Powering Strong Communities
Virtual Event

Leveraging Federal Funding to Move Public Power Forward

Discover new industry trends, technologies, and customer expectations and share your thoughts on public power’s future.
Virtual Event

Public Power Forward Summit

The Public Power Forward Virtual Summit brings public power leaders together to preview and prepare for the future and the changes in technology, customer expectations, distribution models, government policies, and more.

This year’s summit will focus on the energy technology and infrastructure programs enacted through the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provide insight into funds available, how to access them and utilize them, how these new technologies can benefit your utility and the impacts they may have on your system. 

Who Should Attend

  • General managers and CEOs
  • Policy and strategy leaders
  • Individuals focused on IIJA and other funding opportunities
  • Senior operations and business managers
  • Public communications staff
  • Mayors
  • City council members/commissioners
  • Governing board members (elected and appointed)
  • Industry partners, strategic thinkers subject matter experts

More Information

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

 

Agenda

Tuesday, October 18

10 - 10:30 am Eastern 
Welcome & Opening Keynote Address: 
Advancing the Grid with New Federal Energy Programs and Research

Kick off the summit with an overview of the energy technology and infrastructure programs enacted through the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Learn about the breadth of the Department of Energy and national laboratory research and how these efforts tie into reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining affordable and reliable electricity. 

Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator for the White House. A former two-term mayor of New Orleans, he led the recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. Landrieu is also the founder of racial- and economic-equity initiative E Pluribus Unum. He previously served two terms as lieutenant governor of Louisiana and 16 years as a state legislator. 

10:30 – 11:30 am Eastern
IIJA Opportunities for Public Power

Get an overview of the various IIJA funding opportunities relevant to public power. Learn how some IIJA funding flows through the states, while other funding is open to public power utilities directly. This law includes $1.2 trillion in funding for transportation, energy, and water infrastructure and includes opportunities for public power ranging from electric vehicle charging infrastructure, enhancing grid resilience, transmission, cyber security, energy efficiency, and broadband. 

Gelane Diamond, Associate, Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C.; and Mary Sprayregen, Sr. Director of Global Regulatory Affairs and Market Development, Oracle Energy & Water

11:30 am – Noon Eastern 
Break

Noon – 1 pm Eastern
Planning for the Grid of the Future
How do you model the grid impacts of increased electrification? How do you decide if energy storage is economical for your community? How do you incorporate equity considerations into grid planning? Learn from experts on the tools, considerations, and tips for translating industry changes into impacts on your utility to enhance the reliability and resilience of your community to meet future needs.

Carl Linvill, Principal, Regulatory Assistance Project and Kevin Marquardt, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Sentient Energy

1 - 1:30 pm Eastern
Break

1:30 – 2:30 pm Eastern
Transportation Electrification – IIJA Opportunities and EV Trends
Learn about how the IIJA is supporting the build out of a national charging network as well as helping advance battery technology and recycling. Hear how utilities are building equity into their EV programs, testing vehicle-grid integration technologies, and working with fleet operators.

Scott Martin, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer, SMUD, Sacramento, California; Alex Schroeder, Chief Technology Officer, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, Department of Energy; and Debra Smith, General Manager/CEO, Seattle City Light, Washington

2:30 – 2:45 pm Eastern
Break

2:45 – 3:45 pm Eastern
What’s New with Green Hydrogen
Learn about the regional hydrogen hubs and electrolysis and clean hydrogen manufacturing and recycling programs established by the IIJA. Discover how public power is already embracing green hydrogen and how the industry is evolving. 

Hank Courtright, Executive Consultant – Strategy and Corporate Services, Salt River Project, Phoenix, Arizona; Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; and Vishal Shah, CEO & Managing Partner, Hydrogen Technology Ventures

3:45 – 4 pm Eastern
Break

4 – 5 pm Eastern
Building a Resilient and Smart Grid of the Future

The IIJA includes over $14 billion in funding for grid resiliency projects and smart grid infrastructure. Learn the latest on these funding opportunities and about the tools, technologies, and upgrades that could help you build a resilient grid in your community.

