The Role of Corporations in
driving Clean Energy Demand

Friday, December 6, 2024 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Businesses are leveraging their purchasing power to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and meet ambitious sustainability targets. This panel will examine the role of corporate demand in driving the clean energy transition and explore the motivations and strategies behind these efforts.

Karen Suber, General Counsel,
NorthStar Clean Energy

Ryan Dooley, Sr. Consultant, Renew. Energy & Carbon Advis., Schneider Electric

  • As a Consultant specializing in renewable energy and carbon advisory, Ryan advises clients by making strategic recommendations for their renewable electricity procurement strategy via Renewable Electricity Opportunity Assessments (REOAs). Additionally, he provides sophisticated procurement support to clients navigating the risks and opportunities associated with Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) and Tax Credit Investment (TCI). His role includes direct client education and process leadership by securing input and buy-in from key internal stakeholders, including accounting, legal, finance, treasury, sustainability, and ultimately, C-suite. Ryan has 6 years of experience in sustainability, the energy transition, and decarbonization. His energy industry knowledge has been built up from the past 2.5 years at Schneider Electric, academic research and working for three years as an environmental engineer for oil & gas and industrial clients. Ryan has a Bachelor of Science in Biological & Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Energy & Sustainability from Northwestern University.

Moderator: Amelia Brinkerhoff, Sr. Associate, Sustainability & Climate Change Advisory, PwC

  • Amelia is a people-focused, thoughtful and energetic leader within the Sustainability Consulting practice of PwC Consulting. She completed her MBA/MS from the University of Michigan, through the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. She has 7+ years of varied experiences across the ESG field, with recent experiences in energy and financial sectors.

Rob Threlkeld, Director, Global Energy Strategy,
General Motors

  • Rob Threlkeld is Director Global Energy Strategy for General Motors, leading the company’s energy strategy efforts that range from renewables procurement, clean technology, and policy efforts related to grid decarbonization. This includes the commitment to meet the electricity needs of its global operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Threlkeld is a board member of the Clean Energy Buyer’s Association (CEBA) where he serves as vice-chair as well as formerly serving on the Board of American Clean Power (ACP). He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Purdue University and recent the 2024 Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a registered Certified Hazardous Material Manager, Certified Energy Manager and Business Energy Professional.

  • Karen's success comprises experiences in structuring M&A and other transformative business transactions, negotiations of complex and transformative transactions and advising clients on value-generating business development initiatives, risk mitigation strategies and other commercial matters.

The Search for Sustainable Firm Power

Friday, December 6, 2024 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

With the increasing share of renewables, reliable firm power is essential to balance the grid. This discussion will focus on promising solutions like battery storage, green hydrogen, and geothermal energy, and the steps needed to scale these technologies for long-term sustainability.

Jeremiah Eaton, Energy Storage Associate Bus. Dvlpmnt Mngr, Duke Energy

  • I am an Energy Storage Developer at Duke Energy and I am passionate about the energy transition. I work to help form an equitable and resilient energy system built on a foundation of sustainability, justice, and community. My work is underpinned by a constant desire to grow and improve with hope I can live a life that does right by myself and others. I look forward to meeting you all at Energy Week!

Scott Baron, VP of Development, ACCIONA & Nordex Green Hydrogen

  • Scott Baron has been in the renewable energy industry for over 20 years and is currently the Vice President of Development at Acciona & Nordex Green Hydrogen, where he overseas the development of a global portfolio of large-scale Power-to-X projects. He held prior positions at Nordex, Acciona Windpower, and General Electric, leading Product Strategy & Development. At GE, he participated in the Renewable Energy Leadership Program after graduating from the University of Michigan Erb Program.

Moderator: Terri Schroeder, Director, Energy Storage, DTE

  • Terri Schroeder is the Director of Energy Storage for DTE Electric, a subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE). Ms. Schroeder is responsible for energy storage strategy and development to deliver the 1,000 MW+ of energy storage projects in DTE’s CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan. Previously, she was responsible for strategic planning for DTE, developing renewable energy projects to meet the net zero carbon goal, competitive procurement, and regulatory filings related to renewable energy development.

Arman Golrokhian, Clean Energy Transition Advisor, PA Consulting

  • Arman is a clean energy transition advisor with over 11 years of experience in the energy industry and a passion for promoting clean-tech solutions. Through his interdisciplinary work, he identifies market-based solutions and policies that transform global energy and transportation systems. Arman is currently an energy consultant for the Economics & Investment Strategy group at PA Consulting.

Christina Hajj, Director of Strategy and Corporate Development, DTE

  • Christina Hajj is the Director of Strategy and Corporate Development, which includes the Electric Strategy, Resource Planning & Transmission Modeling, and Long-Term Generation Strategy teams. In her current role, Christina leads efforts to shape DTE Electric’s long-term strategic plan, support energy policy and regulatory analysis, develop the 20-year integrated resource plan, and advance the Company’s generation transformation.

Moderator: Kevin Fok, Director of Compliance, LG Energy Solution Vertech

  • Kevin leads the company in product compliance strategy and requirements for product architecture and design. He serves as the subject matter expert and company representative (codes & standards committees, trade associations, conferences, and regulatory agencies).

Kotryna Kanapyte, Associate Director of Power Marketing, ENGIE

  • Kotryna leads origination and power marketing for ENGIE’s grid-scale solar, wind and battery storage pipeline in the Western US. She has been in the clean energy space since 2013, having lived and worked in Italy, Singapore, Australia and the US.

Hari Krishna Ravipati, Construction Manager, Meta

  • Hari is a construction manager at Meta, where he oversees the site development, construction, and commissioning of data centers across US East. He brings extensive experience in data center deployment, having worked with major hyperscalers such as AWS and Microsoft in various capacities. Hari's professional journey spans over 15 years of international experience managing complex infrastructure projects, including the development of renewable and thermal power plants, data centers in India.

Data Center Sustainability

Friday, December 6, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

This panel will explore how companies are reducing the carbon footprint of energy-intensive data centers to support sustainable digital infrastructure. Experts will discuss emerging technologies, operational challenges, and opportunities for collaboration within the energy industry.