IPPNY Clean Energy Spring Conference 2025 Agenda

Breakfast/Registration – 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome Remarks – 9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Chris LaRoe, IPPNY Chair, Senior Director of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Brookfield Renewable

Morning Keynote 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Rich Dewey, President & CEO, NYISO

State Regional Partners Discussion on Federal and State-Level Issues – 9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Moderator: TBA Soon! 
Panelist: Gavin J. Donohue, President & CEO, IPPNY
Panelist: Todd Snitchler, President & CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
Panelist: Dan Dolan, President, New England Power Generators Association
Panelist: Laura Chappelle, Partner, Potomac Law Group

Coffee Break – 11:00 – 11:15 a.m.

Breakout Sessions: Located on First Floor – 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

#1 What it Takes to Build a New Nuclear Plant

It is no secret that New York is facing many challenges as the State strives to achieve its ambitious climate mandates. A large amount of new generation is needed to make these goals a reality, and meet the large loads set to come on line. Building off Governor Kathy Hochul’s Future Energy Economy Summit in 2024 and her 2025 State of the State Address, nuclear power will play a key role in New York’s clean energy future. This panel will discuss the process of building or repurposing a nuclear plant, how the technology can advance New York’s clean energy goals, the importance of trained labor, and what it is like to host a nuclear plant in your county. 

Moderator: Rich Barlette, Director, State Government Affairs, Constellation Energy
Panelist: Marc Nichol, Executive Director, Nuclear Energy Institute
Panelist: Patrick White, Research Director, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
Panelist: Phil Church, County Administrator, Oswego County
Additional Panelist TBA Soon!

#2 What’s Next for Capacity Markets?

The objective of capacity markets is to provide appropriate price signals to attract new resources and retain existing resources ensuring system reliability. Coming off the heels of the 2025-2029 Demand Curve Reset Process, various stakeholders have discussed different ideas about what should change in the capacity market. These will be taken up as part of the NYISO’s 2025 Capacity Market Structure Review Project. Ideas floating around include having two demand curves, one for new resources, and one for the retention of existing resources, as well as just abolishing the capacity market and entering into bilateral contracts for needed generation. This panel is meant to dive into how environmental and public policy actions are most efficiently taken into consideration for the capacity market to remain economically efficient while meeting looming reliability needs.

Moderator: Richard Bratton, Director, Market Policy and Regulatory Affairs, IPPNY
Panelist: Mike DeSocio, Founder/CEO, Luminary Energy
Panelist: Adam Evans, Utility Analyst, Wholesale Markets, Department of Public Service
Panelist: Jay Goodman, Partner, Couch White
Panelist: Chris Casey, Utility Regulatory Director, New York, Climate & Energy, NRDC

Lunch – 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Keynote: FTI Presentation – Demonstrating the Benefits of Competitive Generation in New York – 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

New York has advanced ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming to see 70% of the state’s electricity generated from renewable energy by 2030. Independent power producers have met these needs admirably, bringing carbon dioxide emissions from the electric sector down by 46% over the period from 2000-2022, while keeping consumer costs steady. As the 2030 deadline nears, it is imperative that New York continue to rely on private generation owners to build out the new low-carbon energy as quickly as possible.

Shannon Maher Bañaga, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Robert Kaineg, Managing Director, FTI Consulting

AI/Large Loads/Economic Development – 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

New York has big plans for economic development with the addition of new data centers and the development of AI through the domestic manufacturing of microchips. These plans will require an incredible amount of generation to power, which will mean hard decisions on which new resources will come on line. This panel will dive into the impact of adding large loads to the system, and the energy solutions that could serve the needs of the high energy economic development.

Moderator: David Lombardo, Host, The Capitol Pressroom
Panelist: Ryan Silva, Executive Director, Economic Development Council
Panelist: Zach G. Smith, Vice President, System and Resource Planning, NYISO
Panelist: Thomas Huang, Program Manager, GlobalFoundries 
Panelist: Nicole Pavia, Director, Clean Energy Infrastructure, Clean Air Task Force
Panelist: Jerry Goodenough, Vice President, Project Management, Beowulf E&D

Closing Remarks – 3:00 p.m.

Gavin J. Donohue, President & CEO, IPPNY

Register today!

*This agenda is subject to change prior to the event.