As we overlay the electro-mechanical grid with information and communications technologies, we enter a new world of regulatory and legislative structure. This session will explore all of the policy and regulatory facets we need to consider as we plan for and implement a smarter grid. How, for example, will the FCC handle grid communication issues? How do our state commissioners need to think about smart grid within their regulatory world? What authority will FERC have in ICT issues relating to bulk power? Is there anything Congress can do to help? This session will provide background from experts with an ability to discuss these issues with participants.

Chairperson:

Katherine Hamilton,
President
GridWise Alliance

Katherine Hamilton joined the GridWise Alliance in October of 2008 as its first full time President. In her tenure, Hamilton has watched the Alliance membership grow from 70 to over 100 members. In addition to new members, Hamilton has brokered numerous strategic alliances with key stakeholder groups. Hamilton has also been instrumental in spearheading the legislative and policy efforts of the Alliance in the past year including developing legislative language and providing testimony for Congress. In addition to her activities to promote the many different initiatives of the Alliance, Hamilton has participated in numerous conferences as a keynote speaker and on smart grid panels.

Prior to joining the GridWise Alliance, Hamilton was policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., a private investment company with a current portfolio in clean energy technologies of more than $6 Billion. In addition, Hamilton co-directed the American Bioenergy Association, where she worked with entrepreneurs, universities and utilities in developing biomass technologies. As the President of her own company, The Hamilton Group, she worked with the Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defense Council, Midwest Research Institute and other organizations to lobby Congress and statehouses on various clean energy policies and funding. Hamilton also worked for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where she created several programs including federal energy audit and water conservation. Hamilton also served as NREL's Manager of Government Relations in Washington, DC, becoming an expert witness on renewable energy for the House Committee on Science and serving as an advisor to Vice President Cheney's Task Force in developing the national energy plan. Hamilton apprenticed as a distribution engineer for Virginia Power (now Dominion Energy) and was a senior analyst in commercial energy efficiency.

Hamilton has degrees from Cornell University and the University of Paris, Sorbonne.

Speakers:

Lee Krevat,
Director of Smart Grid Policy and Planning
San Diego Gas & Electric

Mr. Krevat is director of the smart grid initiative for Sempra Energy's California regulated utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company with over 25 years of proven leadership in research and development, information technology, utility strategy, program management, architecture and design, implementation, and process improvement. Mr. Krevat's prior positions at SDG&E include director of program delivery, where he was responsible for overseeing IT for advanced technology projects and the development of new systems to improve the operating efficiency and customer experience. He was also the director of IT strategy and business partnership where he worked to align strategic direction between IT and the utility business units, as well as director of infrastructure engineering & operations.

 

Andy Campbell,
Advisor
California Public Utilities Commission

Mr. Campbell is an Advisor at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Before joining the CPUC in 2005, he was an investment banker in Salomon Smith Barney's Global Energy group in New York. Prior to that, he worked for ExxonMobil in Houston as a reservoir engineer responsible for several oil and gas fields. Mr. Campbell has also served as a graduate intern on the U.S. Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Campbell holds a degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (MPP) and degrees in Chemical Engineering (BS) and Economics (BA) from Rice University.

 

Carl Zichella,
Director of Western Renewable Programs
Sierra Club

Mr. Zichella is the director for Western U.S. Renewable Projects for the Sierra Club, America's oldest and largest grassroots environmental NGO. He is the organization's lead staff for renewable energy and transmission siting and development issues. In this role Mr. Zichella works with stakeholders from environmental organizations, renewable energy development and transmission industries, local, state and national governments, regulatory agencies and the public to find renewable energy transmission solutions that accelerate renewable energy development while respecting wildlife and land conservation efforts.

 

Nick Sinai,
Energy and Environment Director
Federal Communications Commission

Mr. Sinai is a former venture capitalist and entrepreneur. Most recently, he served in executive and advisory roles with two Boston area clean energy technology companies, and served as a senior advisor to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Mr. Sinai played a key role in building the clean energy practice at Polaris Venture Partners, and subsequently served as a Principal of Tenaya Capital. He also has private equity experience at Madison Dearborn Partners. Earlier in his career, he was a senior management consultant with Cambridge Strategic Management Group, where he led teams working with large communications and media companies. Mr. Sinai earned an M.B.A from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and an A.B. from Harvard University.