Morrison & Foerster LLP and E3 (Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc.), two well-known experts in the clean energy field, will be leading an exciting discussion on how advanced energy storage, smart grid, and responsive loads will shape the future of the electricity grid. Several federal and state policy drivers have shaped the investment and research landscape of these three classes of technologies. California’s greenhouse gas legislation, multiple state renewable portfolio standards, and other initiatives across the U.S. and the world have generated interest in how smart grid, storage, and flexible loads can help further achieve increased levels of renewables penetration, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles. Successfully engaging utilities and policy makers in the regulated energy sector is both critical and unexpectedly challenging for technology companies and VCs historically focused on market, rather than policy, driven opportunities. Against a backdrop of the current policy landscape, we describe the most relevant opportunities for engagement in building the grid of the future.
Discussion topics:
- What is driving investment in the energy sector.
- The need for more flexible resources – storage, demand response, responsive load.
- How smart grid and storage can support clean energy penetration.
- State and Federal policies influencing smart grid and storage development.
- Finding the “missing money” to enable the transition to a new energy economy.
- Market and Need myths for energy storage.
- What are the key policy levers that investors need to push/focus on for rapid adoption.
- Discussion of potential market opportunities and pathways for technology companies, investors, and policy makers.
Program Speakers:
E3 Presentation:
- Eric Cutter, Senior Consultant, E3
- Dr. Priya Sreedharan, Senior Consultant, E3
Panel Discussion:
- Kenneth Munson, President & CEO, Sunverge Energy, Inc.
- Malcolm Metcalfe, Founder, Chief Technology Officer, ENBALA Power Networks
- Fred Kittler, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Firelake Capital Management LLC
- Eric Cutter, Senior Consultant, E3
- Dr. Priya Sreedharan, Senior Consultant, E3
- Susan Mac Cormac, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP (Moderator)
Schedule:
- Registration and Lunch:
11:30 am – Noon
- Program:
Noon – 1:30 pm