VX2017 Program

#VX2017 Highlights from VERDEXCHANGE on Vimeo.

 
 
VX2017 Program
 

 

Monday, January 30, 2017

7:00 AM

Registration and Breakfast

7:45 AM

VX2017 Welcome (B1) 

David Abel, Chair, VerdeXchange
Bill Allen, CEO, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 2nd District

8:10 AM

Morning Plenary

Is California Merely a U.S. Outlier on Climate Change and Carbon Pricing? (B1)

Moderator:
Mel Levine, President, Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners

Panelists:
John Laird, Secretary of the California Department of Natural Resources
David Heurtel, Québec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, and the Fight Against Climate Change
Robert Hertzberg, California State Senator, 18th District
Bob Wieckowski,California State Senator, 10th District; Chair, Senate Environmental Quality Committee

California lawmakers vowed to “lead the resistance” against a climate-skeptic Trump administration. Governor Brown declared that California would “stay true” to its environmental leadership under President Trump. And the state has reportedly considered joining the UN climate process on its own should Trump opt out of national participation. Against this political backdrop, what are the prospects for subnational, cross-state partnerships to fight climate change? How can state leadership spearhead the adoption of innovative climate change policy throughout the country? Will California be fighting this fight alone, or is a more cooperative future on the horizon?

9:00 AM

-ENERGY-

Navigating Against the Winds of Federal Energy Policy Toward a Low Carbon Economy: Can Coal Compete with Gas? Can Gas Compete Still with Renewables? (B1)

Moderator:
Liam Denning, Columnist, Bloomberg Gadfly

Panelists:
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, President, Western States Petroleum Association
Robert Weisenmiller, Chair, California Energy Commission
Jonathan Weisgall, VP Government Relations, Berkshire Hathaway Energy
George Minter, Regional VP External Affairs and Environmental Strategy, Southern California Gas Company

A sea-change moment for clean energy may be on the horizon, as costs for alternative energy technologies continue to decline and meet the level of natural gas. On one hand, this trend makes California’s ambitious renewable energy targets appear increasingly realistic. At the same time, nearly two-dozen states are leading the charge to scrap the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, while the incoming administration has promised to reenergize coal production. What are the policy drivers and coming legislation that will impact our power sector in the coming years?

9:50 AM

-WATER-

Southern California Regional Collaboration on Water: The Confluence of Climate Change, Drought & Stormwater Management (P2)

Moderator:
Felicia Marcus, Chair, State Water Resources Board

Panelists:
Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 3rd District
Robert Garcia, Mayor of the City of Long Beach
Liz Crosson, Water Policy Advisor, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

California and Los Angeles County policy leaders discuss a vision for long-term water management and resiliency in the region—a crucial intervention at a time when the state’s water supply is threatened not only by years of acute drought conditions, but also by the impacts of climate change, both of whose ramifications have already been felt and will only continue to increase in severity. Panelists will especially highlight where Los Angeles County will be targeting its next round of infrastructure investments and their financing, and the policies coming into place to incent better water practices among agencies and residents alike.

-TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE-

Future of Zero-Emission Vehicles: Market and Policy Drivers (P3)

Moderator:
Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board

Panelists:
Laura Renger, Principal Manager, Air and Climate, Southern California Edison
Terry O'Day, Vice President, EVgo; Santa Monica City Councilmember
Marc Bédard, President, Lion Bus
Craig Scott, Director, Advanced Technologies Group, Toyota Motor North America
Alejandro Zamorano, Clean Energy and Advanced Transport Specialist, Bloomberg New Energy Fund

This panel will explore the forces at work in determining the future of zero-emission vehicles for California and the nation. As vehicle technology continues to improve, policymakers are increasingly recognizing the opportunities to reduce emissions inherent in battery storage advances, as well as ride share and autonomous fleets. State air, energy, and transportation agencies continue to converge on integrated solutions to incent and align investments in infrastructure, as well as regulatory policy and incentives that will meet 2050 air and climate goals. How soon can the technology and the infrastructure be scaled nationwide? Which is the least costly option with the smallest environmental impact? How can consumers be incentivized to buy or lease zero-emission vehicles?

