PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HOUSTON LUNCHEON WILL BE HELD IN A NEW LOCATION THIS MONTH - SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.

Christine Tezak has followed environmental policy for two decades and assumed responsibility for the electric utility and natural gas pipeline sectors in 1999. Her environmental background provides a unique perspective as energy and environmental issues continue to converge. She is an eight-term board member, and past President of the Washington, D.C.-based Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment. She is also a non-attorney member of the Energy Bar Association and a member of the Natural Gas Roundtable.

Ms. Tezak has been quoted in numerous financial and industry publications and has testified before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining ClearView, she was a Director and Senior Analyst for Energy & Environmental Policy at Robert W. Baird & Co. Before that, she was a senior vice president at the Washington Research Group, where she headed the electricity, natural gas and environment policy research effort. Earlier in her career, Ms. Tezak was a research associate with HSBC Securities, Inc. and with NatWest Securities.

Ms. Tezak received her bachelor’s degree in Russian from Boston College and earned an MBA in Finance from the George Washington University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa (Boston College) and Beta Gamma Sigma (GWU) honor societies, and winner of the 2001 Bernard Nees Prize in Finance.

Please note that registration closes at 12 noon Wednesday, May 15th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

ERCOT is currently discussing whether to include Generation Storage for Wholesale Load Treatment like all other forms of energy storage that store and replace grid power.  Doing so would allow gas turbine operators the ability to contribute directly to wind integration by using night wind for the following day’s peak power needs.  It could also encourage more adoption, helping to provide more reliable power for ERCOT, particularly during summer peak hours. Our speaker, Tom Pierson, will discuss Generation Storage projects currently operating in ERCOT.

ERCOT capacity is just over 50% gas powered, and temperatures near the 90s and into the 100s several months of the year.  When outside temperatures reach the 90s, the gas fleet across ERCOT realizes a decrease in gas-fired power plant capacity of 10%, rising with rising temperatures (as much as 20%).  On average, ERCOT loses more than 2,500 MWs every summer due to high temperatures and its impact on gas turbines. Furthermore, with increased wind penetration, ERCOT’s grid is maturing to be more flexible and responsive to intermittent generation.  Existing resources become more valuable when they are able to provide stronger ancillary services, namely flexible generation, for the maturing grid.

Generation Storage can be installed through retrofits to existing gas assets, or installed with new gas plant developments to recover the inherent lost megawatts associated with increased temperatures, and to provide gas turbine operators access to more ancillary services through increased flexible generation. Generation Storage, formerly known as Turbine Inlet Chilling with Thermal Energy Storage, combines two tried and tested technologies into one seamless solution for gas turbines.  Night time or station power is used to chill water.  The chilled water is stored in a thermal energy storage tank for use the following day during peak hours.  The chilled water is released from the tank according to grid need to be sent through the filter house for inlet air chilling.  Chilled inlet air increases the mass flow rate of the turbine, allowing for more megawatts to be generated.  With a fully ‘charged’ thermal energy storage tank, an operator can increase or decrease the plant’s output instantaneously through simply regulating the pump flow out of the tank, providing an additional 10-20% of the plant’s capacity in flexible power.  

Tom Pierson is Founder and C.T.O. of TAS Energy, a leading clean energy manufacturer of high-efficiency modular energy plants serving the global Power Generation, Renewable Energy, Mission Critical and Industrial Cooling industries. TAS is the originator and global leader in producing additional peaking power from gas turbine power plants through Turbine Inlet Cooling (TIC) which Tom pioneered by completing the world’s first TIC project in the 1980s.  This concept was later expanded into Generation Storage which utilizes off-peak grid power that can be stored and used to generate additional flexible peaking power to firm up the variable generation associated with Renewable generation. Tom and TAS have expanded the modular concept to utilize heat from geothermal and from waste heat sources and converting this low-grade heat energy directly into electrical power through patented supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) modular power plants which are the most efficient in the industry.  

Tom received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas.  He is a member of ASME, ASHRAE, U.S. Green Building Council, is a founder and past Chairman of the Turbine Inlet Cooling Association (TICA), and has been on the Boards of the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and the U.S. Clean Heat and Power Association (USCHPA).  Tom & TAS have twice received the Presidents “E-Award”, the highest award offered by the US government for Export Excellence.  Tom was recently named Renewable Energy Innovator of the Year for 2011 by the Association of Energy Engineers.  Mr. Pierson holds (9) U.S. Patents related to high efficiency Central Plant designs, Turbine Inlet Cooling, Integrated Energy Systems and ORC power cycles and he remains active in the corporate development of new technologies related to renewable energy, modular utilities, systems optimization and performance measurement & verification.  Tom and his wife, Dana have three children and reside in Sugar Land, Texas.  

