2023 Agenda
events held at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel unless noted
Monday, October 23rd, 2023
3:00 — 6:00 pM Exhibitor setup
Tuesday, October 24th, 2023
7:00 — 8:00 AM attendee check-in | exhibits open
7:00 — 8:00 AM Breakfast | sponsored by SANdhills Energy
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
8:00 — 8:30 AM
Chairman’s Welcome
–John Hansen, Conference Chairman, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference
Welcome Remarks and State Update
–Sarah Starostka, Planning & Aid Division Administrator, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
8:30 – 9:15 am
The Growing Role of Renewable Energy
–David Terry, President, National Association of State Officials
Moderator: Sarah Starostka, Planning & Aid Division Administrator, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
9:15 – 10:00 am
Challenges to Meet Record Electrical Growth
–Lisa Hale, VP of Customer Services, Lincoln Electric System
–Devin Meisinger, Manager Economic Development, Omaha Public Power District
–Nicole Sedlacek, Economic Development Manager, Nebraska Public Power District
Moderator: Drake Becksted, Contracts Administrator, Interconnection Systems, Inc.
bREAK Sponsored by INVENERGY
10:00 – 10:30 am
10:30 – 11:15 am
Measuring the Benefits of Renewable Energy Development
–David Levy, Partner, Baird Holm
–Patrick Waldron, Tax Specialist Senior, Nebraska Department of Revenue
Moderator: Terry Hawley, Client Development Manager, Terracon
11:15 – 12:00 pm
IRA Production of Hydrogen
–Garrett Goldfinger, Dir., Hydrogen Infrastructure Development, NextEra Energy Resources
–Josh Westling, Founder, JWC Gburg, LLC
Moderator: Heidi Aschbacher, Owner/Development Consultant, Invenergy
Keynote Luncheon | Sponsored by Nelnet Renewables energy
12:00 – 1:30 pm
“Common Ground: Renewables and Agriculture Working Together”
–Mike Johanns, former U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Nebraska Governor
Moderator: Jess Baker, Director of Special Projects, Nelnet Renewable Energy
Break Sponsored By center for infrastructure & Economic Development
1:30 – 1:45 pm
1:45 – 2:30 pm
Breakout A - Lancaster I:
Communication Best Practices for Renewable Developments: The 80/10/10 Rule
–Mariah Lynne, Founder, Good Steward Consulting
Moderator: Tony Baumert, Environmental Industry Expert, Olsson
Breakout B - Lancaster IV:
Recycling of Turbine Blades
–Paul Brown, CEO, Advanced 4 Solutions
–David Morgan, Chief Strategy Officer, Carbon Rivers G2G
Moderator: Jewel Williams, Mechanical Engineer, Orsted
2:40 – 3:30 pm
BREAKOUT A - LANCASTER I:
State and Federal Cost Share Programs for Renewable Energy in Agriculture
–Aaron Miller, Energy Loan & Planning Section Supervisor, Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy
–Kate Bolz, State Director of Nebraska, USDA Rural Development
Moderator: David Rich, Sustainable Energy Manager, Nebraska Public Power District
BREAKOUT B - LANCASTER IV:
Community Impacts from Wind Energy End of Service and Component Recycling
–Frank Oteri, Market Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Moderator: Will Kirby, Renewable Energy Project Manager, HDR
3:40 – 4:25 pm
FERC’s Generator Interconnection Queue Reform Order: Key Provisions and Next Steps
–Linda Walsh, Partner, Husch Blackwell
Moderator: David Bracht, Attorney, Kutak Rock
4:25 – 5:15 pm
Policy and Legislative Update: State Senators Panel
–Senator Carol Blood, District 03
–Senator John Cavanaugh, District 09
–Senator George Dungan, District 26
–Senator Tom Brandt, District 32
Moderator: John Hansen, Chair, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference
Reception
5:15 - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, October 25th, 2023
Attendee Check-In | Exhibits Open
7:00 — 8:30 AM
Breakfast | sponsored by GenPro energy solutions
7:00 — 8:30 AM
8:15 – 9:15 am
The Inflation Reduction Act: The Greatest Investment in Rural Electrification Since the Rural Electrification Act
–Christopher McLean, Assistant Administrator, Rural Utilities Service Electric Programs
Moderator: Michael Knapp, Chief Development Officer, Sandhills Energy LLC
9:15 – 10:15 am
Battery Storage Session
–Jacob Steubing, VP, Power Markets Gridstor, LLC
–Page Bolin, Senior Manager, Project Development, AES
–Melissa Miller, Eolian
Moderator: Mike Degan, Of Counsel, Kutak Rock
break sponsored by Kutak Rock
10:15 – 10:40 am
10:40 – 11:30 Am
SPP: A Look at the Queue and Congestion Issues
–Casey Cathey, Director, System Planning, Southwest Power Pool
Moderator: Joe Lang, Director of Generation Strategy and Origination, OPPD
Keynote Luncheon | sponsored by nextera energy resources
11:30 – 1:00 pm
Nebraska Public Power Utilities CEO Luncheon
–John McClure, EVP External Affairs & GC, Nebraska Public Power District
–Javier Fernandez, CEO, Omaha Public Power District
–Kevin Wailes, CEO, Lincoln Electric System
Moderator: Stephan Bruckner, Fraser Stryker
Exhibits Tear-down
1:00 pm
1:15 - 2:00 pm
BREAKOUT A - LANCASTER I:
The Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy
–Kevin Connot, Owner, Advantage Consulting Group
–Josh Moenning, Mayor, City of Norfolk
–Cale Giese, Mayor, City of Wayne
Moderator: John Hansen, Committee Chair, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference
BREAKOUT B - LANCASTER IV:
Agrivoltaics: Key Considerations for Utility-Scale Solar in the Agricultural Landscape
–Pete Berthelsen, President, Conservation Blueprint/Bee & Butterfly
–Susan Freund Opperman, Project Scientist, Olsson
Moderator: Courtney Kennedy, VP of Business Development & Strategy, Power Delivery Services
2:10 - 3:10 pm
Climate modeling as a driver of optimal land use for clean energy, food production, and conservation
–Nels Johnson, Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy, The Nature Conservancy
–Aditya Ranade, Principal, Two Degrees Adapt
Moderator: David Levy, Partner, Baird Holm
3:10 pm
Closing Remarks/Participant Feedback
–John Hansen, Conference Chairman, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference