Now in its third year, the U.S. Energy Storage Summit will bring together utilities, financiers, regulators, technology innovators, and storage practitioners for two full days of data-intensive presentations, analyst-led panel sessions with industry leaders, and extensive, high-level networking.

JOIN US FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO THE BUDDING DOMESTIC ENERGY STORAGE MARKET

We will kick-off the event with an overview of the current energy storage market on both sides of the meter, examining utility strategies, policies, and market designs. On Day 2, we’ll take a closer look at emerging technologies, business models and financing strategies.

Speakers

Mary Powell
Mary Powell
President & CEO, Green Mountain Power Corporation

Mary Powell has served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Green Mountain Power Corporation since 2008, following seven years as Chief Operating Officer. Mary initiated and implemented a strategic and comprehensive restructuring of the company that dramatically transformed Green Mountain Power and has been the backbone of a cultural transformation and service quality improvement.  Mary launched an ambitious energy vision to provide low carbon, low cost and reliable power to Vermonters. As a result, the company has built Vermont’s largest wind farm, made Rutland, Vermont the Solar Generation Capital of New England, and has installed smart grid technology across the entire utility infrastructure.  Mary is leading an energy transformation, providing customers comprehensive energy makeovers that help them save money and use less energy.  GMP is the first utility in the world to become a member of B Corp, showing a commitment to use energy as a force for good. In 2012, Mary led an acquisition of Central Vermont Public Service, with a promise to generate $144 million in savings for customers. GMP has grown from serving 88,000 customers in 2008 to serving well over 260,000 customers, with revenues of more than $640 million and $2 billion in assets. In 2014, Mary announced a new partnership with NRG Energy, Inc. to make Vermont a leader in sustainable energy. And in 2015, Mary led another partnership with Tesla, with GMP becoming the first utility to offer the Tesla Powerwall battery.  In 2004 Mary was recognized by Fast Company magazine as one of the "top 50 fast leaders" in the US and in 2014 was recognized by PowerGen as the Woman of the Year.

Kelly Speakes-Backman
Kelly Speakes-Backman
CEO, Energy Storage Association (ESA)

Kelly Speakes-Backman is the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association. Kelly has spent over 20 years working in energy and environmental issues in the public, NGO and private sectors, including organizations such as United Technologies, SunEdison and Alliance to Save Energy. She is a former Commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission where she also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, co-vice chair of the NARUC Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment, and member of the EPRI Energy Efficiency & Grid Modernization Public Advisory Group.  She is a mechanical engineer from Boston University.

Boris von Bormann
Boris von Bormann
CEO, Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas, LLC
Boris von Bormann is CEO of Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas, responsible for the development and sale of energy storage systems for residential and utility applications, and other energy services to help facilitate the transition to e-mobility. Prior, he was CEO for the U.S. headquarters of Sonnen, a German-based manufacturer of energy storage solutions. Boris von Bormann has been in the international trade industry for over 18 years and in the solar industry for over 9 years.
Carla J. Peterman
Carla J. Peterman
Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

Carla J. Peterman was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in December 2012. Commissioner Peterman is the CPUC’s assigned Commissioner for a number of proceedings including energy efficiency, alternative transportation, energy storage, and several rate cases. Commissioner Peterman serves on many boards including the NARUC Board of Directors and the California Broadband Council. She served as the Chair of the Plug in Electric Vehicle Collaborative for 2012-2013.
She was previously appointed by Governor Brown, in 2011, to the California Energy Commission where she was lead Commissioner for renewables, transportation, and natural gas.
Commissioner Peterman has conducted research at the University of California Energy Institute and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and was an investment banker focused on energy financing at Lehman Brothers.
Commissioner Peterman holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Energy and Resources from The University of California Berkeley.  She also earned a Master of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Commissioner Peterman holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Howard University.

Roy Kuga
Roy Kuga
Vice President, Grid Integration & Innovation, PG&E

Roy Kuga is vice president, Grid Integration & Innovation, a team responsible for developing strategies and plans for:

• PG&E's grid of the future
• distributed energy resources, including energy storage, demand response, and net metering
• clean transportation
• technology pilots and demonstration projects.

Roy previously served as vice president, Energy Supply Management, overseeing the Company's procurement of gas and electric supplies, storage, transmission, financial hedging and greenhouse gas allowances.  He has worked on renewable and conventional power contracting and resource development, wholesale market design, and bidding, scheduling and dispatching PG&E's energy portfolio into California’s wholesale market.  Earlier in his career, Roy led the Company's strategic planning team for electric industry restructuring. 

Roy has also worked in the oil and gas and telecom industries.  He holds Bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, and a Masters degree in operations research.

