate, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute

Leading the Push for a Sustainable Supply Chain

Innovation Showcase

Hear the experiences of leading buyers regarding supplier engagement and collaborative working; engage in Q&A with the panel of leading buyers to discuss your challenges; and work with other attendees to further our collective understanding of this developing movement.

Presenters

Paul Gettings, Energy Engineer, Johnson & Johnson
Steve Skarda, Global Climate and Energy Leader, Procter & Gamble
Mark Porter, Manager, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute
Alex Klonick, Associate, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute

12:25pm to 1:30pm

Lunch

10th Street (VERGE Microgrid)

During lunch, attendees will have the option of attending Guru Lunches, small-group conversations will focus on hot topics in the clean energy economy not found elsewhere at the Summit. Summit sponsors who see these innovations in action every day will lead informal, interactive discussions for up to 10 attendees. These sessions are first-come, first-served, so don’t miss out.

Additional details to come!

12:30pm to 1:30pm

Guru Lunch: Are We There Yet? A Realistic Look at Implementing Renewables to meet 2020 Goals and Beyond

Lunch

10th Street Microgrid

A discussion of how long it realistically takes to purchase renewables to help companies align energy procurement strategies with sustainability goals.

About VERGE Guru Lunches: Join like minded attendees for interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Presenters

Scott Macmurdo, Sustainability Specialist, NRG Energy

Guru Lunch: Extracting 'Long-Haul' Value from Renewable Energy Projects

Lunch

10th Street Microgrid

Renewable energy offers great financial and reputational value for buyers and to their customers. This roundtable will explore how to identify projects that maximize value for the buyer. We will discuss facility siting, offtake contracts, and different means to transfer energy, capacity, and environmental attributes.

Presenters

Richard Mukhtar, President, CMS Enterprises
Rajesh Swaminathan, VP of Business Development, CMS Enterprises

Guru Lunch: 3 Ingredients for Easier, Flexible Contracting

Lunch

10th Street Microgrid

The variety of buyers and sellers in the market makes it difficult to speak the same language regarding wants and needs in a PPA (virtual or otherwise). All parties are interested in simplicity, but the wide variation in the underlying markets across 7 ISOs and 50 states creates challenges. Attempting to create a standard contract across the industry has been raised as a way to approach the difficulties, but seemingly unachievable. We look forward to discussing a few ways to achieve simplicity and flexibility when contracting for renewable energy. Note: discussion will be beneficial to less energy-intense buyers (5-10 MW).

Presenters

Brenda LeMay, Head of Origination and Structuring, Enel Green Power

Guru Lunch: The Future of Energy Management at The Ohio State University

Lunch

10th Street Microgrid

ENGIE will present a customer case study on the integrated energy solutions at The Ohio State University. The Ohio State University’s quest to advance visionary sustainability objects has provided a first-of-its-kind energy solution, enhancing the university’s academic mission while reducing energy costs, furthering environmental commitments, and ensuring reliable supply. Explore how businesses and other industries can benefit from this pioneering model for sustainability in a similar regard.

Presenters

Shay Ohrel, Sales Director, ENGIE North America

1:30pm to 2:30pm

State of the Market

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

This presentation will provide an overview of the US renewable energy market, corporate deals, and other major developments in the past year, and a look ahead at the market innovations that corporate buyers are utilizing in order to drive the transition to a clean energy economy.

2:25pm to 5:00pm

Table Topics

Breakout

Small group table discussions on challenges or new ideas to increasing large buyer renewables.

2:30pm to 5:00pm

Getting Started in India: A SWOT Analysis for Corporate Procurement Options

Table Topic Conversation

This discussion will give attendees a better understanding of the different procurement options in India, and which may be right for their business.

Session Hosts

Ankit Narula, Sustainable Business Manager, WWF India

Role of the Grid in Corporate Renewable Energy Goals – Customer and Utility Perspectives

Table Topic Conversation

More companies are setting 100% renewable energy and related goals. Among companies publicly reporting on their goals there are varying definitions and approaches on how grid renewable energy is counted and included. This table will discuss 1) if and how corporate buyers should include grid renewables in their goals when the associated RECs are not held in a company’s REC account(s), 2) how best to measure renewable energy on the grid, and 3) the role of utilities in providing renewable and GHG data to customers with clean energy goals. As a case study Xcel Energy will present a new concept to retire RECs on behalf of all customers, so that customers can start their accounting towards their renewable goals at the percentage of renewables on the grid.