Please RSVP no later than 12 noon on Thursday, April 25th. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis after event registration has closed. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Julien Dumoulin-Smith will give his view on resource adequacy issues in ERCOT from the perspective of his position as a Director in UBS Investment Research's Utilities group, where he primarily focuses on the Diversified Utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Covering the Electric Utilities since 2007, Julien has followed a broad spectrum of the space, including both regulated and competitive integrated utilities, as well as the IPPs. He was ranked the "Rising Star" for the last three years running (2010-2012) among Utilities analysts by Institutional Investor magazine, as well as #1 Stock Picker for IPPs in the FT's Starmine rankings, and #3 Stock Picker for the entire Utility Sector in the Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street rankings for 2011. Additionally, he was ranked #1 in Institutional Investor's survey of Hedge Fund managers for 2012. Julien earned his BS at Columbia University in Applied Math. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Julien Dumoulin-Smith will give his view on resource adequacy issues in ERCOT from the perspective of his position as a Director in UBS Investment Research's Utilities group, where he primarily focuses on the Diversified Utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Covering the Electric Utilities since 2007, Julien has followed a broad spectrum of the space, including both regulated and competitive integrated utilities, as well as the IPPs. He was ranked the "Rising Star" for the last three years running (2010-2012) among Utilities analysts by Institutional Investor magazine, as well as #1 Stock Picker for IPPs in the FT's Starmine rankings, and #3 Stock Picker for the entire Utility Sector in the Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street rankings for 2011. Additionally, he was ranked #1 in Institutional Investor's survey of Hedge Fund managers for 2012. Julien earned his BS at Columbia University in Applied Math. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Please note that registration closes at 12 noon Wednesday, April 17th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Join us at GCPA's 27th Annual Spring Conference! Over 450 electric power industry professionals expected (based on Spring Conference 2012 attendance).

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, APRIL 5 AT 12 MIDNIGHT: On-site registration will be available for the workshop on April 8 and the conference on April 9-10; an incremental service fee will be charged for all on-site registrations. Save by registering NOW! For pricing information, click on the conference brochure link at the top of this page and view page 9 of the brochure.

To view the complete conference agenda or workshop agenda, please click on the Spring Conference Brochure link or the Workshop Agenda link at the top of this page. If you are interested in a Spring Conference Sponsorship or in reserving a Spring Conference Exhibition Space, please click on the Sponsor/Exhibitor Brochure link at the top of this page.

GCPA THANKS OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS

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Recent advances in cloud computing and networking make it possible to manage an immense number of networked devices in real-time. The data sets created by these devices are thousands to millions of times larger than legacy data sets and result in both significant opportunities and challenges. This presentation will discuss approaches for leveraging the opportunities and managing the challenges of “Big Data” for energy management.

Michael Cation is the Chairman and CEO of SmarteBuilding – a technology leader in real-time energy management services and systems. Previously he was the Founder & CEO of NovusEdge – an enterprise-class physical security product company. Prior to that, he was the co-Founder & CEO of Globeset – an innovator in the global electronic payments market. Previously he was a Vice President of BT Ventures and he was one of three co-founders of Verity – a market leader in enterprise information search and retrieval. He earned his BS in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Links to articles and technical papers on this subject that may be of interest:

http://www.elp.com/articles/powergrid_international/print/volume-16/issue-9/features/addressing-the-big-data-concern-in-the-utilities-sector.html

http://theenergycollective.com/dailyenergyreport/154916/utility-s-big-data-challenge

http://www.intelligentutility.com/article/12/02/big-data-big-challenge

http://www.enterprisecioforum.com/en/blogs/jkhawaja/big-data-case-study-utilities

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomgroenfeldt/2012/05/09/big-data-meets-the-smart-electrical-grid

http://servicesangle.com/blog/2013/01/31/electric-utilities-feeling-crunch-of-big-data-early

With more and more wind energy becoming available in ERCOT, large fast start combustion turbines will become a critical asset to help balance generation as well as provide needed capacity in Texas. Historically, small aero derivative turbines or blocks of multiple diesel/gas engines were the only solution but now, large fast start simple cycle and even combined cycle plants can fill this need with low $/kW and high efficiencies. It is expected that nearly 2000 MW of these plants will be on line in California this year and over 1500MW will be on line in ERCOT by 2015 with more to follow in 2016.

Gregory (Greg) Snyder is Vice President and Region Executive for the Central Region of Siemens Energy.  He currently oversees sales for both new equipment and service product lines. The Siemens Energy portfolio includes fossil and renewable energy generation, environmental controls, I&C, transmission and distribution high voltage products for industrials, utilities and Independent Power Producers. Mr. Snyder started his career in 1977 with Westinghouse Electric Corp. and has held a variety of sales, marketing, and project financing management positions with both Siemens-Westinghouse and Siemens Energy. He has recently been active in supporting the development, financing and implementation of US fast start gas turbine technology projects. Mr. Snyder’s educational background includes a bachelors degree in environmental engineering and economics (double major) from Yale University.