-ENERGY-

Roundtable

More Than Smart: Data and the Electricity Grid: Using Data to Build a Plug-and-Play Grid (A)

Moderator:
Jim Kelly, Senior VP (retired), Southern California Edison

Panelists:
Erik Takayesu, Director, Electric System Planning and Grid Modernization, Southern California Edison
Cole Hershkowitz, CEO, Chai Energy

This panel will discuss the growing intersection of Big Data and the electric grid. Utilities and vendors are working feverishly to develop a “new grid” that aspires to be multi-directional and highly interactive. Imagine a network of both electrical loads and electrical resources (including solar panels, small wind generators, fuel cells, batteries, flywheels, capacitors, geothermal loops, thermal energy storage, demand response programs, and more) that can be seamlessly integrated “on the fly” into a highly intelligent grid that will constantly and safely balance supply and demand, minimize emissions, and control costs. This “plug-and-play grid” will need an unprecedented amount of data and processing capacity. How will it work? How long will it take? Will it be safe from cyber-threats? Can everyone play in this new world—including the economically disadvantaged?

10:40 AM

-ENERGY-

How Will Subnational Governments Continue to Incentivize Transitions to Cleaner Power? (P1)

Moderator:
Fran Pavley, former California State Senator, 27th District

Panelists:
Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Len Hering, Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Energy
Alexander McDonough, Vice President Public Policy, Sunrun

With a new federal administration taking office in Washington, questions arise as to how state and local climate change policies will align (or not). For years, distributed energy has gained resources in California, through the support of state regulators, policymakers, financiers, innovative companies and utilities. Indeed, DER providers today are shaping California’s rules, regulations, and markets that are meant to ensure the transformation of California’s energy gird to a reliance of cleaner power. In this panel, policy makers, legislators, and private-sector innovators will explore subsidies, incentives, consumer protections, and other options available to subnational governments seeking to continue both encouraging power as well as to “regulate responsibly”—safeguarding the public without alienating the market.

-WATER-

Mission: Tomorrow’s Water—Assessing Cost-Benefits of Wastewater Reuse Alternative Technology (P2)

Moderator:
Brian Jordan, Vice President, Tetra Tech

Panelists:
Richard Harasick, Senior Assistant General Manager - Water System, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Adel Hagekhalil, Assistant Director, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation
Robb Whitaker, General Manager, Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Brian Fraser, Senior Sales Manager, Meiden America Inc. (MAI)

As Los Angeles strives to reuse more water in order to reduce its reliance on imported supply, this panel brings together public- and private-sector experts to outline the strategies and financing the water world is using to meet regional needs and goals. Leading international engineering firms describe how their cutting-edge pilot projects in water-scarce countries could be models for innovation in California, while local government addresses the policy solutions that have proven most valuable to delivering new infrastructure, diversifying their supply portfolios, and encouraging public conservation and efficiency. Panelists will explain how integrating project delivery and financing solutions from the private sector into municipal infrastructure can help maximize the reuse of stormwater, gray water, and wastewater in the region.

-TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE-

Hydrogen for California: Global Efforts and the Business Model (P3)

Moderator:
Mike Levin, Director of Government Affairs, FuelCell Energy

Panelists:
Janea Scott, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Masaru Yamazumi, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Sunita Satyapal, Director, Fuel Cells Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Dr. Jeffrey Reed, Chair, California Hydrogen Business Council
Eric Denhoff, Deputy Minister, Alberta Climate Change Office

California has a leading role in turning the elusive atom into a useful fuel stock. The state has committed to funding 100 fueling stations to encourage the deployment of hydrogen vehicles and auto makers are bringing these ultra clean cars to market. And throughout the world, similar efforts at creating the infrastructure and market for hydrogen fuel and energy are proceeding apace. But what is the business case for hydrogen in California, and how are efforts throughout the world strengthening the prospects for a viable Hydrogen Economy in the near future?