Session Hosts

Holly Lahd, Energy Program Manager, Target
Dan King, Product Strategy & Development, Xcel Energy

Three Contractual Breakthroughs for Buyers in Aggregated VPPAs

Table Topic Conversation

This table discussion, hosted by Sustainability Roundtable, will focus on three contractual breakthroughs that are transforming buyers’ experience in aggregated VPPAs: 1) "Exclusive Contractual Privity" for individual off-takers so that they are in no way dependent on others while still winning the economies of price; 2) "Financial collars" with minimum settlement "floors" that are substantially above zero in return for "ceilings" above which all benefit flows to the developer; 3) "Floor and upside share" structures that split the margin above the VPPA Price between the developer and off-taker to enable lower VPPA prices.

Session Hosts

James Boyle, CEO & Chairman, Sustainability Roundtable
Roger Freeman, Managing Director, Renewable Energy Procurement Services, Sustainability Roundtable, Inc.

Innovative Grid Solutions to Reduce Your Carbon Impact

Table Topic Conversation

This table will cover the difference between carbon emissions and renewables, the importance of thinking about the grid and purchaser impact holistically, and begin to explore what technologies, portfolio approaches, and stakeholder engagement are needed to allow customers to begin to scale up their impact through actions that “green” the grid and energy systems overall. What are ways in which customers can be “good grid” citizens in achieving their clean energy goals?

Session Hosts

John Woolard, Senior Fellow, WRI (former Google VP of Energy)
Karl Hausker, Senior Fellow, WRI

Building Your Renewable Energy Portfolio Using Advanced Analytics

Table Topic Conversation

When buyers begin to build renewable portfolios beyond their first transaction, they need to be thinking about the collective performance of their portfolio as opposed to contracts in silos. Risk in one contract may be mitigated by another contract, or worse, risk may be exacerbated. This table, hosted by Edison Energy, will discuss how market leaders are building renewable energy portfolios by using advanced analytics to more holistically look at their portfolio’s performance. The resulting insights can then inform which projects to do next and the optimal contract structure, terms and conditions.

Session Hosts

Christen Blum, Managing Director, Renewables, Edison Energy

Why Does Utility Climate Action Matter for Buyers?

Table Topic Conversation

Utilities across the country are increasingly setting carbon emission reduction goals. This table will explore the reasoning behind these utility actions, the changes that can be expected from their commitments, and the impact associated with these goals. Are there ways for customers to engage in the goal setting process or support achieving these goals faster?

Session Hosts

Sandra Nessing, Managing Director, Corporate Sustainability, American Electric Power

How Municipals, Universities, Schools and Hospitals are Thinking about Procurement of Renewables

Table Topic Conversation

Corporates have been leading the way at REBA. In recent years, Municipal and Higher Education (MUSH) buyers have started to enter the renewables market in a significant way. Competitive Energy Services (CES), the host of this table conversation, will facilitate a conversation on the opportunities and challenges associated with meeting the renewable energy needs of the MUSH market. CES will also share its experience working with the City of Boston to lead what could be the largest renewable energy aggregation in the US to date and coordinating a consortium of colleges in a recently completed VPPA transaction for a portion of a 75 MW solar PV project.

Session Hosts

Andrew Price, President & COO, Competitive Energy Services
Zac Bloom, VP, Head of Sustainability and Renewables, Competitive Energy Services

Integrating Electric Vehicles for Low-Carbon Impact: The Role for Buyer/Utility Collaboration

Table Topic Conversation

Come learn what collaborative solutions utilities and corporate buyers can lead on to enable EVs to support corporate goals and drive a more cost-effective, cleaner grid.