Bob King, President and Founder of Good Company Associates, will present on the challenges presented as the role of demand response expands within ERCOT and demand response's potential contribution to resource adequacy in both the near-term and the future. He will discuss current opportunities, the short-term possibilities within the next one to two years, and what is likely to occur long-term within the next three to five years. ERS and “peak-shaving” products will also be addressed.

About Good Company Associates: Founded by King in 1991, Good Company Associates is a business development consulting firm specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including clean energy applications such as energy storage,  energy management, and demand response, as well as, clean fuels and electric vehicles. Their primary focus is on the Texas electricity market, where the firm has played an important role in the evolution of deregulation, especially in the areas of efficiency and renewables policy, including performance contracting, renewable portfolio standards, utility efficiency rebate and incentive programs, state and local government efficiency programs, advanced meter infrastructure and “smart energy technology.” To learn more, visit the company website at www.goodcompanyassociates.com.

Please note that registration closes at 12 noon Wednesday, February 20th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Registration is now closed due to a greater than anticipated number of pre-registrations for this event. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis after event registration has closed. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Registration is no longer available as the available seating has been subscribed. Walk-ins are welcome and will be accommodated on a space-available basis. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

GCPA thanks the LCRA for its continued support and use of its facility for the luncheon.

Please note that registration closes at 12 noon Wednesday, January 16th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Mark Caskey, Sr. Vice President of Sharyland Utilities, LP will present on the transition to retail competition of the former Cap Rock Energy divisions acquired by Sharyland in 2010.

Please RSVP no later than 12 noon on Thursday, November 15th. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis after event registration has closed. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

GCPA thanks the LCRA for its continued support and use of its facility for the luncheon.

A long time energy policy practitioner and advisor, Dan Watkiss will explore what the recent election outcomes will  mean to the U.S. energy industries. Who will be the favored recipients of subsidies and receive favorable tax treatments? Will there be any money to give out? What do the results mean for investments in oil, natural gas and power infrastructure and industries dependent on that infrastructure? How will  the roles of markets and regulations play out over the next 4 years? Will the lame-duck session focus (at all) on energy issues?  Expect a lively dialogue between Dan and our GCPA audience.

Please register by 12 noon Wednesday, November 14th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

ATTENTION: Please note the location change for this month to the LCRA Board Room at 3700 Lake Austin Blvd.

Please RSVP no later than 12 noon on Friday, June 15th. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis after event registration has closed. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

GCPA thanks the LCRA for its continued support and use of its facility for the luncheon.

PLEASE NOTE: As of Oct. 10, registrations were running ahead of projections. Therefore, there is the possibility that this event will sell out before the pre-registration due date of 10/17 - 12:00 noon. Due to this, please do not wait to register if you plan to attend.

Recently NRG announced that it will move up the timetable to bring on line a 75 MW gas turbine at their WA Parrish site.  But NRG also holds a permit to build a large combined-cycle gas unit at its Bertron power plant in the Houston area and plans to seek a permit in the coming months to build another large gas plant at another existing plant site, officials said. Meanwhile, NRG brought 1,100 MW of generation out of mothball status this summer to provide additional supply. Ragan will discuss what changes are needed to boost wholesale prices in Texas that will allow generators to begin building new plants.

Please register by 12 noon Wednesday, October 17th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) are designated geographical areas throughout the state of Texas where resources, land areas and renewable energy technologies can generate energy that will integrate with traditional energy sources.

The concept of CREZ in Texas was introduced in 2005 by the Texas State Legislature to alleviate Transmission grid congestion and meet our state’s goals for using renewable energy by expanding our electric infrastructure – an involved and evolving process.

This presentation will focus on Oncor’s preparations for the CREZ initiative and the progress made to date.

Please register by 12 noon Friday, October 12. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. 

Schedule:
11:15 AM - Registration Opens
11:30 AM to 12:15 PM - Buffet Luncheon Served
12:15 PM to 1:00 PM - Speaker Presentation

Luncheon Location:
University of Texas-Arlington - Room 100, Nedderman Hall - the street address is: 414 S. Yates Street, Arlington, TX

Parking:
Guests should park in Lot 36 (on the NE side of Cooper St. /UTA Blvd). Please be sure to park only in “student” parking spaces (parking in faculty or reserved spots could result in your vehicle being ticketed).

