Join us as we gather with industry partners from across the West at this year’s Stakeholder Symposium October 29-30
At this year’s Stakeholder Symposium, October 29-30 in downtown Sacramento, we will come together for a very robust discussion covering topics like the case for market expansion across the West, the need for more transmission, the integration of renewables, the growth of battery storage, and the need for flexible resources to maintain reliability.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy aspects of the Symposium is the value of bringing together the entire ISO stakeholder community from across the West and beyond. It is a unique event that convenes a wide range of energy experts, regulators, legislative representatives, utility executives, organized labor, developers and thought leaders to collaborate, network and share innovative ideas.
One West: The Pathways Initiative and the evolution of Western energy markets
This year’s Symposium will again be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento. After a brief welcome and opening remarks from key ISO leadership, the program will open with the One West session, featuring a panel of experts who have been instrumental in the evolutionary new Pathways Initiative for independent governance. The session will include multiple perspectives on the Pathways Initiative including regulators and the California ISO. Panelists will also talk about the next steps in this very important regional initiative.
Moderators Kathleen Staks, Executive Director of Western Freedom, and Pam Sporborg, Director of Transmission and Market Services from Portland General Electric, will join panelists from public utility commissions, power agencies, and other industry organizations to discuss the Pathways proposal, how it has evolved and what it means to the California ISO.
These conversations will be informative as the region contemplates how Western markets can evolve.
Transmission and a Featured Speaker
Expanding on the theme of regional collaboration, the panel discussion “Transmission: Connecting the west through innovation and wires,” moderated by Rob Gramlich, founder and President of Grid Strategies LLC, will highlight some of the most exciting business models that have emerged and some of the key regional projects currently under construction. The panel will offer a variety of perspectives on transmission needs in the West and that more certainly is better when it comes to transmission.
Later in the day, we will hear from Brian George, who works for Google and is responsible for Google’s United States wholesale energy market strategy and its dealings with federal agencies. Brian will chat one on one with ISO President and CEO Elliot Mainzer on the data economy, the growth of Artificial Intelligence and the role it will play in managing the grid and the future of flexible demand.
The Future
We will kick off the afternoon with a look back at how the market has evolved over the past decade as the Western Energy Imbalance Market celebrates its 10-year anniversary. We will then glance into the future of the Extended Day-Ahead Market with “The growth of the marketplace in the West” panel. We will hear from utility CEOs and presidents from across the West who will share their thoughts on markets, load growth, resource adequacy and the economic and reliability benefits for customers of an integrated market.
The final session, “The next frontier for load flexibility and virtual power plants,” will explore what is needed to enable a robust market for demand modifying resources in the West, and for building the grid of the future — one that is resilient, smart, and delivers clean energy for generations to come.
We are excited about this year’s event and really looking forward to welcoming our customers and stakeholders to Sacramento. Given the robust agenda topics and the diverse lineup of speakers and panelists, we hope that all of our attendees will walk away from this year’s Stakeholder Symposium with new connections and friendships and inspired for what’s to come in the future. In addition to all the conversations that always occur between sessions, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking:
WHAT: Welcome Reception, Tuesday Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m.; Symposium Program, Wednesday Oct. 30, 9:00 a.m. followed by the Networking Reception at 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tuesday at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento. Wednesday at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.
HOW TO REGISTER: Please be sure to register while space is still available. You can register and learn about event details, the agenda, speakers, and more on the Symposium website.
We look forward to seeing you!