Session Hosts

Celina Bonugli, Specialist, Clean Energy Innovation, WRI
Sarah Barbo, Corporate Strategy, CMS Energy

Demand-Side Aggregation: Tailored Renewables for Smaller Buyers and Supply Chains

Table Topic Conversation

Demand-side aggregation is an innovative procurement approach that allows multiple buyers to shape their ‘ask’ to the market and competitively source renewable energy tailored to their needs. Aggregation benefits large and small buyers alike through increased purchasing power, access to improved economics, and supply chain engagement. The discussion at this table, hosted by CustomerFirst Renewables, will focus on sharing into how to build consensus amongst buyers, how to manage the procurement process as a group, and how to leverage the mutually reinforcing benefits of aggregation.

Session Hosts

Susanne Fratzscher, Director of Business Development, CustomerFirst Renewable

Two Unique Aggregation Models Used to Close New PPAs

Table Topic Conversation

Aggregation in renewable PPAs in its current form faces barriers to scale due to challenges in finding partners, aligning objectives, aligning timing and assessing projects. In this session, LevelTen Energy will highlight two recent case studies featuring the use of new aggregation models, where real-time data management, analysis, process standards, credit intermediation, and data science were critical to the successful completion of these transactions.

Session Hosts

Bryce Smith, CEO, LevelTen Energy

3rd Party Data Center Growth - Everyone's Challenge: Counting Your Impact & Driving Solutions

Table Topic Conversation

Most companies are migrating to 3rd party data center services to support the explosive growth of Cloud, IP traffic and back-up/disaster recovery applications. The Industry predicts construction will grow 5X over the next 3 years. There is confusion about how to track and report the carbon footprint of 3rd party data centers (no clear guidance under WRI protocol for scope 2 vs scope 3). BSR's Future of Internet Power working group has been building user and supplier consensus for accounting plus developing best practice procedures for enabling data center customers to claim the carbon reduction of Green Power supplied through data center owners. This breakthrough enables every data center user to better account for their carbon impacts and then influence the market for renewable energy by requiring green power solutions from data center owners and vendors. This session will share an update on progress and ask for input on proposed solutions.

Session Hosts

Kevin Hagen, VP Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) Strategy, Iron Mountain
Nicola Peill-Moelter, Ph.D. Senior Director of Environmental Sustainability, Akamai Technologies

PPA Innovations and Risk: The Legal Perspective

Table Topic Conversation

This conversation hosted by K&L Gates, provides an open format to discuss PPA/VPPA legal risks and market trends in risk mitigation. We will compare current VPPA risks and how new contract structures impact risk mitigation, and answer questions like: Do innovative contract structures remove risk for buyer or seller, or both? What additional risks may arise from these innovative contract structures? What is the risk for buyer or seller in being a first-mover under an un-tested contract structure?

Session Hosts

Teresa Hill, Partner, K&L Gates
Bill Holmes, Partner, K&L Gates

Birds, Bats, and Tortoises—Oh My!

Table Topic Conversation

Renewables have rightly been embraced for their ability to deliver low-impact electricity. Yet large-scale solar and wind projects can affect local ecosystems and sensitive species. Such impacts carry risks for corporate buyers, who are increasingly held accountable for supply chain sustainability issues. Join us for a discussion on lessons learned, innovative strategies, and emerging technologies for mitigating environmental and ecosystem impacts from renewable energy projects.

Session Hosts

Scott Macmurdo, Business Development Director, Corporate Accounts, Duke Energy Renewables
Tim Hayes, Environmental Director, Duke Energy Corporation

A Balanced Portfolio Strategy to Manage Your PPA Risk: GM's Examples from PJM and ERCOT

Table Topic Conversation

Have you signed a single PPA and want to de-risk your first project? Are you considering your first PPA? This table conversation is about how to sign PPAs with two split projects, which can take a similar amount of time to execute as one deal and simultaneously help to manage risk. Rob Threlkeld from GM will host the conversation and share his experience with PPAs in ERCOT and PJM.

Session Hosts

Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager, Renewable Energy, GM

Maximizing Value Through Off-Site Energy Storage Applications

Table Topic Conversation

Continued advances in battery technology and a declining cost curve have opened the door to a broad range of storage opportunities across U.S. markets. In this conversation hosted by First Solar we will explore battery applications in energy shifting, ISO ancillary services, and energy arbitrage.

