Dozens of energy leaders and experts from throughout the New England region met at Brandeis University outside of Boston Tuesday for an energyefficiency conference hosted by New England Economic Partnership (NEEP), Brandeis International Business School’s Perlmutter Institutefor Global Business Leadership, and Massachusetts Business Roundtable.
The conference, “Building the Backbone of Energy Efficiency: New England’s Competitiveness, Innovation, and Sustainability in the 21stCentury,” explored New England energy challenges and trends, including cost differences across the region, and the need to coordinateenergy policies across the region’s states.
“To be competitive in the future, New England must find ways to invest in a flexible grid and a mix of less expensive energy sources—gashydro, wind,” said John Ballantine, President of NEEP and faculty member at Brandeis IBS. “This means a coordinated energy policy acrossthe six New England states and investment of billions of dollars to modernize our infrastructure in pipelines, hydro, and wind to build a moresustainable future.”
Among the challenges discussed at the conference, Kevin Lindemer, Managing Director of IHS Global Insight/Cambridge Energy ResearchAssociates, discussed last winter’s brownout and the region’s persisting vulnerabilities.
“The market was tested last December when potential supply disruptions threatened the region before the Vermont Yankee nuclear plantclosed, indicating supply constraints in the system,” said Lindemer. “The balance is now tighter and the region will be dependent on acombination of factors to maintain adequate supply and keep prices low: low oil prices, sufficient oil inventories at power generators, andtimely liquefied natural gas deliveries.”
Other program speakers and panels included: Secretary Matthew Beaton, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; EricSpiegel, President and CEO, Siemens USA; James Daly, Vice President, Eversource; and Greg Crisp, Business Development, SpectraEnergy.
In addition to the program speakers and panels, Brandeis IBS will honor Eric Spiegel, President and CEO of Siemens USA, as a recipient ofthe 2015 Perlmutter Award for Excellence in Global Business Leadership. The award is given to a highly select group of individuals who havedemonstrated exceptional business leadership worldwide, and recognized commitment and impact on the global community.
About Brandeis International Business School
Brandeis International Business School provides an education grounded in rigorous economic and financial theory and gives students theknowledge, skills and experiences they need to build rewarding lives as citizens and professionals in the global economy. The school islocated in close proximity to Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of Brandeis University, one of the world's leading research universities. Formore information, visit brandeis.edu/global/.