Rapid decarbonization will take decades, leading to a medium-term future in which the fossil-based energy system coexists with a new, zero-carbon energy system.New infrastructure is required in the United States to meet net-zero targets. At the same time, current infrastructure needs to be made more resilient to increased demands for electricity and extreme weather-related impacts on critical energy infrastructure.
This panel will look at the challenges and opportunities of the mid-transition period, how we finance and build the requisite energy system infrastructure to support decarbonization, and the timing of retirements and additions.
Please join us in this session as our board member and Academic Director of New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, Carolyn Kissane, will explore these issues with a great line-up of panelists. We will host this session in person as well as virtually via zoom webinar.
SPEAKERS
Bruce Schlein
Bruce Schlein is Director, Head of ESG at OMERS Infrastructure. In this role, he is responsible for developing OMERS Infrastructure’s global ESG strategy and supporting its integration and execution. Bruce works closely with Boards and management teams at portfolio companies to develop tools and programs to improve ESG performance and supports the integration of ESG into portfolio formation, capital allocation and deal origination.
Prior to joining OMERS, Bruce served in several ESG roles at Citi including Director, Impact Investing, Director, Alternative Energy Finance, and co-lead of the Corporate Sustainability team. Before this, Bruce worked for Bechtel as a sustainability specialist on infrastructure projects in China and Eastern Europe, and for several international development organizations. He is a former Board member of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and currently sits on the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation Board.
Bruce has a Bachelor of Arts (Government) from Cornell University and a Master of Arts (International Economics) from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. He has held various adjunct faculty positions at SAIS, New York University, Bard College, and Cornell’s Johnson School of Business.
Kristin Barbato
Kristin Barbato is an accomplished energy and sustainability executive with over 25 years of experience in scaling innovative solutions in utilities, government, and corporations. Currently, she is Co-founder and President of Dynamo Energy Hub. Dynamo brings together traditional energy companies and climate tech innovators, investors, policymakers, and thought leaders to facilitate the energy transition and shape the future of energy. She is CEO of Build Edison which she founded to help energy solutions get to scaled commercialization faster. In previous roles, she was Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and NYC’s Chief Energy Management Officer leading the long-term sustainability plan for the US’s largest municipal energy infrastructure (annual budget of $1.3 Billion).
Robert Gramlich
Rob Gramlich is Founder and President of Grid Strategies LLC where he provides economic policy analysis for clients on electric transmission and power markets in pursuit of low-cost de-carbonization. He is co-founder of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, the WATT Coalition, and the Future Power Markets Forum.
Rob oversaw transmission and power market policy for the American Wind Energy Association from 2005 through 2016 as Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs, Interim CEO, and Policy Director. He was Economic Advisor to FERC Chairman Pat Wood III from 2001 to 2005, Senior Economist at PJM Interconnection in 1999 and 2000, Senior Associate at PG&E National Energy Group in 2000-2001, and an analyst at the FERC Office of Economic Policy, ICF Resources, the World Resources Institute, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the 1990s. He testifies frequently before the US Congress, US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), US Department of Energy, and state legislatures and regulatory commissions. He has served on advisory committees for the U.S. Department of Energy and the North American Energy Standards Board, and on boards of a number of regional clean energy organizations.
MODERATOR
Carolyn Kissane
Carolyn Kissane serves as the Academic Director of New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and Director of NYU’s SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab. Carolyn Kissane’s areas of thought leadership and entrepreneurship include the Energy Transition, Sustainability Innovation, and Policy, as well as Cybersecurity. Dr. Kissane is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the National Committee on US-China Relations. She serves on the boards of the New York Energy Forum, New York Energy Week, and Clean Start Advisory Board. She was awarded Breaking Energy’s Top Ten New York Women in Energy and Top Ten Energy Communicator. She hosts Fueling our Future, which brings energy and environment experts together for discussion and debate. Dr. Kissane received her Ph.D. from Columbia University.
PROGRAM
5:30 - 6:00 PM: Registration
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Presentation and Discussion
7:30 - 8:00 PM: Reception
COST
Registration is required for all attendees. This session is now complimentary for all attendees.
QUESTIONS
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