Session Hosts

Dan Rodriguez, Manager Corporate Renewables, First Solar

Strategic Location of Renewable Energy Projects for Maximum Impact

Table Topic Conversation

Can renewable energy power plants be located optimally to offset fossil fuel based generation? What role can corporate buyers play in impact beyond bringing new renewable energy online? This table conversation hosted by the Rocky Mountain Institute will discuss options for locating projects and maximizing positive environmental impacts.

Session Hosts

Uday Varadarajan, Principle, The Rocky Mountain Institute
Bruce Nilles, Senior Fellow, The Rocky Mountain Institute

Transmission: The Key to Meeting Corporate Renewable Energy Goals

Table Topic Conversation

Transmission expansion and upgrades are needed to access cost-competitive renewable energy resources across the country. With renewable energy commitments from large corporations growing rapidly, these grid investments are more important than ever. This conversation, hosted by David Gardiner and Associates (DGA) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) will focus on how regional transmission organizations (RTO) and other grid planners are not adequately accounting for corporate demand in their transmission and other planning processes, discuss potential remedies, and examine why transmission planning matters for corporate renewable energy objectives.

Session Hosts

David Gardiner, President, CEO, DGA
Hannah Hunt, Deputy Director of Electricity Policy and Demand, AWEA

A Changing Solar Landscape and Its Impact on Your Energy Decisions

Table Topic Conversation

Join SunPower Corporation for a detailed discussion about recent U.S. solar market policy developments and how they may affect your on-site solar projects. We’ll bring you up-to-speed on important federal and state-level policies and incentives – especially important if you have multiple business locations across the U.S. – so that you maximize the return on your solar investments, increase corporate energy savings, and reach your sustainability goals.

Session Hosts

Rob Rogan, Sr. Director of Strategy & Business Development, SunPower Corporation
Chris Cantone, Commercial Director, SunPower Corporation

Wholesale Markets 101: Integrating Renewables

Table Topic Conversation

This discussion will help large corporate buyers better understand how their renewable purchases are integrated into wholesale electricity markets and examine how the impact of these purchases can be maximized. This will include the basic landscape of wholesale markets across the US, the current challenges in integrating renewables (depressed prices, curtailment of renewables, and the need to better value flexibility in markets) and existing efforts underway to address these issues. You will also learn about new proposed solutions, including a Clean Energy Attribute Market that would provide buyers with a more sophisticated clean energy product to purchase.

Session Hosts

Heidi Bishop, Manager, U.S. Electricity Markets, WRI
Lori Bird, U.S. Energy Director, WRI

Grid Modernization for Large Energy Buyers

Table Topic Conversation

This discussion will help shed light on the potential benefits of grid modernization for large energy buyers, some case studies from states where grid modernization initiatives are underway, and how grid modernization impacts clean energy procurement goals.

Session Hosts

Jenny Helfrich, Manager, State Policy, Ceres

Mexico: Navigating the New Regulatory Framework

Table Topic Conversation

This session will cover strategies for procuring renewables in the new regulatory framework in Mexico, aided by new tools available from REBA. A short update on market conditions and pricing will be provided to help guide the discussion.

Session Hosts

Luis Romero, Renewable Energy Specialist, WWF Mexico
Inder Rivera, Manager, Clean Energy, WRI Mexico

Policy Tactics for Advancing Corporate Buyer Interests

Table Topic Conversation

Changes in policy can make or break your options to access renewable energy. Companies can shape policy outcomes by engaging with legislators, regulators, and other key decision-makers, but doing so may feel like stepping into a minefield. This discussion will break down the questions companies should ask when considering policy engagement, and discuss best practices, success stories, and lessons learned for future engagements.

Session Hosts

Caitlin Marquis, Manager, AEE

Federal Policy Engagement - Why It Matters?