Daniel Crawley, Supervisor, Strategic Research, and Jim Glass, Senior Manager, Smart Grid Development, EPB, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Brian Taylor, General Manager, CDE Lightband, Clarksville, Tennessee; and Karen Wayland, CEO, GridWise Alliance


Wednesday, October 19

10:30 – 11:30 am Eastern
Cybersecurity in a Grid of the Future

Adding more advanced technologies to the grid and producing more data presents new cyber risks for utilities. Learn about these challenges and tips for enhancing your utility’s cyber security posture. The Department of Energy will discuss federal resources and programs that support cyber security. 

Cynthia Hsu, Cybersecurity Program Manager for Rural and Municipal Utilities, Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER); and John Fry, Director, Cyber Risk Engineering, Axio

11:30 – 11:45 am Eastern
Break

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Eastern
Broadband Funding Opportunities
The IIJ A allocates $65 billion to support and fund broadband initiatives. Much of this funding is specifically targeted at and encourages participation by public entities, including public power utilities, either directly or as part of public-private partnerships. Learn about broadband funding opportunities and key considerations in developing public private broadband partnerships. 

Jim Baller, Partner, and Sean Stokes, Partner, Keller and Heckman LLP

12:45 – 1:15 pm Eastern
Break

1:15 – 2:15 pm Eastern
Recruiting a Workforce to Meet New Industry Challenges 
With increased digitalization, advanced technologies, and the threat of cyberattacks, utilities need new skills in their workforce. Learn how utilities can grow, cross-train, and recruit diverse talent in their organization. 

Joseph Kane, Fellow, The Brookings Institution; and Rosa Schmidt, Director of Member Services and Veteran Programming, Center for Energy Workforce Development

2:15 – 2:30 pm Eastern
Break

2:30 – 3:30 pm Eastern
Tips for Federal Grants 
Hear from experts about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and how to apply for federal grants. Learn about federal grant application requirements and how they may differ from state or non-profit grant requirements. 

Alex Hilt, Director, and Brooke Opel, Grant Advisor, Baker Tilly

3:30 – 4:15 pm Eastern
Closing Keynote Address

Pat Hoffman, Principal Deputy Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy

The Public Power Forward Virtual Summit will be a virtual/online meeting.

Registration Fees

   
Member $725
Nonmember $1,400

Not yet a member? Join today and save money on your conference registration. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration for the Public Power Forward Summit when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!

Number of registrants Discount
(per person)
1-4 n/a
5-9 $50
10-14 $100
15-24 $150
25+ $200

Your group discount will be automatically applied when you register a group of 5 or more people. Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders. 

Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Tuesday, October 11, 2022, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 11 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2022 Public Power Forward Summit only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 11 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal, or addressed to: [email protected].

The Public Power Forward Virtual Summit will be a virtual/online meeting.

Accreditation and Certification

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits

The American Public Power Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Ave. N., Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37219-2417. Website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Earn up to 6.6 CPE credit hours for attending this virtual conference. All sessions are intermediate-level, group-internet based offerings with no prerequisites and no advance preparation required. Areas of study will be listed on the Verification of Attendance form. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as clarification of requirements, complaints, and refunds, contact [email protected].

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs)

APPA educational practices are consistent with the criteria for awarding Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Course eligibility and number of PDHs may vary by state.

Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Designation

Participating in conferences and seminars offered by the American Public Power Association’s Academy is an easy way to earn points toward the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) designation. RP3 is the Association’s program to recognize and reward public power utilities that demonstrate basic proficiency in four important disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. For more information, visit www.PublicPower.org/RP3.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Tuesday, October 11, 2022, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 11 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2022 Public Power Forward Summit only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 11 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

Can I earn educational credits for attending this conference?

Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for participating in sessions during this virtual event:

  • Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
  • Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
  • Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Ccedits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

You must participate in the live sessions to receive credit; certificates cannot be offered for viewing the recordings after the event. To receive a certificate for your participation, participants must complete the online conference evaluation after the event.

How can I present at this event?

We welcome your topic and speaker ideas for future conferences and events. To submit your idea for consideration, complete this form. Topics are generally determined 6-8 months before the event is held. Ideas will be kept on file for a full year, so if the agenda for the conference has already been determined, your ideas will be considered for the next year’s event, or in case any space opens up in the current year’s program. You will be contacted only if your idea is selected for an upcoming conference.

What is the APPA Code of Conduct for meeting attendees?

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings, with no warning or refund.

More questions?

Contact [email protected].