If you have any questions re the luncheon, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A CAMPUS AND PARKING MAP

• Skip the Oct. 2 first day morning sessions and lunch, register on-site beginning at 1:30 PM and get $100 off the member/non-member regular on-site pricing - On-site registration at this discounted pricing will open at 1:30 PM on Oct. 2 on level M2 of the AT&T Conference Center. This discount will be available through the conclusion of the conference on Oct. 3.
• Alternatively, you may attempt to register at the regular on-site registration prices beginning at 9:00 AM on Oct. 2 - On-site registration at regular prices will be open from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM on Oct. 2. On-site registrations will not be accepted before 9:00 AM in order to give GCPA staff the opportunity to assess space availability. We anticipate that there will be a limited number of spaces available beginning at 9:00 AM but please note that, due to space constraints, there is no guarantee that we will be able to accept your registration during this time period.

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Woody Rickerson, Director of Grid Coordination at ERCOT, will discuss operational challenges associated with the incorporation of the Certified Renewable Energy Zone transmission facilities into the ERCOT grid.  These issues include coordination of construction outages, frequent operational modeling changes, and voltage control.

Please register by 12 noon Wednesday, September 19th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

Bob King, President and Founder of Good Company Associates, will present on the challenges presented as the role of demand response expands within ERCOT and demand response's potential contribution to resource adequacy in both the near-term and the future. He will discuss current opportunities, the short-term possibilities within the next one to two years, and what is likely to occur long-term within the next three to five years. ERS and “peak-shaving” products will also be addressed.

About Good Company Associates: Founded by King in 1991, Good Company Associates is a business development consulting firm specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including clean energy applications such as energy storage,  energy management, and demand response, as well as, clean fuels and electric vehicles. Their primary focus is on the Texas electricity market, where the firm has played an important role in the evolution of deregulation, especially in the areas of efficiency and renewables policy, including performance contracting, renewable portfolio standards, utility efficiency rebate and incentive programs, state and local government efficiency programs, advanced meter infrastructure and “smart energy technology.” To learn more, visit the company website at www.goodcompanyassociates.com.

The luncheon for this month is now sold out. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis after event registration has closed. Please email Cathy Fry at cfry@navigant.com if you wish to inquire about space availability or have any other questions about the luncheon.

If you encounter any problems in trying to register online, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.

GCPA thanks the LCRA for its continued support and use of its facility for the luncheon.

RENEWABLES AFTER SECTION 1603: Renewable energy was one of the few areas where the economic stimulus program the Obama administration put in place in early 2009 clearly worked.  There was a boom in new renewable energy development that now threatens to wind down rapidly, except possibly in solar.  Financings in the sector remain on a pace to exceed last year, but M&A and new development are down.  The cost of capital is likely to increase, if only because the two cheapest sources of capital to the sector -- Treasury cash grants and government guaranteed debt -- are disappearing.  Congress will have to make a decision soon whether to extend expiring tax subsidies for wind.  Corporate tax reform in 2013 or 2014 is a potential threat if Congress strips the remaining tax subsidies from the tax code in order to reduce corporate income rates.  An election looms that could lead to a change in direction -- or to more gridlock.  What is the outlook for the sector?  What new strategies are likely to emerge for raising debt and equity?  What are survival strategies during such periods of uncertainty?

Chadbourne & Parke LLP is a law firm headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York with 11 other offices throughout the world. Chadbourne has worked on projects in more than 80 countries. In the U.S., the firm has worked in some capacity for most of the major wind and solar developers and is ranked number one in the U.S. renewables market by the prestigious Chambers directory in London based on year-round interviewing of corporate law departments and peers at other firms. 

Keith Martin is a transactional lawyer based in the Washington D.C. office and serves as co-head of the project finance group for Chadbourne. He was counsel to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) and a legislative assistant to Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson (D.-Wash.) before joining Chadbourne as a partner in 1983.

Paul Kaufman will be joining Chadbourne on August 1 as a partner in the Los Angeles office. He is currently executive vice president for transactions (and was general counsel before that) at enXco, the US development arm of Electricité de France. He was general counsel of Iberdrola Renewables before moving to enXco in 2008.

Evelyn Lim is also joining Chadbourne on August 1 as a partner in Los Angeles. She is currently senior vice president and general counsel of Element Power, a global wind and solar developer. Previously, she was general counsel of First Wind. She also spent nine years with Milbank in New York and Los Angeles. Before becoming a lawyer, she was a professional dancer with the New York City ballet.

Please register by 12 noon Wednesday, August 15th. If registration is closed, walk-in registrants are welcome on a space-available basis at the event. There will be a $5 surcharge for walk-in registrants.

Parking: There are various ground lots and street parking available in the immediate area. You may also park in 2 Shell Parking Garage on Louisiana. To reach this garage, proceed past One Shell Center on Louisiana; continue straight on Louisiana and cross Walker; enter 2 Shell Parking on your right. The rate for this garage is $1.50 per 20 minute time period.

If you encounter any problems while registering, please contact Penny Sullivan at psullivan@gulfcoastpower.org.