Join us for Pathways Toward a Clean Energy Grid

AGI INDUSTRY DAY | Wednesday, August 30 | WSU Tri-Cities, Richland, WA

Dear Colleagues:

The Advanced Grid Institute (AGI) is excited to host our annual AGI Industry Day on August 30, in Richland, Washington. Our theme is “Pathways Toward a Clean Energy Grid” and includes seven sessions. Speakers from across government agencies, utilities, industry, universities, and national labs will share their insights into challenges and opportunities as we work on technical solutions for planning and operations of the clean power systems of the future. Highlights of our sessions include:

• Keynote by US Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grid Systems and Components Division Michael Pesin, 
• Insights from State of Washington Senator Matt Boehnke on a legislative perspective on clean energy activities,
• Panel on State Regulator Perspectives with representatives from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners,
• Panel on Electric Vehicles and the Grid with speakers from Washington’s Electric Vehicle Council and the Alliance for Transportation Electrification,
• Perspectives from the AGI Industry Advisory Board including six utilities, one manufacturer and a regional public power association, and
• Talks discussing AGI, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Washington State University (WSU) leadership and research activities towards a clean energy grid.

You can learn more about these sessions below in this e-newsletter.

In addition to technical sessions, AGI Industry Day provides opportunities for in-person participants to interact with a networking lunch and a reception in WSU’s Wine Science Center.

We hope you will join us for AGI Industry Day. In-Person and virtual registration is available now. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to one of us.

Sincerely,

Jeff Dagle and Noel Schulz

PNNL/WSU AGI Co-Directors  

AGI Industry Day 2023  –  Schedule at a Glance

Detailed schedule and descriptions below. 

8: 30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast Networking

9:00 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. | Welcome 

Welcome AGI Industry Day 2023

Jeff Dagle (PNNL) and Noel Schulz (WSU), AGI Co-Directors 

WSU's Leadership Activities in the Energy Area

Sandra Haynes, Chancellor, WSU Tri-Cities

Jonathan Male, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of National Laboratory Partnerships WSU 

Integration of Energy, Environment and National Security 

Jud Virden, Associate Laboratory Director, Energy and Environment, PNNL

Deb Gracio, Associate Laboratory Director, National Security, PNNL 

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Keynote Presentation

Michael Pesin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Advanced Grid Research and Development Division, US Department of Energy 

10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Energy Policy: State Legislator's Perspective

Matt Boehnke, Washington State Senator 

11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | Morning Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Implementing Energy Policy Activities:

State Regulators and State Government Perspective

Dave Danner, Chair, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Ann Rendahl, Commissioner, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Kiera Zitelman, Technical Manager at the Center for Partnerships and Innovation, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners* 

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch with Networking Tables

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | AGI Research Collaborations

Liang Min, Stanford

Kim Zentz, Urbanova

Anamika Dubey, WSU/PNNL

Jim Ogle, PNNL 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Electric Vehicles and the Grid

Deborah Reynolds, Washington State Department of Commerce

Julie Peacock, PNNL* 

Philip Jones, Alliance for Transportation Electrification

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Break

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | AGI Industry Advisory Board Panel

Larry Bekkedahl, Portland General Electric

Scott Corwin, Northwest Public Power Association

Judith Estep, Bonneville Power Administration

Eleanor Ewry, Puget Sound Energy

John Gibson, Avista

Tim Nies, Energy Northwest

Uzma Siddiqi, Seattle City Light

Rich Wallen, Grant County PUD

Greg Zweigle, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Open Discussion, Wrap Up, and Next Steps 

 Jeff Dagle (PNNL) and Noel Schulz (WSU), AGI Co-Directors 

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Reception, Posters, and Tours

 WSU Wine Science Center, 59 University Drive, Richland, WA 99354  

* presenter attending virtually

Detailed Session Descriptions 

WSU's Leadership Activities in the Energy Area

Sandra Haynes and Jonathan Male (WSU)

The PNNL/WSU Advanced Grid Institute (AGI) is one of several WSU initiatives in the energy space. Our WSU Tri-Cities chancellor will welcome participants to the WSU Tri-Cities campus and discuss WSU System activities including the new Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF). Additionally, a representative from the Office of Research will share how WSU is leveraging our partnerships with PNNL and industry to provide leadership in energy related research, development, and outreach projects.

