Thursday, Oct. 7 | Day 1
8 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Safety Moment
Steve Nalefski, Senior Vice President of Environmental Services, Burns & McDonnell

8:10 a.m. | Keynote Speaker and Q&A
Deanna Rodriguez, President & CEO, Entergy New Orleans | Leading a Company Toward a Sustainable Future
As CEO of Entergy New Orleans, Deanna is leading the utility on a journey toward established carbon reduction goals while working with local regulators and city stakeholders. In a coastal city that may feel the effects of climate change earlier than most, what is Entergy New Orleans doing to move its company toward a sustainable future?

8:45 a.m. | Raffle Drawing and 15-Minute Break

9 a.m. | Panel 1: Sustainability and Innovation
Moderated by Mary Hauner-Davis, Burns & McDonnell

Marcus Krembs, Enel Green Power North America | Creative and Effective Sustainability Practices
How are companies meeting carbon reduction and carbon neutral goals? Join the discussion on what goes into an organization’s sustainability plan and review sustainability projects and research already in motion.

Kevin Lopes and Rich Hine, ThayerMahan Inc. | Marine Mammal Protection Systems
Kevin and Rich will demonstrate how innovative technology protects the marine species adjacent to offshore wind development.

Stephanie Harris, 3Degrees Inc. | Voluntary Carbon Market Overview
Steph will provide an overview of the voluntary carbon market, including the process to create carbon credits, minimum quality criteria for projects and considerations for new and experienced buyers. What are best practices for procuring carbon credits and how does that fit into a larger decarbonization strategy? Steph will discuss different project types, recent trends in the market and suggestions for how carbon credits can help organizations achieve their climate goals.

10:30 a.m. | Raffle Drawing and 15-Minute Break

10:45 a.m. | Panel 2: Protected Species
Moderated by Kari Soltau, Burns & McDonnell

Chris O’Meilia, USFWS | Proposed Listing of Lesser Prairie-Chicken
Chris will discuss the status of proposed listing, conservation and compliance approaches (if listed) and resources to support planning projects that occur in the range of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.

John Weber, USFWS | Listed Bat Species Overview
John will provide an overview of the biology and listing status of current and potentially listed bat species in the Midwest.

Alan Arnold, Alliant Energy, and Crissy Sutter, Natural Power | Bat Smart Curtailment: Two Perspectives
Crissy and Alan will share a case study on implementing a smart curtailment system at a commercial wind farm and the lessons learned.

12:15 p.m. | Concluding Remarks

Friday, Oct. 8 | Day 2
8 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Safety Moment
Joseph Grennan, Burns & McDonnell

8:10 a.m. | Regulatory and Policy Reform for Renewable Energy
Stu Webster, American Clean Power
Updates to renewable energy trends and environmental policy from the Biden Administration, including ESA, MBTA and BGEPA.

8:45 a.m. | Raffle Drawing and 15-Minute Break

9 a.m. | Panel 3: Permitting Challenges and Solutions
Moderated by Allison Chapin, Burns & McDonnell

Chris Ruckman, Burns & McDonnell | Energy Storage Technology and Safety
Chris will provide an overview of lithium-ion battery storage technology, specifically focusing on safety and thermal runaway issues.

Amy Watrud, Invenergy | Construction Compliance
Construction compliance is often a challenge for developers. Amy will explore strategies and lessons learned that make the construction phase more efficient.

Rob Young, Burns & McDonnell | Onshore Permitting for Offshore Wind
Rob will talk through the challenges of offshore wind energy connecting to onshore power grids along the Eastern Seaboard. This presentation will cover myriad local and state siting and permitting challenges that offshore companies are facing on the East Coast.

10:30 a.m. | Raffle Drawing and 15-Minute Break

10:45 a.m. | Panel 4: Eagle Panel
Moderated by Sarah Soard, Burns & McDonnell

Kevin Kritz, USFWS | BGEPA in Relation to Renewable Energy and Electric Utilities
Kevin will present basics of the Eagle Act, available permits, USFWS guidance, eagle population status, conservation measures, and key updates.

Marco Restani, NorthWestern Energy; Paul Sherman, Mitigation Practice Manager, Burns & McDonnell; and Kari Soltau, Biologist, Burns & McDonnell | Eagle Protection and Offset Program
Marco, Paul and Kari will discuss the development and implementation of the Eagle Protection and Offset Program (EPOP). The discussion will cover their perspectives as infrastructure and program partners, how the program was developed with the USFWS, and what the future of the program looks like.

Noon | Concluding Remarks