CREA Hosts its 15th Annual Energy Innovations Summit

At CREA’s Energy Innovations Summit, attendees hear more than two dozen experts discuss the latest development in today’s dynamic energy industry.

Breakout sessions provide a greater understanding of industry issues including advanced reactors, AI and data centers, and EV and transmission tech.

The expo gives stakeholders and industry leaders an opportunity to interact with vendors that are showcasing innovative products and services.

The 15th Annual Summit will be October 28, 2024 at Westin Westminster Hotel.

Join Us for an Engaging Fireside Chat with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper

We’re excited to invite you to the upcoming 15th Annual Energy Innovation Summit on October 28 at the Westin Westminster Hotel.

This year’s event will kick off with an engaging fireside chat featuring Sen. John Hickenlooper, who has been at the forefront of energy policy in Colorado and the U.S. for many years. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Sen. Hickenlooper will share his insights on the future of U.S. energy policy and the critical challenges of maintaining a reliable grid during the energy transition.

At this year’s Energy Innovation Summit you will have an unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators as we explore the pressing issues facing the energy sector today. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the conversation. Register today!

CREA Announces Keynote Speaker

Headshot of Camilo SernaCamilo Serna, who recently joined NERC as Senior Vice President of Strategy and External Engagement, will speak about the impact of coal fired power plant retirement on the North American power grid.

Join us at the Energy Innovations Summit to hear Serna’s industry expertise and insight into this topic.

Click here to read Serna’s bio.

Summit Materials

GENERAL SESSION – NUCLEAR FUSION: WILL IGNITION LEAD TO LIFTOFF?

Dr. Félicie Albert, Director-Jupiter Laser Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Zabrina Johal, Senior Director of Strategic Development, General Atomics

Moderator: Dr. Jeffrey King, Professor, Nuclear Science & Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

SESSION #1 – HYDROGEN UPDATE

Crystal Heter, Chief Operating Officer, Tallgrass Energy

Matt McMonagle, CEO & Founder, NovoHydrogen

Mark Ruth, Laboratory Program, Manager II-Policy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Moderator: Dr. Will Toor, Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office

SESSION #2 – GRID AUTOMATION

Astrid Atkinson, CEO & Co-Founder, Camus Energy

Dr. Santosh Veda, Manager-Grid Solutions, Dominion Energy

Marc Spieler, Senior Director of Energy, NVIDIA

Moderator: Bryan Hannegan, CEO, Holy Cross Energy

SESSION #3 – CRITICAL MINERALS & SUPPLY CHAINS

Dr. Roderick Eggert, Deputy Director, Critical Materials Institute

Marc LeVier, President, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration

Samantha Bench Reese, Senior Engineer/Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Moderator: Ashley Perkins, Senior Manager Supply Chain Services, Tri-State G&T

SESSION #4 – COMMERCIAL FLEET ELECTRIFICATION

Carly Filler, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Gage Zero

Matt Lerman, Infrastructure Program Manager, Colorado Energy Office

Quin O’Brien, Telematics & EV Specialist, Fluid Truck

Moderator: Steve Rooney, Intelligent Vehicle Briefs

LUNCH – NEXT GENERATION GEOTHERMAL POWER

Sarah Jewett, Vice President, Strategy, Fervo Energy

SESSION #5 – SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN: AGRIVOLTAICS AND AQUAVOLTAICS

Byron Kominek, Owner & Manager, Jack’s Solar Garden

Jordan Macknick, Lead Energy-Water-Land Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Dr. Brandi McKuin, Assistant Project Scientist, UC Merced

Moderator: Sen. Chris Hansen, Ph.D., Senator, Colorado General Assembly

SESSION #6 – SMART HOMES & BUILDINGS

Ryan Elarton, General Manager, San Isabel Electric Association

Amy Jiron, Director of Building Decarbonization, Colorado Energy Office

Lisa Reed, Manager-Energy Programs, Holy Cross Energy

Dr. Katelyn Stenger, Researcher III-Mechanical Engineering, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Moderator: Teri Viswanath, Lead Economist, Power Energy & Water, CoBank

GENERAL SESSION – QUANTUM COMPUTING: HOW WILL IT MODERNIZE THE GRID?

Dr. Amin Khodaei, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Denver

Dr. Rob Hovsapian, Research Advisor II-Mechanical Engineering, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Moderator: Kortny Rolston-Duce, Director of Marking Communications, Atom Computing

Welcome – Ginny Buczek, President, Colorado Rural Electric Association

General Session – Navigating the Energy Transition: A Conversation with Colorado Utility Leaders

Duane Highley, Chief Executive Officer, Tri-State G&T
Robert Kenney, President, Xcel Energy Colorado
Moderator: Kent Singer, Executive Director, CREA

Breakout Session #1 – Small Modular Reactors: The Key to a Carbon-Free Future?

Dr. Ron Faibish, Senior Director Strategic Development, General Atomics
Mike Miller, Project Director, NuScale Power
Tara Neider, Sr. Vice President & Project Director, Natrium Demonstration Reactor, TerraPower
Moderator: Dr. Jeffrey King, Professor, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

Breakout Session #2 – Electric Vehicles: Technology Update

Mike Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer, Prieto Battery, Inc.
Gurmesh Sidhu, Chief Product Officer, Moment Energy
Dr. James Trevey, Chief Technology Officer, Forge Nano
Moderator: Steve Rooney, Editor/Publisher, Intelligent Vehicle Briefs

Breakout Session #3 – The Business Case for Microgrids

Cameron Brooks, Executive Director, Think Microgrid
Bryan Hannegan, President & Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Energy
Margaret Miller, Director of Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs, ENGIE North America and Vice Chair Microgrid Resources Coalition
Moderator: Tim Coleman, Manager Government Relations, CREA

Breakout Session #4 – Hydrogen Possibilities and Roadblocks

J. Doug Arnette, Operations and Maintenance Manager, Georgia Power Company
Joe Beach, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Starfire Energy
Keith Wipke, Laboratory Program Manager-Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Moderator: Holly Krutka, Executive Director, School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming

Lunch with Guest Speaker

Robert Chapman, Senior Vice President, Energy Delivery and Customer Solutions, EPRI – Reliability & Resilience to Enable a Net Zero Economy

Breakout Session #5 – Battery Storage & Supply Chain Challenges

David Millar, Director of Consulting Services, Ascend Analytics
Dr. Caitlin Murphy, Senior Energy Policy Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Simon Price, Chief Executive Officer, Exawatt
Moderator: Teri Viswanath, Lead Economist, Power Energy and Water, CoBank

Breakout Session #6 – The Heat Beneath Our Feet: The Potential of Geothermal Energy

Ryan Dougherty, President, Geothermal Exchange Organization
Dr. William Fleckenstein, Director of Strategic Business Development, Office of Global Initiatives and Business Development, Colorado School of Mines
Dr. Amanda Kolker, Laboratory Program Manager – Geothermal Technologies, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Moderator: Keith Hay, Director of Policy, Colorado Energy Office

Emerging Co-op Business Models

Mark Gabriel, President & Chief Executive Officer, United Power
Jessica Matlock, Chief Executive Officer, La Plata Electric Association
Brad Zaporski, General Manager & Chief Executive Officer, San Miguel Power Association
Moderator: Craig Johnson, Director of Government Relations-General Counsel, CREA

Additional Resource

Lisa Tiffin, Safe Electricity, Electricity 101. Maintaining Tri-State’s System: Resource Adequacy in a Transitioning Grid

Thank You Summit Conference & Lunch Sponsors

xcel energy

Register for the Energy Innovations Summit