Midwest Regional Meeting 2015

April 22-23, 2015
Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts Conference Center
Columbus, OH

Agenda

DAY 1 Wednesday

8:30 am - 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast

9:00 am - 9:15 am
Welcome and Introductions 
Following a brief introductions, the presenters and attendees will review the meeting agenda, planned focus and discussion.

Presenters:

  • David Goodman, Director, Ohio Development Services Agency
  • Randall Hunt, Deputy Chief, Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance
  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
  • Chuck Clinton, Senior Advisor and Midwest Regional Coordinator, NASEO
     

9:15 am – 10:15 am 
Working Together: Relationship Building between State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions (Part One) 
This session will focus on examples of substantive, collaborative work taking place between state energy offices and public utility commissions.  This session will be tailored to include region-specific examples of work being conducted between state energy offices and public utility commissions within the region (e.g., regional planning, state comprehensive, strategic energy plans, renewable integration, building energy codes, energy assurance, microgrids, natural gas constraints, RTO issues).

Moderator: 

  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Presenters:

  • Commissioner M. Beth Trombold, Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
  • Michelle Gransee,  Deployment Services and Weatherization Supervisor, Minnesota Division of Energy Resources
     

10:15 am – 10:30 am 
Report from the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO’s)

Moderator:

  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Presenters:

  • Evelyn Robinson, Manager, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, PJM
  • Darlene Phillips, Consulting Advisor, Issues Management, MISO (invited)

 

10:30 am – 11:15 am 
State Policy and Program Priorities Roundtable (Part One: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan) 
During this roundtable, each State and Territory Energy Office will share the major energy actions, priorities, and issues happening in their respective state/territory.  This update should include both energy issues that are within the State Energy Offices’ purview, as well as those that extend beyond the offices.  The roundtable will give participants the chance to hear from their peers, identify ways they can work together, and elevate areas that NASEO can provide assistance. (Approximately 10 minutes for each state) 

Moderators:

  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Focus: Each State and Territory Energy Office will provide an update on the program, policy, and planning priorities and challenges within their state

Discussion:

  • Are there several States with similar priorities and focus?
  • What can NASEO do to assist in achieving the states’ goals?
  • Is there a role for NASEO, DOE, EPA, NASEO Affiliate Members, or others to provide assistance?
     

11:15 am - 12:00 pm 
State and Local Government Policy and Program Calibration Discussion 

Moderator:  

  • Randall Hunt, Deputy Chief, Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance 

Presenters:

  • April Kasun, Outreach Coordinator, Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance
  • David Cawley, Efficiency Smart Manager, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC)
  • Randy Corbin, Senior Director of Energy Policy and Sustainability, American Municipal Power, Inc.
  • J.R. Tolbert, Senior Director, State Policy, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy

Focus:  Each state energy office employs unique strategies to calibrate state and local energy policy, programs, and priorities.  This session will emphasize best practices in this regard, and include presentations on the management approach to energy efficiency programs among municipal utilities being carried out by VEIC and the American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) group as well as what success is being achieved by the Ohio Advanced Energy Group.

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Lunch

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm 
Institute of Public Utilities Presentation and Discussion

Moderator: 

  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Presenter:

  • Janice Beecher, Director, Institute of Public Utilities 
     

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm 
Working Together: Relationship Building between State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions (Part Two) 
This session will focus on examples of substantive, collaborative work taking place between state energy offices and public utility commissions.  This session will be tailored to include region-specific examples of work being conducted between state energy offices and public utility commissions within the region (e.g., regional planning, state comprehensive, strategic energy plans, renewable integration, building energy codes, energy assurance, microgrids, natural gas constraints, RTO issues).

Moderator: 

  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Presenters:

  • Michelle Gransee,  Deployment Services and Weatherization Supervisor, Minnesota Division of Energy Resources
  • Robert S. Kenney, Chairman of the Missouri PSC (via telephone)

Focus:  Presenters will provide examples of substantive and collaborative work between the State Energy Office and Public Utility Commission within the region.

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm 
State Policy and Program Priorities Roundtable (Part Two: Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) 
During this roundtable, each State and Territory Energy Office will share the major energy actions, priorities, and issues happening in their respective state/territory.  This update should include both energy issues that are within the State Energy Offices’ purview, as well as those that extend beyond the offices.  The roundtable will give participants the chance to hear from their peers, identify ways they can work together, and elevate areas that NASEO can provide assistance. (Approximately 10 minutes for each state) 

Moderators:

  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Focus: Each State and Territory Energy Office will provide an update on the program, policy, and planning priorities and challenges within their state

Discussion:

  • Are there several States with similar priorities and focus?
  • What can NASEO do to assist in achieving the states’ goals?
  • Is there a role for NASEO, DOE, EPA, NASEO Affiliate Members, or others to provide assistance?

