Decision 2016: Energy Choices
Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center
Burlington, Vermont
The 2016 Renewable Energy Vermont Conference & Expo (REV2016) is Vermont’s annual convention bringing together key players in the clean energy sector. This year's conference will take place on October 13 & 14 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT. The conference highlights current energy challenges, Vermont’s leadership role in the energy industry, and the steps needed to implement an integrated energy infrastructure.
About the Conference
For more than a decade, the Renewable Energy Vermont Conference has been the leading event for the renewable energy sectors in Vermont, New Hampshire and Northern New York. Organized by the nonprofit trade association, Renewable Energy Vermont, this annual forum brings together business leaders, system operators, architects, builders, manufacturers, engineers, scientists, policy makers, and regulators. Additionally, you can earn American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Continuing Legal Education credits for attending.
Thursday, October 13
Continental Breakfast & Expo Open to Attendees
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Welcome
Speaker: Jeff Forward, Chair, Renewable Energy Vermont (REV); Olivia Campbell Andersen, Executive Director, REV
2026: Visioning Our Energy Future
Description: Vermont’s ongoing energy and climate leadership legacy ranges from establishing the first efficiency utility, to our Renewable Energy Standard, and comprehensive 90% total energy (electric, thermal, & transportation) goal. Four leaders at the forefront of transforming energy markets and regulation share their visions for the future, steps needed to achieving that future, and answer audience questions.
Renewable Energy Pathways: Vermont's Advanced Solar Economy in 2025
Description: Funded by the US Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative. Vermont Solar Market Pathways draft report developed by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation offers detailed insights into Vermont’s advanced energy economy in the future, with 20% (1 GW) of electricity from solar by 2025. Envisioning (a) potential changes to the grid, investments, and policies; (b) electrification of heating and transportation; (c) new distributed and utility energy storage; and (d) growth of wind and other renewables to meet our 90% by 2050 goal; the reports authors invite your feedback on this groundbreaking draft report.
Speakers: Damon Lane, Lead Analyst, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC); David Hill, Managing Consultant, VEIC.
Telling Compelling Energy Stories
Description: Creating high-performance renewable energy systems takes more than innovative and economical technology, it also requires community support. Communication experts will share findings from the latest polls about renewable energy and climate change that frame the best messages for compelling advocacy and sales. Learn how to increase the persuasive power of these messages and your brand during this interactive session. Storytelling can play a critical role, helping create a shared narrative of the future, and inspiring individuals and communities to work together to achieve it. Participants in this interactive session will learn how to create a clear narrative of our clean energy future including how to harness storytelling methods, news outlets, and social media to achieve it.
State & Regional Climate Solutions: Cutting Costs & Carbon Pollution Through Carbon Pricing
Description: Carbon pollution pricing is widely-regarded as the most effective incentive to shift from fossil fuels to a more efficient, low-carbon, clean energy future. Learn how Vermont could lower businesses, personal income and sales taxes by implementing a price on carbon pollution.
Speakers: David Blittersdorf, Founder & CEO, AllEarth Renewables; Jon D. Erickson, Ph.D., Gund Center for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont; Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Transportation Efficiency Director, VEIC.
Integrating Energy Choices: EAN's Community Energy Dashboard
Description: An interactive online tool, the newly launched Community Energy Dashboard, is helping communities, businesses and individuals understand their energy use and make clean energy and efficiency choices and investments across all energy sectors (heat, electric, and transportation), to achieve our 90% by 2050 goal. The Dashboard offers a platform to enable Vermonters to hear from trusted neighbors to build confidence in energy investment and action. Learn how you can share your energy success stories through the Dashboard and get an overview of its seven tools.
Speakers: Linda McGinnis, Network Program Director, Energy Action Network (EAN)
Networking Session and Silent Auction with Cocktails
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 14
Continental Breakfast & Expo Open to All Attendees
Time: 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast With Legislators (REV Legislative Committee Members & PAC Supporters Only)
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Description: Members of REV’s Policy & Legislative Committee and Political Action Fund supporters are invited to a special breakfast session with legislative leaders and candidates for the Vermont House of Representatives and State Senate.
Awards Ceremony
Time: 9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Description: Renewable Energy Vermont annualy recognizes energy innovators and advocates through awards at our Conference & Expo. We invite REV members to nominate individuals and companies for the awards by September 9th.
Weather Analytics: Informing & Improving Grid Efficiency
Description: VELCO and IBM Research created the Vermont Weather Analytics Center (VTWAC), a globally unique platform that achieves breakthrough accuracy in predicting wind and solar generation. VTWAC links and integrates data from: high-resolution weather forecasts, real-time power measurements from network telemetry, smart meter data from hundreds of thousands of individual customers, and detailed information about the Vermont grid’s physical properties. Best-in-class energy analytics fuse this data into powerful information that can unlock the full value from reliable renewable energy sources, increase grid reliability, generate savings for customers and improve the grid’s overall environmental performance.
Local, Renewable Heat: Marketing Strategies for Low-Carbon Wood Boilers
Description: Despite being a low-carbon, local renewable heat source, low oil prices and low customer awareness have stunted modern wood boiler market growth. Starting with a visual deep dive into the recent evolution of the wood heat market in Vermont, using aggregated current project data and animated maps, participants begin to envision a path toward 35% thermal biomass energy by 2030. Speakers will present new research findings designed to facilitate a more strategic approach to selling these systems. Presenters will share specific recommendations geared toward wood heat, but applicable to other renewable energy technologies as well.
Speakers: Maura Adams, Program Director, Northern Forest Center; Juliette Juillerat, Biomass Energy Resource Center.
Moderator: David Frank, Co-Founder, Sunwood Biomass.
Federal, State, & Local Taxes Update: Renewable Energy Project Finance Implications
Description: From understanding basic tax concepts for renewable project financing to detailed overviews on recent changes, including the Federal Investment Tax Credit, Federal Residential Energy Tax Credit, Vermont Tax Credit, MACRS (depreciation), and local land assessments, attend this session to learn how to maximize tax incentives and avoid potential pitfalls for investors and lenders. Presenters will also explore prevailing tax equity models including direct ownership, the partnership-flip, lease pass-through, and sale leaseback.
Speakers: David Gurtman, Attorney, Dinse Knapp & McAndrew; Chaz Blackmore, Certified Public Accountant, Bilodeau Wells & Co, PC; Luke Shullenberger, Managing Partner, Green Lantern Group.
Not Just Conserving the Climate: Co-Benefits of Renewable Energy Offering Rays of Hope for Farmers, Pollinators, and Clean Water
Description: Learn how to maximize the environmental and agricultural co-benefits of a blooming solar market.
Annual Meeting Luncheon (REV Member's Only)
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Description: REV Members should RSVP to attend by emailing [email protected] by COB Friday, September 30th.
Room Reservations
Attendees of the conference are eligible for a special discounted rate to stay at the conference location, the Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center. If you missed the link on the confirmation page of your registration you can click here to reserve your room now.
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