Table Topic Conversation

The current Administration has quite different views on energy policy than the last. This session will discuss proposed Federal programs and policies that will impact renewable energy procurement, including the potential for further subsidizing fossil fuel assets, the replacement of the Clean Power Plan, and more. Attendees will be able to discuss the strategies their companies have employed for navigating the new Federal energy landscape and how they have advocated for actions that support their renewable energy and climate goals.

Session Hosts

Ryan Martel, Director, Federal Policy, Ceres
Malcolm Woolf, Senior VP, Policy and Government Affairs, AEE

Solar Heat for Industrial Processes

Table Topic Conversation

This session will present and discuss the existing market for solar thermal for industrial processes, including the technologies that can be readily used today, its potential in the future, the different industries that solar thermal makes sense for, and a preliminary idea of what costs would look like. The session will include research by RMI and successful case studies to help show the market potential.

Session Hosts

Krutarth Jhaveri, OCS Intern, Rocky Mountain Institute

What's the Next Big Thing for Small Buyers?

Table Topic Conversation

VPPAs aren't always simple for small buyers to tackle. This table, hosted by Maeve Tropf of Steelcase, will discuss common challenges for small buyers pursuing a VPPAs or other agreements and the solutions for addressing them. The conversation will be about: climate change and goal setting, and how both of these topics tie back into the organization's renewable energy procurement strategy; creative solutions for getting approval from leadership; and different ways to monitor and track how an executed VPPA is performing

Session Hosts

Maeve Tropf, Sr. Sustainability Analyst, Steelcase

Updates and Expert Q&A on Corporate Renewable Procurement in China

Table Topic Conversation

As changes in the Chinese renewable energy market continue at pace, they are creating a confusing environment for business planning. This table, hosted by the Rocky Mountain Institute's Business Renewables Center (BRC) China program, will discuss the latest developments and their implications with peers, and have your questions answered from the experienced table attendees.

Session Hosts

Tian Qiao, Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute's Business Renewables Center (BRC)
Caroline Zhu, Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute's Business Renewables Center (BRC)

Bioenergy - Is It Carbon Neutral?

Table Topic Conversation

The Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) has been working on guidance around carbon accounting for bioenergy projects. Come learn about the areas of consensus and debate, the distinction between carbon and climate neutrality, and ongoing work being done to generate further consensus around carbon accounting for bioenergy.

Session Hosts

Jessica McGlyn, Catalynics

The New REBA: Learn More and Get Engaged!

Table Topic Conversation

Join REBA leadership to learn more about the proposed membership structure and membership transition plan. This is a chance to exchange on the process going forward and offer feedback.

Session Hosts

REBA Leadership

Best Practices in Global GHG Reduction Programs for Companies and Their Suppliers

Table Topic Conversation

Many companies' headquarters teams are looking outside their core geographies to address their international and perhaps widely distributed electricity loads and are asking their suppliers around the world to create emission reduction goals and plans. This table conversation, hosted by 3Degrees, will introduce implementation options for international renewable energy supply, along with key enablers to successful implementation programs whether for own load or suppliers. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of these options. Our goal is to identify best practices in establishing impactful, multi-year program strategies that actually work.

Session Hosts

Erin Craig, VP, Energy and Climate Practice, 3Degrees

Creating a Thermal REC to Facilitate RE Thermal Projects

Table Topic Conversation

One significant barrier to expansion of thermal energy markets is the lack of a standardized system to transfer and track claims about the thermal environmental attributes, as a REC enables in renewable electricity markets. Deals can be made through supply contracts, but without standardized verification of the renewable attributes and claims, deals tend to be constrained to local, physical resources. CRS and Element Markets are working together to create a system to track the associated environmental benefits of each generated biogas unit. Explore what this approach means for biogas/renewable natural gas specifically, but also what additional tracking and standardization might be enabled for a broader suite of thermal projects.

Session Hosts

John McDougal, VP, Environmental Products, Element Markets
Chip Wood, Director, Strategic Partnerships, CRS

Opportunities for Better Collaboration with Key Suppliers on Renewable Energy, Insights from Vietnam.

Table Topic Conversation

Informed by REBA's work in the apparel sector in Vietnam, explore opportunities for collaborating with key suppliers to increase renewable energy consumption in supply chains in support of Science Based Targets (SBTs). Learn about a new pilot program in Vietnam that will allow PPAs with renewable energy developers.