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Break

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm 
Working Together: Relationship Building between State Energy Offices and State Air Directors 
When EPA released the Clean Power Plant proposed rule in 2014 many states leveraged connections and relationships between energy offices and air directors to begin planning efforts as they worked to comment on the proposed rule.  This session will provide attendees the opportunity to hear about and discuss examples of how state energy offices and their state air agencies in their region are collaborating on a variety of issues, including, both existing air and water quality rules, as well as pending actions such as 111(d).

Moderators/Presenters:

  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • Robert Hodanbosi, Chief, Division of Air Pollution Control, Ohio EPA
  • Vince Hellwig, Chief, Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) (via telephone)
  • Kyra Moore, Director, Air Pollution Control Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (via telephone)

Focus: Presenters will provide examples of collaborative work between State Energy Offices and State Air Agencies within the region. Emphasis will be on state comprehensive, strategic energy plans or similar policy documents, and the interplay between them and the mission, goals, activities of the air agency.

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm 
Beyond the Building Blocks – 111(d) Compliance Measures 
During this session a Senior Associate with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) will provide an overview of a “menu of compliance options” for states to consider as they plan for EPA’s release of the final rule.  In addition, the session will include a discussion of the impact of initial plan decisions on the ability to leverage private-sector and other non-ratepayer energy efficiency programs.

Moderator:

  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Presenter:

  • Ken Colburn, Senior Associate, Regulatory Assistance Project
     

6:00 pm
Networking Dinner  

DAY 2 Thursday

7:30 am - 8:00 am
Continental Breakfast

8:00 am – 8:30 am 
U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program Update 
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program (WIP) oversees the U.S. State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program and provides technical assistance to states in developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and programs.  Topics addressed during this session will include WIP priorities, as well as best practices information and lessons learned regarding revolving loan programs and water and wastewater treatment energy efficiency efforts.

Moderator:

  • Tristan Vance, Director, Indiana Office of Energy Development

Presenters:        

  • Greg Davoren, Team Lead, SEP Program, Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Kelsie Hammond, SEP Project Manager, U.S. Department of Energy       

Focus: Status update on SEP, WAP, and WIP funding and program direction, and timing of future SEP formula and competitive funding opportunity announcements

8:30 am – 9:30 am 
Special Session on Revolving Loan Funds and Water and Wastewater Treatment Energy Efficiency Efforts

Moderator:

  • Brian Selinger, Energy Team Lead, Iowa Energy Division, Iowa Economic Development Authority
     

Revolving Loan Fund Issues

Presenter: 

  • David Jenkins, Director of Commercialization and Market Development, Wisconsin State Energy Office
     

Water and Wastewater Treatment Energy Efficiency Efforts

Presenter:

  • Molly Lunn, Assistant deputy Director, Illinois Energy and Recycling Office

Focus:  In both cases the emphasis will be on recommended best practices and lessons learned.

9:30 am - 10:00 am 
MEEA  Presentation and Discussion

Moderator: 

  • Greg Payne, Senior Program Coordinator, Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance

Presenter: 

10:00 am – 10:15 am
Break

10:15 am – 11:00 am 
National Policy and Funding Outlook and NASEO Programs Update

Presenter:

11:00 am – 12:00 pm 
USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) 
This session will examine REAP’s guaranteed loan financing and grant funding opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements in the the Midwest states.

Moderator: 

  • Tristan Vance, Director, Indiana Office of Energy Development

Presenter: 

  • Randy Monhemius, Business Program Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, and

USDA Rural Development’s State Energy Coordinator for Ohio

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Lunch

12:45 pm - 1:30 pm 
Action Items and Wrap-up 
This session will review issues and actions elevated during various meeting sessions.

Presenters:        

  • David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
  • Chuck Clinton, Senior Advisor and Midwest Regional Coordinator, NASEO
  • Robert Jackson, Director, Michigan Energy Office; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors
  • Lewis Mills, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Energy; Regional Representative to the NASEO Board of Directors

Discussion:

  • Prioritize the action items and address any additional business in the region.
  • The 2015 NASEO Annual Meeting will be held in San Diego, CA, September 13-16, 2015.   NASEO is planning a slate of informative discussions and session for this Annual Meeting and is looking for input from the regions to structure the Annual Meeting’s theme and content.
     

1:30 pm
Adjourn