-ENERGY-

The Proposed Regional Grid: When, How, and What Will It Mean for California? (B3)

Moderator:
Jim Kelly, Senior VP (retired), Southern California Edison

Panelists:
Steve Berberich, President and CEO, California ISO
Jonathan Weisgall, VP Government Relations, Berkshire Hathaway
Walter Spansel, VP Transmission, NV Energy
Jeff Nelson, Director of FERC Rates and Market Integration, Southern California Edison
Reiko Kerr, Assistant General Manager, Power System Strategic Policy, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

The best way to make renewable energy an affordable, reliable resource—in all weather and at all times of day—may be the Energy Imbalance Market. One of the most innovative models for an electricity market to emerge in the last decade, the EIM allows subregional authorities to pool their natural energy resources to create a larger, more diverse energy portfolio that can more efficiently balance supply and demand. This panel will address the regulatory and logistical challenges California and southwestern states are encountering in creating a Western Grid: modernizing infrastructure across the region, crafting consistent regulation for multiple states, and building a system with the ability to scale—perhaps even nationwide.

11:35 AM

-ENERGY-

The Holy Grail: Energy Storage and Intermittent Renewables (P1)

Moderator:
Steve Sullivan, Managing Director (retired), Southern California Edison

Panelists:
Go Mizoguchi, General Manager, Mitsui & Co. (USA)
Susan Kennedy, Founder and CEO, Advanced Microgrid Solutions
Erica He, Advisor, Business Development, Energy Solutions, Innovation Core SEI Inc. (Sumitomo Electric)
Jim Kelly, Senior VP (retired), Southern California Edison

California is committed to 50% renewable power in the future; Hawaii aspires to 100%. But when night falls, or the wind stops blowing, where will the power come from? Experts seem to finally agree that energy storage is the “secret sauce” that will enable very high levels of renewable power to be integrated into the electric grid—without sacrificing reliability. Using batteries, flywheels, pumped storage hydro, gravity energy storage, and perhaps new technologies not even conceived of yet, is there realistically a way to get enough storage in place to meet our lofty policy goals? How much do we really need to keep everything working? Will it cost consumers more? Should storage be distributed, centralized in major “storage hubs”, or both? And can it really provide the reliability we’ve come to expect?

-WATER-

Tactics: Moving Metro Los Angeles Toward Water Supply Self-Reliance (P2)

Moderator:
Adel Hagekhalil, Assistant Director, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation

Panelists:
Liz Crosson, Water Policy Advisor, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
Mark Gold, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
Mark Pestrella, Acting Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Mike Markus, General Manager, Orange County Water District

Southern California water leaders share their on-the-ground perspectives on policies, technologies, and project delivery models they are using to achieve conservation, reuse, and ultimately, water independence at the local level. Panelists will drill down into how projects actually get done, where the funding comes from, and how diverse stakeholders get to the table, as well as the specific actions they are undertaking to build a culture of resilience, reuse, and reinvestment in water management city by city and across the region.

-TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE-

Will "Automobility" Disrupt Public Transport: Impacts of Electrification, Connectivity, Autonomous Vehicles on Public Mobility Investment Plans (P3)

Moderator:
Matt Petersen, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Los Angeles

Panelists:
Rick Cole, City Manager, City of Santa Monica
Veronica Siranosian, Transportation and Land-Use Planning Manager, AECOM
Amanda Eaken, Director, Transportation and Climate, Natural Resources Defense Council
Louis Stewart, Deputy Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

The transportation sector is California’s largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. A shared vision for the future of mobility throughout the state is therefore crucial. While the private sector promises to eliminate the personal car in a matter of decades through autonomous vehicle fleets, LA Metro is investing tens of billions of dollars in public transit portals. Are these industries at odds with each other? Or can policymakers incentivize integrated solutions to create infrastructure that is truly multi-modal and future-proof?