Session Hosts

Scott Bartos, USAID Vietnam

Partnering with Communities and Municipal Utilities to Achieve Climate Goals and Savings Through Long-Term, Pre-Construction REC Agreements

Table Topic Conversation

This table conversation, hosted by Organic Valley and One Energy Renewables will discuss Organic Valley's approach to community solar as an alternative to green source riders and other mechanisms to achieve corporate renewable goals. Come to learn about the many benefits, including the freedom to innovate, shared energy cost savings, and flexibility that working with municipal utilities can provide, in regulated markets like Wisconsin.

Session Hosts

Stanley Minnick, Energy Services Manager, Organic Valley
Eric Udelhofen, Director of Development, One Energy Renewables

5:00pm to 5:30pm

Day One Close-out

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

5:30pm to 7:00pm

Networking Reception

Networking

10th Street (VERGE Microgrid)

Tuesday, October 16th, 2018

7:30am to 8:45am

Registration

Networking

Lobby

7:30am to 8:15am

REBA Discussion Breakfast

Plenary

Salons A, B, & C

Additional information on the future of REBA will be shared during this breakfast, with a chance to answer your questions. Breakfast is for buyers and suppliers that participate in REBA initiatives.

8:30am to 8:45am

Welcome and Check-In

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

8:45am to 9:30am

Fireside Chat: The Power of Partnership for a Clean Energy Economy

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

This dynamic conversation between a leading global transportation and technology company and Michigan's largest utility will focus on the power of collaboration to build a clean energy economy that benefits communities, helps transform the energy system, and creates opportunities for others. These companies will discuss what it takes to drive this vision in a region that still has a significant presence of coal, and look ahead to what more is needed to further accelerate the clean energy transition.

9:30am to 10:00am

Break

9:55am to 11:30am

Solution Workshops

Solution Session

Deep dive solution sessions by track.

10:00am to 11:30am

Greening the Grid: Phasing Out Coal and Gas

Solution Workshop

The grid has many uneconomic coal (and some gas) power plants that are running due to archaic market structures. The transition to a carbon-free electricity system will require an accelerate removal of such generation. This workshop will empower participants to shape the conversation around “removing dirty electrons” through working groups and eventually, help bring viable solutions to the fore that are a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved.

Facilitators

Uday Varadarajan, Principle, Rocky Mountain Institute
Bruce Nilles, Senior Fellow, Rocky Mountain Institute
Lily Donge, Principle, Business Renewables Center, Rocky Mountain Institute

How Can We Standardize the Renewables Ask of Our Suppliers?

Solution Workshop

This solution session will map how an effective and transparent common practice, or approach, needs to look and act in order to streamline and propel the supply chain movement forward. This practice, or approach, will seek to provide a clear and common framework for suppliers to manage and respond to multiple inbounds from customers (or changing customers), without creating an unnecessary burden.

Facilitators

Mark Porter, Manager, Business Renewable Center, Rocky Mountain Institute
Dan Riley, Director, International Corporate Climate Partnerships, WWF
Sam Kimmins, Head of the RE100, The Climate Group

Understanding VPPA Price Risk with the Experts

Solution Workshop

This Solution Workshop explores main the risks that corporate buyers face in a VPPA, a dive deeper into market price risk and what the implications of those risks are for the buyer. The session will allow participants to interact with each other and receive answers to pressing questions from a panel of experienced buyers, developers, and intermediaries.

Facilitators

Erik Haug, Manager, Business Development, Apex Clean Energy
Urvi Parekh, Renewable Energy Development, Facebook
Emily Williams, Senior Director, Energy Markets & Sustainability, Edison Energy
Harry Singh, Vice President, Goldman Sachs
Denise Hugo, Director of Origination, Geronimo Energy

Rounding Out Your Renewables Toolkit: Policy Engagement in 2019 and Beyond

Solution Workshop

Building on the Day 1 policy sessions that established policy as a critical tool for meeting buyer clean energy goals, this session will look toward what the next generation of policy engagement can look like and how REBA can help. Attendees will be able to join small discussions to plan, share feedback, and identify the most important priorities in 2019 and beyond.

