The Agenda
Anyone who has an interest in Montana's energy future will find something of interest here. This forum examines the issue from all angles and perspectives. From biofuels to coal, from wind to natural gas, and from supply and distribution to use and conservation – there's a diversity of opinion, so join us in the discussion. Click on the document below to download the latest version of the agenda. Because we're still lining up speakers, it's possible that some of the sessions may change between now and the forum, so check back often to see our exciting lineup.
Montana’s Energy Future: Developing a Sustainable Energy Industry - Contributing
to the Local, Regional and National Economy
Many presentations and bios are available below. The PDF, PowerPoint
presentations and bios can be viewed by double clicking the icon below the
speaker.
Friday, January 7
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Registration
10:00 – 10:30
Welcoming Remarks
Ralph Johnson, Director, The Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote Speaker
Governor Brian Schweitzer
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon Presentation: “The Sustainable Utility Future”
Dr. Peter Fox-Penner, Principal, The
Brattle Group, author of
Smart Power: Climate
Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities
1:00 – 2:30 The Montana Utility Perspective
Utility
leaders share their views of how the concept of the “sustainable utility future”
applies to their customers/shareholders/members.
Panelists:
Kevin Degenstein, President, Gas Natural Inc. (Energy West)
Bill Drummond, General Manager, Western Montana G&T
Dave Goodin, CEO, Montana Dakota Utilities, Co.
Bob Rowe, President and CEO, NorthWestern Energy
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Montana’s Energy Policy
Montana’s Energy Policy has long been the
subject for discussion and will be a major issue for the 2011 Legislature. This panel will explore opinions
about what the state’s energy policy should include.
Moderator: Greg Jergeson, Ret. Chairman, the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC)
Panelists:
Senator Alan Olson, Chair, Energy Committee
Senator Ron Erickson, Ranking Member, EnSenator Ron Erickson, Ranking Member, Energy Committee
Representative Harry Klock, Chair, Federal Relations Energy and Telecommunications Committee (FRET)
Representative Robyn Driscoll, Ranking Member, FRET
4:00 – 5:15 Energy Infrastructure 2.0
Portions of Montana’s major energy
infrastructure is operating near capacity, or otherwise requiring significant
investment, which may mean new electric distribution or transmission lines,
substations and oil/gas pipelines are necessary in order for new development to
continue./span>This session will discuss
the different viewpoints and opinions surrounding new infrastructure
development.
Moderator: Gerald Mueller, Consensus Associates
Panelists:
Steve Wright, Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration
Bob Anderson, Western Grid Group
Brett Doney, Great Falls Development Authority
Chris Christiaens, Montana Farmers Union
5:30 – 6:30 Networking/Socializing, Campus Center, Carroll College
6:30 – 8:30
Dinner Presentation: “ Driving Innovation through
Public/Private Partnerships”
Montana and its sister states/provinces
in the Rocky Mountain west are home to enormous energy resources. This lively discussion will feature
a regional perspective along with a Q and A session that underscores our state’s
current and future role in the “bigger picture”.
Dr. J. W. (Bill) Rogers Jr., Associate Laboratory Director, Energy and Environment Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory
Steve Wright, Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration
Saturday, January 88
7:00 a.m. Registration Opens
7:00-8:30
Breakfast presentation: “Role of the Customer in Energy
Efficiency and Conservation”
Dr. Lisa Wood, Executive Director, The Edison Foundation
8:30 – 9:30 Advancements and Strides in Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Panelists representing building industry,
weatherization, utilities and other discuss progress to reach attainable goals
over the past two years and what more can be done.
Moderator/Panelist: Bill Thomas, Manager Regulatory Support Services, NorthWestern Energy
Panelists:
Tracy Yount, Battelle Deputy Project Director, Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project
Dr. Claire Fulenwider, Executive Director, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Dale Horton, Sustainable Energy Program Manager, National Center for Appropriate Technology
9:30 – 9:45 Break
9:45 – 10:45 Energy and the Montana Economy: Past and Future
The engine of our economy runs on two
things – money and energy.. Both
fuel economic activity. Our
economic security depends on having well-balanced, efficient, and secure systems
for energy production, distribution, and use.
Swanson discusses the make-up of the state’s economy, its energy
dimensions, and explores how energy and the economy inter-relate in Montana.
Dr. Larry Swanson, Director, O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, University of Montana
10:45 – 11:45 Challenges of a carbon-constrained environment and the impact on energy supply production.
Reducing carbon in our energy supply
requires difficult decisions in a complicated environment and most approaches
involve trade-offs. For
example, in power production incorporating increasing amounts of renewables can
represent significant challenges in grid management because fossil fuels provide
the base load that ensures grid stability.
Switching to less carbon intensive fossil fuels can provide some carbon
reductions but may increase fuel price volatility and may not meet required
future constraints. This panel will
discuss approaches to meeting these challenges from several different
perspectives.
Presenters:
Lee Spangler, Director, Montana State University’s Energy Research Institute
Mike Hagood, Energy Business Lead, Idaho National Labs
12:00 – 1:30 p.m..
Luncheon Speaker
1:30 – 2:00
Open Mic – Thoughts from the
floorr
2:00
Closing remarks – Charge for the
Future