Janice Lin
Janice Lin
California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) Founder and CEO, Strategen

Janice Lin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Strategen, where she provides insight to global corporations, utilities and public sector leaders, helping them to develop impactful clean energy strategies. Over the past ten years, she has advised a diverse range of clients, including renewable energy equipment manufacturers and service providers, large corporations diversifying into clean energy, and real estate developers building sustainable communities. Janice brings more than two decades of experience in clean energy strategy, market development, and corporate strategy to Strategen.In 2014, Janice co-founded the Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA), an international non-profit organization, and currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Executive Committee. Janice also co-founded the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) in 2009, and currently serves on the Electricity Advisory Council of the US Department of Energy, the Board of Advisors for the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC) and the Energy Storage Committee of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Janice is also a Member of
the Advisory Council of the German American Chamber of Commerce, the UCSD Strategic Energy Initiatives Advisory Council, and Co-Founder and Chair of the annual Energy Storage North America (ESNA) conference. Prior to founding Strategen in 2005, Janice held several senior management positions with PowerLight Corporation (now SunPower Corporation), including Vice President of Product Strategy and Vice President of Business Development. During her tenure at PowerLight, Janice led initiatives in product and new market strategies, business development, regulatory affairs, strategic partnerships, investor relations and customer
finance. Janice holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a BS from the Wharton School,University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Alta Yen
Alta Yen
Managing Director, Strategic Planning, GE

Alta Yen is the Managing Director of Strategic Planning for General Electric Company as of February 2018.  In this role, she is responsible for managing long-term strategic planning across GE.  As a 20-year veteran in the energy industry, Alta is a consummate analyst who seeks to maximize value and drive outcomes using data, numbers and good judgment.  Her experience spans several business cycles, multiple large-scale energy crises and the massive disruption currently undertaking the energy industry.

In 1999, Alta joined GE Structured Finance Group as a portfolio manager where she ultimately managed and worked-out a $1.4 billion portfolio consisting primarily of distressed assets related to Enron, PG&E and Mirant.  In 2004, she helped launch GE Energy Financial Services, a debt and equity investor specializing in the energy sector through an operational role and in 2005, she returned to the investing side.  In 2007, Alta was promoted to Managing Director and served as the Chief Risk Manager for the $4 billion energy lending business. There she led or played a critical role in numerous transactions, most notably the ~$1 billion project finance loan acquisition from the Bank of Ireland.  In 2013, Alta became head of the Investment Strategy team responsible for developing long-term investing strategies based upon energy fundamentals and leading the unit’s new business development activities, notably in the commercial & industrial solar and storage sectors.

Prior to joining GE, Alta worked in New York City and Hong Kong before joining a Taipei-based freight forwarding company in business development. 

Alta earned a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University, a certificate in advanced Mandarin from the Inter-University Program (“The Stanford Center”) and received a M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from The University of Michigan.  In 2016, she co-founded the Greater New York City Chapter of the Women’s Energy Network where she remains a board member today.

Erik Ellis
Erik Ellis
Manager, Technology Assessment & Integration, APS

Erik Ellis is currently the manager for Technology Assessment and Integration at APS.    APS Technology Assessment investigates new distribution, transmission, and DG technologies with respect to technical and business merit.    Specific responsibilities include development of the energy storage and microgrid business plans, implementation of projects thereunder, and the design and integration of 1,500 smart inverters under a master controller in the 10 MW APS residential-rooftop Solar Partners Program.  

Mr. Ellis joined APS in early 2011.    He has over 15 years of experience in the power industry in leadership positions at GE, Areva Solar, and EDF Renewable Energy.

2016 Speakers Included

Mateo Jaramillo
Mateo Jaramillo
Vice President of Products & Programs, Tesla Energy

Mateo Jaramillo is the Vice President of Products and Programs for Tesla’s stationary energy storage program. He conceived of and started the effort in 2009, securing initial funding and leading all aspects of business and engineering development along with product deployment. He is currently responsible for Tesla Energy's product line and business model definition, and as well global policy and business development. Mateo joined Tesla in 2009 as the Director of Powertrain Business Development, serving as commercial lead and primary negotiator on over $100M in new development and $500M in production contracts signed for electric powertrain sales. Prior to Tesla, Mateo was Chief Operating Officer and part of the founding team at Gaia Power Technologies, an early distributed energy storage firm. There he pioneered residential and commercial markets for first turn-key energy storage systems and led three generations of product development that grew company sales by 400%. Mateo began his career in the software industry as a Product Manager with Predictive Networks, an interactive TV software provider. Mateo earned his A.B. in Economics from Harvard in 1999 and a Masters in Theology from Yale Divinity School in 2004 where he won the Tew prize for outstanding coursework in Ethics, Philosophy, and History. He is a member of the 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.

Madeleine Klein
Madeleine Klein
Managing Director, Energy Storage Solutions, Edison Energy

As Managing Director of Energy Storage Solutions, Madeleine is responsible for overseeing the origination, development, and execution of energy storage projects.  Prior to joining Edison Energy, Madeleine served as both Senior Vice President of Advanced Energy Solutions and Senior Vice President of Policy & Strategy for SoCore Energy, an Edison Energy affiliate specializing in solar energy.  In both of these roles, Madeleine specialized in translating market trends into strategic and transformative opportunities for SoCore and its clients.