Facilitators

Caitlin Marquis, Manager, Federal and State Policy, AEE
Malcolm Woolf, Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, AEE
Jenny Helfrich, Manager, State Policy, Ceres
Ryan Martel, Director, Federal Policy, Ceres
Josh Kaplan, Program Officer, Renewable Energy and Climate, WWF
Lou Leonard, SVP, Climate and Energy Climate, WWF

Advancing Renewable Thermal Solutions

Solution Workshop

Renewable thermal solutions are still relatively immature compared to renewable electricity options. Join the Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC), which was launched to advance renewable thermal solutions for large buyers, to discuss how to build on the RTC's recent successes.

Facilitators

David Gardiner, Principal, President, DGA
Blaine Collison, Senior Vice President, DGA
Marty Spitzer, Senior Director, Climate and Renewable Energy, WWF

Co-creating Utility Sector Solutions by Region

Solution Workshop

Participants in this session will take a regional approach to identify the opportunities and potential approaches that customers and utilities could collaborate on at the next frontier of utility solutions. Buyers and suppliers will be able to engage directly with each other through small group discussions to share needs, lessons, and explore new opportunities.

Facilitators

Priya Barua, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, WRI
Heidi Bishop, Manager, U.S. Electricity Markets, WRI

11:30am to 12:00pm

Closing Reflections

Plenary

East Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

12:00pm to 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm to 1:45pm

VERGE 18: Organizer's Welcome

Plenary

GreenBiz welcomes everyone to VERGE 18 and sets the stage for this year's global flagship event — including attendees from our three new concurrent conferences: VERGE Energy, VERGE Transport and VERGE Circular.

1:30pm to 3:30pm

Buyers-only Meeting

Working Session

Salon A - D

This session will provide a structured networking opportunity to connect with other buyers and discuss buyer-specific challenges and innovations for expanding the market. This will also be a listening session to help develop and inform next steps for the REBA community.

1:45pm to 1:50pm

VERGE 18: Mayor's Welcome

Plenary

The City of Oakland's Mayor Libby Schaaf kicks off VERGE 18 (and the City's official "Clean Economy Week") and how cities like Oakland are critical to accelerating the clean economy.

1:50pm to 2:00pm

VERGE 18: VERGE Talk: Opening Evocation — Welcome to Here

Plenary

Creating the conditions for open hearts, rootedness in place, and a reminder and recognition of the deeper purpose of our gathering. Our goal is to to help generate the will for change, and to remind all of us in the VERGE community that we are part of a developing story, where all of our work to date is part of a grander arc of process and progress.

2:00pm to 2:20pm

VERGE 18: Catalyzing a New Carbon Economy

Plenary

An exploration of the new carbon economy, the promise of “carbon capture 2.0” and the market for carbon-utilizing and carbon-removing products and services across industries. From reinventing supply chains to transforming atmospheric CO2 into materials that can be used in the production of cement, plastics, and more, this multi-faced discussion will explore the potential for carbon as an economic driver rather than environmental enemy.

2:20pm to 2:30pm

VERGE 18: VERGE Talk: Innovating for 100

Plenary

It’s no secret that Silicon Valley drives the tech world. From smart cars to smart homes, California continues to boast the world’s latest high-tech innovations and developments. Yet many Californians still lack access to technological advancements that could dramatically improve their everyday lives. High-tech products and services are viewed by many residents in low- to moderate-income communities as out-of-reach luxuries rather than attainable necessities. The innovations shaping the future of energy, transportation, water access, agriculture, and beyond are no exception to this reality. Although everyone has access to these innovations (equality), that does not mean everyone has been given what they need to be successful (equity). We are on a mission to seek out the entrepreneurs whose business models are designed for this new market (equity out), as well as those seeking to build diverse teams (equity in).

2:30pm to 2:50pm

VERGE 18: Unleashing the Global Circular Economy

Plenary

A demystifying exploration into the phenomenon that is the "circular economy," why recycling will not get us there, how organizations around the world are unlocking upstream solutions, and why upending models across industries is a $2.3 trillion opportunity.

