2025 Draft Agenda
**SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
as of August 18, 2025
EVENTS HELD AT THE CORNHUSKER MARRIOTT HOTEL UNLESS NOTEd
Monday, October 20, 2025
3:00 - 6:00 PM EXHIBITOR SETUP
4:30 - 6:00 PM VIP Reception (by invitation only)
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
7:00 - 8:00 AM ATTENDEE CHECK-IN | EXHIBITS OPEN
7:00 - 8:00 AM BREAKFAST | SPONSORED BY SANDHILLS ENERGY
8:00 - 8:30 AM welcome
Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman’s Welcome
–John Hansen, Conference Chairman, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference
Welcome Remarks and State Update
–Sandra Washington, Vice Chair, Lincoln City Council
–Jesse Bradley, Director, Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Market Changes & Investor Strategies
Project development in the post One Big Beautiful Bill environment
Speakers:
–Chris Cook, Director of Operational Efficiency, ISI Solar
–Carol Waszak, Manager, Renewable Energy Resource, Omaha Public Power District
–Brian Boerner, Senior Vice President of Development, Sandhills Energy
Moderator: Drake Becksted, VP, Sales & Marketing, ISI Solar
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Nebraska Battery Projects
This is a look at large, medium, and small utility-scale projects under construction in Nebraska.
Speakers:
–Jon Sunneberg, Utility Scale Alternative Energy Mgr, Nebraska Public Power District
–Scott Benson, Manager, Resource & Transmission Planning, Lincoln Electric System
–TBA, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
Moderator: Eric Stoutenburg, Director, Energy Storage, Eolian Energy Storage
10:00 - 10:30 AM Break Sponsored by Invenergy
10:30 – 11:15 AM
Green Economic Development
Rising to the challenge of meeting Nebraska’s growing new electric generation needs.
Speakers:
–Hunter Traynor, EVP of Legislation & Policy, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
–Luke Virgil, Economic Development Director, City of Wayne
–Dustin Marvel, Government & Community Relations Mgr, Omaha Public Power District
Moderator: Josh Moenning, Director, New Power Nebraska
11:15 – 12:00 PM
A Rooftop View of Urban Solar
Across Nebraska, Commercial and Industrial Companies are choosing to integrate solar energy into their buildings. This portion of the program will be devoted to sharing drone footage and commentary about some of the leading urban solar projects in Nebraska.
Speakers:
–Molly Brown, EVP of Corporate Strategy, GenPro Energy Solutions
–TBA
Moderator: Rich Lombardi, Public Policy Consultant Nebraska, Advanced Power Alliance
12:00 - 1:30 PM Keynote Luncheon | SPONSORED BY nextera energy resources
The Sun Still Shines and the Wind Still Blow
–JC Sandberg, Chief Advocacy Officer, American Clean Power Association
Moderator: Dexter Liu, Executive Director of Development - Central US, NextEra
Energy Resources
1:30 - 1:45 PM Break Sponsored by kutak rock
1:45 – 2:30 PM
BREAKOUT A - LANCASTER I:
Maximizing Positive Rural Engagement & Minimizing Negative Misinformation
Hear from experts on how to address some common misinformation related to renewable energy development as well. Panelists will also share their experience with successful community engagement strategies.
Speakers:
–Dr. Jonny Rogers, CEO, Persimia and Lockheed Martin Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech
–Dr. Christopher Ollson, Sr. Environmental Health Scientist, Ollson Environmental Health
Management
–Alan Claus Anderson, Energy Practice Group Chair, Polsinelli Law Firm
Moderator: David Bracht, Of Counsel, Kutak Rock
BREAKOUT B - LANCASTER IV:
The Future of PV Solar Markets in the Heartland (and Beyond)
Panel participants will present and discuss the market forecast following the
2025 reconciliation bill passing in July, and where, as a PV Solar EPC and O&M services
provider, ISI Solar sees the future of Distributive Generation PV solar facilities heading.
