2024 Energy Efficiency Forum Recap
The Commonwealth’s energy efficiency community gathered on October 2nd and 3rd for the VAEEC’s annual Energy Efficiency Forum. Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, award winners, and attendees for making this event a great success!
Day one was fully virtual in an effort to make the event more accessible and to provide a diverse array of speakers from across the country. It consisted of a keynote address and four breakout sessions:
Keynote Address: Congresswoman Jennifer McLellan offered some insight into the energy efficiency wins from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We appreciate her ongoing support of our organization and recognition of the foundational importance of energy efficiency.
Our Manager of Research and Strategic Partnerships (and resident federal funding lead), Rebecca Hui, then gave a few more updates on state programs facilitated by the IRA and led the audience through a live poll to get feedback on Virginia Energy’s proposed One Stop Shop program. The link is live through October 8th, so please participate if you were not able to attend the event.
As in previous years, we held concurrent breakout sessions.
Data Center Demand – How Do We Respond? The panelists in this session discussed energy efficiency, electrification, and demand response solutions to the rising energy demand from Virginia’s data center industry. Over 70% of the world’s internet traffic runs through the state, making data centers a huge economic driver – but also a massive energy consumer. The expert panelists helped separate fact from fiction on this hot topic. Speakers included Richard Anderson (Siemens), Haneepha Degarmo (Voltus), Keith Dennis (Beneficial Electrification League), Robert Lazaro (Northern Virginia Regional Commission), and John Morrill (Fairfax County, Moderator).
Best Practices for Workforce Success: Workforce development is a key tenet of many programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This year’s panel gave updates on the VAEEC’s workforce initiative, as well as discussed opportunities for registered apprenticeships, on the job training, and success stories from other states. VAEEC Workforce Development Director, Erika Reel, moderated the panel, which included Roxana Ayala (ACEEE), Sherie Fulcher (Southern Air), and Dan Taylor (BlueGreen Alliance).
Inclusive Decarbonization : Decarbonization plays a critical role in stabilizing our climate, but how do we ensure that it is available to all? The panelists discussed insights and opportunities for decarbonization plans that center equity and uplift disadvantaged communities. Speakers included Erin Cosgrove (NEEP), McKenna Dunbar (Sierra Club, Moderator), Maggie Kelley Riggins (SEEA), and Jamal Lewis (Rewiring America).
How Are We Talking About Energy Efficiency? This unique, interactive session walked speakers and participants through the process of planning and executing a green building plan for the city of Fiction, VA. Using the framework of federal grants and real-world processes, our panelists discussed how to overcome many of the communication barriers between different stakeholders to getting a project across the finish line. The session was moderated by Rebecca Hui, and speakers included Andrew McKinley (VIA design architects), Michele Mitch-Peterson (Siemens), Dawn Oleksy (City of Richmond), and Blair St. Ledger-Olson.
Attendees gathered in person for day two at the University of Richmond Jepson Alumni Center in Richmond. The day began with an opening presentation from Executive Director, Chelsea Harnish. Attendees were provided with updates and a brief overview of the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency industry, as well as a second round of live polling. This poll is also open for seven days, so please sound off!
The day also included a keynote address, a plenary panel, the ninth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards ceremony, and an on-site reception.
Keynote Address: Long-time energy efficiency ally and former SCC commissioner Angela Navarro served as our keynote speaker. Her address gave crucial context to the state’s legislative and regulatory landscape.
“It’s no secret that energy efficiency policy in Virginia has a long and somewhat frustrating history… but there is so much momentum today.”
Multifamily Multiverse – Navigating the Funding Maze Beyond Weatherization: After a break for networking and snacks, attendees came back together for the plenary session focused on the complexities of serving and funding multifamily housing. There are dozens of state and federal programs focused on low-income and multifamily housing, and navigating the processes can be daunting. Our expert panelists took a deep dive into the opportunities, challenges, and new programs on the horizon, tying it all together with a case study from Piedmont Housing Alliance. Speakers included KC Bleile (VEIC), Stephen Evanko (Dominion Due Diligence Group), Phil Cunningham (Virginia Housing), Sunshine Mathon (Piedmont Housing Alliance), and Rebecca Hui as the moderator. The panelists, along with the audience, answered a last round of poll questions focused on multifamily challenges.
Energizing Efficiency Campaign & Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards Ceremony: Next, we had the honor of hosting our ninth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards ceremony. We started off by highlighting the submissions to our Energizing Efficiency Campaign. From these submissions, three were chosen by the VAEEC’s Education & Events Committee to receive a 2024 Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Award for their incredible energy efficiency contributions. For information on each winning project or program, visit our 2024 Awards page.
The event concluded with an on-site networking reception. It is always a pleasure to connect with many of our members and others in the industry face-to-face, and this was no exception.
Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, award winners, and event attendees for making this one of our best events to date. View photos of the event below. Additional event information, including speaker biographies and sponsor features, can be found in the event program.
Best Practices for Workforce Success
Data Center Demand – How Do We Respond?
How Are We Talking About Energy Efficiency?
Event attendees will receive recordings for each of the four breakout sessions in the post-event email. Presentation PDFs can be viewed at the links above.