Integration of Energy, Environment and National Security 

Jud Virden and Deb Gracio (PNNL)

Associate laboratory directors representing the Energy & Environment Directorate and the National Security Directorate at PNNL will describe key activities in support of mission areas vital to the future of the nation. Representing stewardship of PNNL research activities aligned with the AGI, they will outline how PNNL leverages its research activities and stakeholder connections in support of strategic joint institutes, including but not limited to the AGI.

Keynote Presentation: Moving to the Grid of the Future        

Michael Pesin (U.S. Department of Energy) 

An end-to-end coordinated approach to develop grid systems and components will guide an intentional transformation to ensure the electricity delivery system is ready for what comes next. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Systems and Components Division in the Office of Electricity is developing advanced systems, devices, components, and materials that are critical to grid modernization.

Energy Policy: State Legislator's Perspective

Matt Boehnke (Washington State Senate)

Over the last several years, federal and state legislators have set extensive clean energy goals around power generation, renewable energy, electrification of transportation, and progress towards a carbon-neutral energy economy. A Washington State senator will share his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of implementing these clean energy goals.

Implementing Energy Policy Activities: State Regulators and State Government Perspective

Dave Danner and Ann Rendahl (Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission), and Kiera Zitelman (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners)

State regulators are tasked with managing the clean energy goals and expectations developed by state legislators while working with utilities to maintain a reliable and resilient electric grid that provides energy at a set cost. State agencies implement programs to provide support for research, development, outreach, and demonstrations of clean energy solutions. Three speakers will discuss state and national trends and perspectives on moving towards a carbon-neutral energy economy.

AGI Research Collaborations

Liang Min (Stanford), Kim Zentz (Urbanova), Anamika Dubey (WSU/PNNL), and Jim Ogle (PNNL)

At the heart of the AGI joint institute between PNNL and WSU are collaborative research projects providing advanced grid modeling to support planning and operations of complex power systems. This session will describe innovative new projects that will be initiated over the coming year representing growing areas of collaboration between the AGI and other partners to solve the most pressing challenges facing the future power system.

Electric Vehicles and the Grid

Deborah Reynolds (Washington State Department of Commerce), Julie Peacock (PNNL), and Philip Jones (Alliance for Transportation Electrification)

Transportation is Washington State’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and other major pollutants. The continued progress of electric vehicle technology, coupled with the state’s abundance of economical, zero-emission electricity, provides an opportunity to reduce transportation emissions through electrification. This session will discuss how initiatives are impacting the readiness of the electricity grid to support the future of transportation electrification.

AGI Industry Advisory Board Panel

Larry Bekkedahl (Portland General Electric), Scott Corwin (Northwest Public Power Association), Judith Estep (Bonneville Power Administration), Eleanor Ewry (Puget Sound Energy), John Gibson (Avista), Tim Nies (Energy Northwest), Uzma Siddiqi (Seattle City Light), Rich Wallen (Grant County PUD), Greg Zweigle (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories)

Regional leaders representing utilities, technology providers, and other industry stakeholder organizations have been invited to serve as advisory board members providing strategic input and guidance to the AGI. Their recommendations will help bolster AGI’s research and work in advanced grid modeling to support the planning and operation of complex power systems of the future. In this panel, they will be invited to share their perspectives and insights regarding pathways toward a clean energy grid.

Networking Lunch, Reception, and Tours

In addition to the technical talks and panels, AGI Industry Day participants who attend the event in person have an opportunity to network with speakers and colleagues from around the Pacific Northwest during breaks, lunch, and our late afternoon reception. During lunch, different speakers will be at designated tables for small group discussions. The afternoon reception will be held in the WSU Wine Science Center and will include posters of AGI activities as well as tours of the state-of-the-art wine research center.

For additional information, please contact

AGI Co-Directors Noel Schulz (WSU)  and Jeff Dagle (PNNL).

vcea.agi@wsu.edu