Madeleine has more than 15 years of experience the clean energy field.  Prior to joining SoCore, she was a Senior Policy Advocate with the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago, where she was involved in renewable energy policy development and regulatory proceedings across the Midwest.  Madeleine previously served as Deputy Director of Policy & Communications for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, where she led downtown redevelopment activities and launched the City’s Energy & Sustainability Initiative.  Early in Madeleine’s career, she worked as a Policy Analyst for Environment Northeast and as Coordinator of the Community Clean Air Initiative for the City of New Haven, Connecticut.

Madeleine holds a Master’s of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a BA from Carleton College.

Steve Malnight
Steve Malnight
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, PG&E

Steve Malnight is Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He is responsible for developing, coordinating and managing policy with state and federal regulatory agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He also is responsible for developing and filing rate proposals with the CPUC, and for oversight of the company’s gas and electric tariffs. Malnight joined PG&E in 2002 and has held diverse leadership positions within the company. After serving as Director of Customer Strategy and then Senior Director of Finance, leading the company’s budgeting and planning process, he became Special Assistant to the Chairman of PG&E’s Corporation in 2007. Subsequent roles included Vice President of Renewable Energy and Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions, an organization providing integrated energy solutions to help customers save energy and money. He was appointed Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs in September 2014. Malnight holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the Smart Electric Power Alliance, an organization focused on facilitating electricity utilities in the transition to a clean energy future through research, education, and stakeholder collaboration.

David Chiesa
David Chiesa
Senior Director, Global Business Development, S&C Electric Company

David B. Chiesa is the Senior Director of Global Business Development for S&C Electric Company.  In this role, David is responsible for the Profitable growth of S&C's Market Segments Globally.  This position is focused on expanding the reach of S&C's products and services within the Market Segments of Renewables, Energy Storage, Data Centers, Microgrids, and Reactive Compensation.  He brings 16 years of experience in the direction and management of sales teams across the United States.

Mr. Chiesa began his career in the United States Army, serving as a maintenance company commander, a general officer aide-de-camp, and the U.S. forces maintenance manager for the NATO troops conducting peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.

He holds a BS degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy and an MBA from the University of Maryland.  He is a certified Master Black Belt in the Six Sigma quality program and is an active member of IEEE, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Swami Venkataraman, CFA
Swami Venkataraman, CFA
Senior Vice President, ESG Analytics and Integration, Moody's Investors Service

Swami Venkataraman manages the development of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analytic tools, assessments and the integration of ESG considerations into Moody’s credit ratings and research. As senior vice president-manager in Moody’s ESG group, he also leads Moody’s global renewable energy task force, is a member of the Infrastructure Finance Franchise Committee, and a ratings chair for the North American utilities and infrastructure ratings team.

Before moving to the ESG team, Venkataraman was a lead analyst in the North American utilities and infrastructure team since 2014. Prior to joining Moody’s, Swami was a director of project & export finance at Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai, India, responsible for business development and execution of project and export credit financings in Asia covering power, renewable energy, and other infrastructure sectors. One of his solar PV projects won the “PFI Asia-Pacific Renewables deal of the year” award in 2013.

Venkataraman has broad expertise in energy and infrastructure, especially clean energy, across geographies over the past 20 years. He is a CFA charterholder, with a B.Tech in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras and an M.B.A. in finance and information systems from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta.

Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy
CEO, Advanced Microgrid Solutions

Susan served for two decades at the highest levels of state and federal government, most recently as chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, cabinet secretary and deputy chief of staff to Governor Gray Davis and communications director for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. She served from 2003- 2006 on California's Public Utilities Commission, regulating the state's investor- owned electric utilities, telecommunications providers and private water companies. Susan was at the center of many of California's groundbreaking environmental policies, including the carbon reduction mandate and cap-and-trade program under AB 32, the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, auto emission standards and Renewable Portfolio Standard. She coordinated the State's emergency demand response efforts during the energy crisis of 2000-2001 and as a member of the PUC she authored what was then the largest energy efficiency program in utility history. She holds a B.A. in Management from Saint Mary's College of California.

Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson
Smart Cities Chief, Schneider Electric

Mark Johnson is Smart Cities Chief of Schneider Electric and ‘graduated’ from the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, DC. He founded the clean energy nonprofit Helpanswers.org. He earned his MBA from Loyola Chicago, and his BA from the University of Notre Dame.

Agenda Themes
  • Evolution of Energy Storage in the U.S.
  • Residential & Commercial Storage Markets
  • Front of the Meter Storage: Utilities, IPPs & ISOs
  • Storage Supply Chain: From Cells to Systems
  • Financing & Ownership Business Models
view full agenda

highlights from last year

  • 630+ Attendees
  • 50% Director level or above
  • 96% Recommend a GTM event after attending

Venue

Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Hilton San Francisco Union Square
333 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
RESERVATIONS 415.771.1400