Speakers & Sessions

Keynote Address

Tuesday, April 3  |  Keynote Luncheon |  Ballroom

Vice Adm. Dennis V. McGinn, USN (retired) is the president of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a 501(c)(3) membership non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more secure and prosperous America with clean, renewable energy.

Admiral McGinn is a naval aviator, test pilot and national security strategist. He has served as Director of the Air Warfare Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; the Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet; and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfare Requirements and Programs in the Pentagon.

Admiral McGinn brings to ACORE his significant national experience in efforts to highlight the close link between energy, climate and national security. He is a strong advocate for innovative government policy, public and private partnerships, and investments that will promote clean energy growth and innovation.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Advanced Energy in the Current Economy

Tuesday, April 3  |  8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  |  Blackwell Ballroom

Session development led by:

Greg Lestini
Bricker & Eckler LLP

Opening the second day of the conference, this noteworthy  panel will examine the current state of advanced and renewable energy development in Ohio, the policies that drive or inhibit growth, and the prospect for future success.  Many consider this to be a critical time at both state and federal levels where tight budgets and competing priorities are cause for concern among the proponents of clean energy.  Advocates struggle with challenging substantive issues, even as the definition itself is subject to debate and proposed initiatives can favor one technology over another.  The session will include remarks and responses from panelists representing the private sector, academia, state government, and the financing community.

Moderator:
Terrence O’Donnell
Partner
Bricker & Eckler LLP

Speakers:

Craig Butler
Assistant Policy Director, Office of Environment, Energy and Agriculture

Office of the Governor

Mickey McCabe
Vice President for Research
Executive Director
University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI)

Colin Murchie
Director of Government Affairs
Solar City

Michelle Murcia
Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer
TechColumbus

In the News: Covering Ohio’s Energy Landscape

Monday, April 2  |  10:45 – 11:30 a.m.  |  Blackwell Ballroom

The news media remains one of the most influential sources of information on energy issues for citizens and policy-makers alike.  We learn about complicated national debates and controversial local concerns through the coverage they receive in our preferred media outlets. How do newspapers decide what issues to feature, and how to present them?  How does energy reporting differ from environmental reporting?  How do reporters integrate political and business perspectives in their energy coverage?  What role do trade publications play and how is their focus unique?  We have assembled a panel of distinguished journalists from around the state to discuss their approach to energy reporting.

Moderator:
Chris Jones
Former Ohio EPA Director and currently Senior Counsel at Calfee, Halter & Griswold

Speakers:
Bob Downing
Akron Beacon Journal

Dan Gearino
Columbus Dispatch

Tom Henry
Toledo Blade

Scott Miller
Gongwer New Service-Ohio

Smart Research, Smart Workforce, Smart Grid

Monday, April 2  |  1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  |  Pfahl 140

Session development led by:

Benjamin Stafford
Commission Offices, Commissioner Aide to Paul Centolella
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Smart Grid applies advanced technology to our existing electric system. A Smart Grid will change the nature of coordinating the delivery and consumption of electricity. Many goals abound, including making the system more reliable and efficient, integrating renewables, and giving utility customers more control over their usage. Ohio’s universities are active in creating knowledge and developing workforce programs for an emerging Smart Grid. This expert panel will discuss opportunities and challenges for Ohio’s colleges in partnering to advance Smart Grid projects, from fundamental research to applied skills in the field.

Moderator:
Benjamin Stafford
Commission Offices, Commissioner Aide to Paul Centolella
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Speakers:

Larry Feist
Program Chair, Power Systems Engineering Technology, Smart Grid Major
Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Renewable Energy Major
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

John Hoag
Ohio University

Kenneth A. Loparo
Nord Professor of Engineering
Case Western Reserve University

Karen Sloneker
Director Customer Services and Marketing 
AEP Ohio

Jin Wang
Assistant Professor
The Ohio State University

Advanced Technologies in Shale Energy

Monday, April 2  |  1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  |  Pfahl 140

Session development led by:

Jeff Daniels, Ph.D.
Professor, The Ohio State University

Although oil and gas production has been present in Ohio for decades, development of the Utica and Marcellus shale plays has brought renewed attention to the industry. Shale gas exploration is both the subject of controversy and the source of coalition-building. The potential for job creation and economic development has been debated, and the place of shale gas in the state’s energy portfolio is yet undetermined. A number of agencies of state government have been given expanded roles and responsibilities, and new regulations are in the process of being written. It is in this context that we will examine the status of shale energy development in Ohio, advanced technologies that are capable of addressing environmental concerns, and current knowledge on potential economic impacts. 