2:50pm to 3:10pm

VERGE 18: Circular Water and the Digital Transformation

Plenary

Today, water scarcity is so prevalent that many of our desired economic, social, and environmental goals are out of reach. If we continue to treat water as a disposable, consumable resource, a global crisis is imminent. But if we seize the circular economy opportunity – and leverage technology that already exists to drive better water management and stewardship – we can not only protect our single most important shared resource, we can ensure that businesses can grow to meet the increasing demands of the world for years to come.

3:10pm to 3:15pm

VERGE 18: VERGE Vanguards: Honoring Energy Pioneers

Plenary

GreenBiz is excited to present our inaugural group of VERGE Vanguard honorees. From scaling affordable microgrids to catalyzing corporate renewables procurement, executive editor Joel Makower honors those transforming the energy sector.

3:15pm to 3:45pm

VERGE 18: VERGE Accelerate: Energy Showcase

Plenary

A pitch competition that provides entrepreneurs in energy, buildings, transportation, supply chains, water, food, and cities the opportunity to present to the diverse VERGE community: executives from the world's largest companies, public officials from progressive cities, venture capitalists, and others.

VERGE Accelerate on Day 1 of our event focuses on the most promising early-stage ENERGY startup solutions.

For more details, refer to our VERGE Accelerate page.

3:45pm to 4:15pm

VERGE 18: Break

Plenary

Short networking break during our opening plenary (general session).

4:15pm to 4:35pm

VERGE 18: Financing the Future to Scale the Clean Economy

Plenary

Complementary perspectives from across the finance ecosystem explain how they are helping to accelerate the clean economy — from clean energy technologies to sustainable transportation infrastructure to equitable community development. The panel will also discuss how to tap into the various financial sources, unlock these options as a business or a local government, and what it will take to scale clean economy growth.

4:35pm to 4:55pm

VERGE 18: Electrifying Fleets — Accelerating an EV Revolution

Plenary

Commercial and industrial vehicle fleets — from delivery vans to garbage trucks to transit buses — are beginning to electrify. This segment could go electric more rapidly than passenger vehicles, thanks to incentives and mandates, potential fuel savings and corporate sustainability goals. In this session you'll hear from some of the leaders like UPS and BYD that are buying and selling the latest electric fleet vehicles.

4:55pm to 5:05pm

VERGE 18: Special Performance: Voice[On]Display

Plenary

Opera artist Amanda Gregory and digital artist Can Büyükberber present Voice[On]Display: a live performance with Augmented Reality, representing the personified relationship between Nature, Technology, and Humans.

Originally developed during Büyükberber's Immersive Artist Research Residency at Adobe, Faces[On]Display is an ongoing augmented reality work and projection installation that uses face-tracking and facial gesture recognition to explore the notion of self-representation in contemporary digital culture.

Making its debut at the Festival of the Impossible exhibit at Minnesota Street Project, the interdisciplinary collaboration translates Gregory’s operatic vocal performance into a live projection map of the sounds and moods of the music, creating a multi-sensory exploration of meaning. Electronic soundscapes and real-time visuals portray an elegant dialogue between the archetypal embodiment of Nature as Earth’s evolutionary force, and Technology as the extension of human capabilities and will. The piece offers a vignette to experience ourselves as an extension of nature, interlinked with technology as an extension of us.

5:05pm to 5:30pm

REBA Summit Closing Panel at VERGE 18: Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy

Plenary

An exploration into the various strategies and solutions that companies, utilities and clean energy leaders are taking in their pursuit of 100% renewable energy — including how to help put renewable electricity in places that wouldn't otherwise have access to that power to help accelerate the pace of our global clean energy transition. The panelists will also discuss how to speed up decarbonization - not just in energy but other sectors (transportation, industry, ag, etc).

5:30pm to 7:00pm

VERGE 18: Networking Reception

Networking

Networking Reception with Emerging Leaders Meet & Greet! Plus join PXiSE Energy Solutions for microgrid wine at their Specialty Bar (located in the Interconnect Expo).