Speakers:
–Aaron Brown, VP - Engineering & Development, ISI Solar
–Chris Cook, Director of Operational Efficiency, ISI Solar
–Drake Becksted, VP, Sales & Marketing, ISI Solar
2:40 – 3:30 PM
Policy and Legislative Update: State Senators Panel
Speakers:
–Senator Tom Brandt, District 32
–TBA
Moderator: John Hansen, Conference Chair, Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference
3:30 - 3:50 PM Break
3:50 - 5:00 pm
Nebraska Lobbyist Panel
Speakers:
–Eric Gerrard, Partner, American Communications Group
–Ken Schilz, Partner, Nebraska Strategies
–David Levy, Partner, Baird Holm
Moderator: John Hansen, Conference Chair, Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference
5:00 - 6:30 PM Reception
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
ATTENDEE CHECK-IN | EXHIBITS OPEN
7:00 AM
BREAKFAST | SPONSORED BY GENPRO ENERGY SOLUTIONS
7:00 - 8:15 AM
8:15 - 9:15 aM
Budget Reconciliation Impacts of Renewable Energy Development
Impact of budget reconciliation and change in administration.
Speaker:
–Brian Ross, Vice President, Renewable Energy, Great Plains Institute
Moderator: TBA
9:15 - 10:15 aM
SPP Generation Interconnection Queue Process and Current Backlog
Current process for interconnecting all types of generation into the transmission grid and the resulting challenges.
Speaker:
–Casey Cathey, VP of Engineering, System Planning, Southwest Power Pool
Moderator: Justin Pickar, Senior Director, Origination, Geronimo Power
10:15 - 10:30 am Break
10:30 - 11:30 aM
CHILL & HILGA – SPP's Proposed Reforms to Expedite Serving Large Loads
Conditional and High Impact Large Load reforms.
Speaker:
–Casey Cathey, VP of Engineering, System Planning, Southwest Power Pool
Moderator: Jon Sunneberg, Utility Scale Alternative Energy Mgr, Nebraska Public Power District
11:30 - 1:00 PM Keynote Luncheon |
Nebraska Public Power Utilities CEO Luncheon
Speakers:
–Tom Kent, CEO, Nebraska Public Power District
–Javier Fernandez, CEO, Omaha Public Power District
–Emeka Anyanwu, CEO, Lincoln Electric System
Moderator: Stephen Bruckner, Attorney, Fraser Stryker Law Firm
1:00 pm Exhibits Tear-Down
1:15 - 2:00 PM
BREAKOUT A - LANCASTER I:
TBA
BREAKOUT B - LANCASTER IV:
Exciting New Renewable Energy Technologies
Learn about some of the innovative approaches being used in renewable energy siting, operations, and maintenance. Panelists will discuss spatial tools for ground cover assessments and soil mapping and monitoring, using drones for operations, and maintenance monitoring.
Speakers:
–Dr. Jonny Rogers, CEO, Persimia and Lockheed Martin Professor in the School of Aerospace
Engineering at Georgia Tech
–Gunnar Malek-Madani, Project Scientist, Olsson
–TBA, Terracon
Moderator: Claire Burch, Scientist, Olsson
2:10 - 2:55 PM
BREAKOUT A - LANCASTER I:
TBA
BREAKOUT B - LANCASTER IV:
Utility Perspective Resources Planning
How Nebraska utilities are planning to meet the unprecedented load growth.
Speaker:
–Jason Rosenkrantz, Resource Planning and Risk Manager, Nebraska Public Power District
–Scott Benson, Manager, Resource & Transmission Planning, Lincoln Electric System
–Shannon Coleman, Director - Energy Portfolio Planning, Omaha Public Power District
Moderator: Jon Blumenthal, Attorney, McGrath North Law Firm
3:45 PM
Closing Remarks/Participant Feedback
–John Hansen, Conference Chair, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference