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SOLD OUT / Virtual Option

The 2021 NYSEIA New York Solar Summit is at sold out capacity, but we want to make sure you can still access the conversations. If you weren't able to attend in person, you can register for the simultaneous broadcast on Zoom.

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Conference + Trade Show

2021 NYSEIA New York Solar Summit

 
Empire State Plaza, Convention Center
Albany, NY
December 2, 2021

The 2021 NYSEIA New York Solar Summit brings together solar energy professionals, industry leaders, and decision-makers to discuss the market trends and policy developments that matter most to New York’s distributed solar and energy storage industries. Join us for a full day of discussion panels and data-driven presentations, connect with industry colleagues as well as NYSERDA and Department of Public Service staff, and learn about the legislative, regulatory, and programmatic issues shaping New York’s solar future. 

Tickets & Hotel

This event is at capacity. Please register for the virtual broadcast.

Late Registration: $250

General Admission: $250

NYSEIA Members: $150

Government: $75

Nonprofit: $75

Student: $75

Join NYSEIA prior to registering! Visit our membership page.

Hotel Info

Hilton Albany
40 Lodge Street
Albany, NY 12207


RESERVE: (866) 691-1183 or click here.

COVID-19 Health Policy

NYSEIA and its event attendees must comply with all state, local, and venue guidelines to ensure a safe and successful conference. Currently, Empire State Plaza requires all entrants to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. We will update this policy if and when the situation in Albany County changes. For any questions, please get in touch.

Sponsorship + Booths

To learn about sponsorship opportunities or to secure a trade show booth at the venue, download our event prospectus.

Sponsorship

Thank You to Our Sponsors

EVENT AGENDA

8:00–8:50 — Registration & Breakfast

8:50–9:00 — Welcome and Introduction

 

Zachary Dufresne, Executive Director, NYSEIA

 

9:00–9:10 — Keynote Address: Doreen Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA


9:10–9:30 — Fireside Chat: The Role of Distributed Solar in New York’s Energy Transition
 

David Schieren, Founder and CEO, EmPower Solar

Matthew Hankey, President and CEO, New Energy Equity


9:30–10:15 — Developer Roundtable: The State and Future of Community Solar and Remote Crediting
 

NY-Sun incentives and the community credit for community solar and commercial & industrial projects have been fully allocated across the state, leaving solar developers and long-term owners with one big question: What’s next? The industry awaits Governor Hochul's solar roadmap which will chart the path to 10 gigawatts of distributed solar installed by 2030. This session will examine the tea leaves, dive into proposed options for compensation changes, and learn from key industry voices.

Annika Colston, President and Founder, AC Power
David Gahl, Senior Director of State Policy, East, SEIA (Moderator)

Matt Kozey, Director, Community-Scale Markets, Cypress Creek Renewables

Brandon Smithwood, Senior Director of Policy, Dimension Energy

Christopher Turner, Director of Community Solar Business Development, Arcadia

 

10:15–10:30 — Networking Break 1

10:30–11:15 — Community Solar Customer Acquisition: Expanding Access Amidst Innovation

 

New York State has a thriving community solar market, but with recent changes to incentives, and efforts to revise the E-Value, as well as implementing cross-utility crediting and remote crediting for net crediting, how can we keep the growth of community solar going? This panel will discuss the recent policy shifts impacting community solar, its impact on customer acquisition, and the importance of expanding access to Low-to-Moderate Income communities.


Cara Humphrey, VP Sales & Strategy, Co-founder, Astral Power
Jason Kaplan, COO and General Counsel, PowerMarket

Kaitlin Kelly O'Neill, Northeast Regional Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access (Moderator)
Michael Mollin, Managing Director, Community Power Partners

Jessica Stromback, CEO, Joule Assets

11:15–12:00 — Siting, Permitting, and Property Taxes: Navigating Home Rule Complexities

 

There are a number of barriers to expanding solar within the state, and home rule policies can be some of the trickiest to navigate. With recent changes to property tax assessments, local resistance, and permitting roadblocks, lots of questions on deploying solar remain to be answered. Industry experts will discuss the intricacies of these various factors, and how to navigate the ever-changing policy landscape.


Kate Daniel, Senior Development and Policy Analyst, Catalyze (Moderator)

Brian Madigan, Project Manager, Renewable Properties

Michelle Piasecki, Partner, Harris Beach PLLC

Katie Soscia, Business Development Manager, Montante Solar

Daniel Spitzer, Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP

12:00–1:00 — Networking Lunch​

 

1:00–1:45 — Interconnection: Addressing Hosting Capacity Saturation​
 

New York State is at a critical juncture to address climate change and expand DERs in an effort to clean the grid, and to meet Governor Hochul’s 10 GW and the CLCPA goals. Despite growing support for renewable energy, the outdated structure of our grid leaves little room for expansion and growth of solar. This panel will discuss the technical and political challenges that must be addressed in order to expand hosting capacity and modernize the grid.


Jamin Bennett, VP Business Development, Sunkeeper Solar

Edward Brolin, Director of Market Development, ConEd Clean Energy Businesses
Kathryn Cox-Arslan, Director of Interconnection Policy, Borrego Solar
Casey Kirkpatrick, Director, Reliability and Research & Development (NY), National Grid

Peter Ross, Associate, Foley Hoag (Moderator)

1:45–2:30 — Legislative Roundtable: Beyond the CLCPA​

 

New York's landmark climate law passed in 2019, mandating a state-wide transition to clean energy, as well as the equitable treatment of environmentally and economically disadvantaged communities. For advocates, passage of the law marked a new phase in the struggle for a cleaner New York, and left many questions unanswered about our path to a green future. More is needed on the legislative front in the interest of speed, scale, and justice. Leading advocates on this panel will share their visions for realizing the promise of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, along with stumbling blocks to progress in Albany.


Allison Considine, Senior Campaign Representative–NY, Beyond Coal Campaign, Sierra Club

Patrick McClellan, Policy Director, New York League of Conservation Voters

Patrick Robbins, Coordinator, New York Energy Democracy Alliance

Stephan Roundtree, Jr., Northeast Director, Vote Solar (Moderator)

2:30–2:45 — Networking Break 2

 

2:45–3:30 — On-Site Commercial and Industrial Solar: Maximizing Market Potential

2021 was a tumultuous year for C&I solar in New York with incentives sunsetting for most projects in the C&I space.  But it’s not all doom and gloom, as sectors of the onsite C&I space still work very well. This panel will delve into the elements that drive successful onsite solar projects and how the market may evolve in 2022. Topics will include interconnection strategy, incentives, and overall project economics.

Stephen Foley, Director of Business Development, Sunrise Power Solutions

Steve Littlewood, Director of Solar Acquisitions, UGE

Daniel Montante, President, Montante Solar (Moderator)

Dennis Phayre, Originator, PowerFlex
Kevin Schulte, CEO, GreenSpark Energy

3:30–4:15 — Residential Solar and Storage: Sustaining Growth

 

The New York solar industry has had its share of ups and downs, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made the ride on the SolarCoaster wilder. Looking ahead, our panelists will discuss what's needed to increase momentum, and to thrive in these new times of opportunity and challenge. The panel will cover financing trends, attachment rates on storage, Virtual Power Plants, marketing techniques, and lessons learned from COVID-19.


Gay Canough, President, ETM Solar Works

Reid Garton, President & CEO, NY State Solar

Steve Kasselman, President & CEO, Kasselman Solar

T.R. Ludwig, CEO, Brooklyn SolarWorks (Moderator)

Kyle Wallace, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Sunrun


4:15–4:45 — Closing Remarks & Transition

4:45–6:00 — Reception

Agenda

Speakers