events held at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel unless noted

Monday, November 8th, 2021

7:00 — 8:00 AM attendee check-in | exhibits open

7:00 — 8:00 AM Breakfast sponsored by n solar

8:00 — 8:30 AM

Chairman’s Welcome
–John Hansen, Conference Chair

Mayor’s Welcome
–Leirion Gaylor Baird, Mayor of Lincoln

Welcome Remarks and State Update
–Jim Macy, Director, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

8:30 – 9:00 am

National View of Wind & Solar Energy Development
–Mark Yates, VP, Advanced Power Alliance, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Moderator: Ben Busboom, Senior Associate, Husch Blackwell

9:00 – 10:15 am

Nebraska Public Power Utilities CEO Panel
–Tom Kent, CEO, Nebraska Public Power District
–Kevin Wailes, CEO, Lincoln Electric System
–Javier Fernandez, CEO, Omaha Public Power District
Moderator: Stephen Bruckner, Partner, Fraser Stryker

10:15 – 10:45 am

10:45 – 11:15 am

Tri-State G&T - Responsible Energy Plan
–Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Moderator: Ken Curry, Vice President, Nebraska Public Power District

11:15 – 12:00 pm

Utility-Scale Battery Storage
–Carter Scott, Director, Energy Strategy, Ranger Power
–Courtney Kennedy, Alternative Energy Program Manager, Omaha Public Power District
Moderator: David Rich, Sustainable Energy Manager, Nebraska Public Power District

12:00 – 1:30 pm

–Lakin Garth, Senior Manager, Research and Industry Strategy, SEPA
Moderator: Travis Kepler, Director of Engineering, GRNE

Invocation: David Bracht, Of Counsel, Kutak Rock

1:45 – 2:30 pm

Breakout A - Lancaster I:

It All Begins With Landowners
–Sean Harris, VP of Development, Ranger Power
–Mike Zakrzewski, Landowner
–John Hansen, President, Farmers Union of Nebraska
Moderator: Dave Levy, Partner, Baird Holm

Breakout B - Lancaster IV:

Community Scale - Solar Battery Storage
–Jeff Berggren, Nebraska Program Manager, GenPro Energy Solutions
–Travis Kepler, Director of Engineering, GRNE
–Drake Becksted, Contracts Administrator, Interconnection Systems, Inc.
Moderator: Josh Moenning, Mayor, City of Norfolk

2:40 – 3:25 pm

Winter Storm Uri Aftermath: Improving Grid Resilience
–Casey Cathey, Director, System Planning, Southwest Power Pool
Moderator: Courtney Kennedy, Alternative Energy Program Mgr, Omaha Public Power District

3:25 – 3:45 pm

3:45 – 4:15 pm

Embracing a Grid of the Future
–Casey Cathey, Director, System Planning, Southwest Power Pool
Moderator: Courtney Kennedy, Alternative Energy Program Mgr, Omaha Public Power District

4:15 – 5:00 pm

Policy and Legislative Update: State Senators Panel
–Senator Wendy DeBoer, District 10
–Senator John McCollister, District 20
–Senator Eliot Bostar, District 29
Moderator: John Hansen, Conference Chair

5:00 - 6:30 pm

  Tuesday, November 9th, 2021

7:00 — 8:30 AM

7:00 — 8:00 AM

8:30 – 9:15 am

Hydrogen Generation

Making Hydrogen via Electrolysis Using Renewable Energy
-Keith Wipke, Laboratory Program Mgr for the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies, NREL
Hydrogen Production via Natural Gas/Electricity
-Rob Hanson, CEO, Monolith
Moderator: Rick Clark, Senior Director of New Product Innovation, NextEra

9:15 – 10:00 am

Energy Issues in Nebraska and Other States
–David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
Moderator: Joe Francis, former Associate Dir, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

10:00 – 10:30 am

10:30 – 11:30 Am

Breakout A - Lancaster I:

Planning and Zoning Regulations for Solar
–Lee Greenwald, Attorney, Baird Holm
–Ryan Zimmerman, Chairman, Pierce County Planning Commission
–Jon Cannon, Executive Director & Legal Counsel, Nebraska Association of County Officials
Moderator: John Hansen, Conference Chair

Breakout B - Lancaster iv:

How Big Corporate Customers are Changing the Business Model
–Tim O’Brien, Director, Economic Develop. & External Relations, Omaha Public Power District
–Maggie Tallmadge, Business Development Manager, Ranger Power
–Phil Joyner, Monolith
Moderator: David Rich, Sustainable Energy Manager, Nebraska Public Power District

11:30 – 12:45 pm

Climate Change Considerations for Renewable Energy Vitality
–Martha Shulski, State Climatologist of Nebraska, UNL School of Natural Resources
Moderator: Matt Jones, NextEra

Invocation: David Bracht, Of Counsel, Kutak Rock

12:45 – 1:15 pm

–Drawings held

1:15 – 2:00 pm

Breakout A - lancaster I:

Environmental Planting Around Solar Installations
–Susan Opperman, Associate Scientist, Olsson
–James Hartsig, Vegetation Manager, Invenergy
–Melissa Marinovich, Assistant Division Administrator, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Moderator: Shelby Ridenour, Associate Scientist, Olsson

Breakout B - Lancaster iv:

Electric Vehicles Are Driving Changes in the Electrical Grid
–Chad Pinkelman, Sustainable Strategies Consultant, Nebraska Public Power District
–Aaron Miller, Energy Division Chief, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
–Scott Benson, Resource and Transmission Planning Manager, LES

2:00 – 2:15 pm

–John Hansen, Conference Chair