Moderator:
Jeff Daniels, Ph.D.
Professor, The Ohio State University

Speakers:
Ben W. Ebenhack
Associate Professor, 
Petroleum Engineering Dept.
Marietta College

Rich Haut
Houston Advanced Research Center

Mark Moody
Senior Field Geologist, Battelle Memorial Institute

Chris A. Talley
Northeast Area Technical Manager
Halliburton Energy Services

Andrew Thomas
Cleveland State University 

The Potential for Bioenergy in Ohio

Monday, April 2  |  3:15 – 4:45 p.m.  |  Pfahl 140

Session development led by:

Phil Taylor
UCEAO Conference Chair and Distinguished Research Scientist
University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI)

Stephanie A. Smith, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and COO/CSO
Beagle Bioproducts, Inc.

Bioenergy is the most widely used form of renewable energy, currently providing over 15% of the world’s energy supply.  Given that agriculture remains the largest single industry in Ohio, how does this translate into future energy and economic security for the state?  How can we avoid the fuel vs. food controversy that dominated the ethanol debate?  This session has been designed to provide insight into the emerging and promising work being done in the bioenergy field, from new ways to use very old methods (e.g., anaerobic digestion), to the very latest technology for large-scale production of biomass to generate electricity.

Moderators:
Stephanie A. Smith, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and COO/CSO
Beagle Bioproducts, Inc.

Phil Taylor
UCEAO Conference Chair and Distinguished Research Scientist
University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI)

Speakers:
Jeff Bargiel
Phycal

Scott Coye-Huhn
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer
Aloterra Energy LLC

Melvin R. Kurtz
President
Quasar Energy Group 

Yebo Li
Assistant Professor
The Ohio State University/OARDC

Shang-Tian Yang
Professor, Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Director, Ohio Bioprocessing Consortium
The Ohio State University

Utility-Scale Wind Energy Enters Ohio

Monday, April 2  |  3:15 – 4:45 p.m.  |  Pfahl 202

Session development led by:

Dan Litchfield
Business Developer
Iberdrola Renewables

Wind energy development has been on the rise in Ohio since the passage of SB 221 in 2008.  The first Certificates of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need were issued in 2010 by the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB).  According to the OPSB, 100 megawatts are currently online, 304 megawatts are under construction, 847 megawatts have been certified and 555 megawatts are pending certification, representing 16 projects in nine counties.  This panel will look at progress made on Ohio wind energy projects from the standpoint of a developer, a regulator, and a major equipment manufacturer.  In addition, the prospects for viability of off-shore wind initiatives in Lake Erie will be discussed.  Panelists will address the question:  With wind energy one of the most successful renewable technologies so far in Ohio, where do we go from here? 

Moderator & Speaker:
Dan Litchfield
Business Developer
Iberdrola Renewables

Speakers:

Chris Cunningham
Utility Specialist
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Simon Olivier
General Manager
GE Renewables North East USA & Canada

Lorry Wagner
President
Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo)

Ohio’s Solar Energy Hub: PV Energy Markets and Job Creation

Tuesday, April 3  |  10:15 – 11:45 a.m.  |  Pfahl 202

Session development led by:

D’Naie Jacobs
The University of Toledo

It has been stated that each megawatt (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) energy installed implies 10-15 module manufacturing jobs, 8-15 installation jobs and 0.3 maintenance jobs-ten times the job creation in comparison to other conventional energy jobs. This panel will explore opportunities to unleash the potential of PV to revitalize Ohio’s economy. The panel will engage discussion on the strength in Ohio’s PV research and manufacturing, as well as examining how other commercial markets are impacting the state’s economic development efforts. 

Moderator:
Sophia Fisher
Interim Executive Manager, NW Ohio Solar Hub of Innovation 

Speakers:
Michael Heben
Professor, Wright Center Endowed Chair for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo

Workforce Development and Industry Needs

Tuesday, April 3  |  10:15 – 11:45 a.m.  |  Pfahl 140

Session development led by:

Andrew Hsu
Wright State University

The energy sector has been and will be growing at a rapid pace, and many corporate leaders have pointed to the need for a trained work force to keep pace with advances in the industry. This session will bring business and academia together to discuss how those needs can be met.  We will look at all stages of learning — from associate degrees though Ph.D. programs — as well as private enterprises of varying size and scope.  Our goal is to learn from those who have been successful and produce some guidance for the development of future programs and collaborations.

Moderator:
Andrew Hsu
Wright State University

Speakers:
Bonnie L. Coe, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

Randell J Corbin
Assistant Vice President – Energy Policy & Sustainability
American Municipal Power Inc.

Jim Menart
Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Wright State University

Eric Zimmer
Tipping Point Energy