12:20 PM

Lunch Service

12:35 PM

Luncheon Plenary

True Energy Markets Disruption: Can You Get Off the Grid for $30/Month? (B1)

Remarks:
Kazuo Furukawa, Chairman, NEDO

Moderator:
Jim Kelly, Senior VP (retired), Southern California Edison

Panelists:
Ron Nichols, President, Southern California Edison
Jonathan Weisgall, VP Government Relations, Berkshire Hathaway
Michael Picker, President, California Public Utilities Commission
Robert Weisenmiller, Chair, California Energy Commission
Susan Kennedy, Founder and CEO, Advanced Microgrid Solutions

This panel will discuss the growing set of technologies, programs and financing schemes that customers are seeing now—including claims that you can go “off the grid” for $30 per month. What are the realities, the true costs, and the societal impacts of distributed generation, home storage, and an “interactive grid”?

1:15 PM

Luncheon Plenary

Are California and Quebec's Climate and Energy Policies a Drag on their Region's Economic Growth? A Candid Conversation (B1)

Moderator: 
David Abel, Chair, VerdeXchange

Panelists:
Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
Bob Foster, Epcor Board Member; former Chair, California ISO; former President, SCE
David Heurtel, Québec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, and the Fight Against Climate Change

“No longer must economic growth mean smokestacks and pollution,” CARB Chair Mary Nichols directly affirmed when discussing California’s growing GDP and declining greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. In fact, today, California’s unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 2007. This plenary session affords a platform to candidly address the contrasting economic viewpoints of California and Quebec’s climate change leaderswho are all about stimulating cleantech innovation and job creationwith a new federal administration's viewpoint that holds that aggressive public policies that promote a clean energy economy are in reality "a drag on our economy."

2:00 PM

-ENERGY-

Natural Gas: Its Place In California’s Energy Portfolio (P3)

Moderator:
Bill Allen, President and CEO, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

Panelists:
George Minter, Regional VP External Affairs & Environmental Strategy, Southern California Gas Company
Ryan McCarthy, Science and Technology Policy Advisor, California Air Resources Board
Liam Denning, Columnist, Bloomberg Gadfly

As California aims to achieve 33 percent renewable energy by 2030, state regulators have tended to disincentivize the use of natural gas. Some believe it should be phased out entirely; others want to use it to transition to electricity. But with renewed attention on the connection between natural gas and electricity, California is shifting increasingly to near-zero-emissions, renewable natural gas-based technologies. This panel brings together gas executives, leading environmentalists, and energy experts to tease out the industry’s role in California’s economy, how it is responding to environmental and safety concerns, and where it fits into California’s energy future.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Reimagining Cities: What Does City Planning Have to Do With Livability & Climate Change? (P1)

Moderator:
Cecilia Estolano, Co-Founder, ELP Advisors

Panelists:
Gail Goldberg, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute-Los Angeles
Rusty Hicks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Michael Woo, Dean, College of Environmental Design, Cal Poly Pomona
Kerry Cavanaugh, Editorial Writer, Los Angeles Times

California governments are increasingly directing focused attention to climate change, with dedicated plans for increased density, water independence, energy conservation, and green infrastructure arising en masse at the state, regional, and local levels. Moreover, the state now requires general plans to weigh the disproportionate impacts of climate change on disadvantaged communities. At the same time, though, cities throughout California are experiencing major crises in the planning process—a lack of clear guidelines or regulation for developers accompanied by a loss of faith among constituents that a vision for a livable future resides in City Hall. Join this conversation with the planners, architects, developers, policymakers, and activists dealing with these challenges on the ground, and learn about the role of each of these stakeholders in creating a sustainable future.

-ENERGY-

Roundtable

Is the Marketing of Energy Efficiency Really Working? (A) 

Moderator:
Marcie Edwards, former General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Panelists:
Len Hering, Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Energy
Evan Birenbaum, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Chai Energy
Nancy Sutley, Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Mark Wallenrod, Director of Demand Side Management Programs, Southern California Edison
Jake Levine, Policy Advisor, Covington & Burling

With its clear economic and environmental benefits, energy efficiency should by all rights be an easy sell. But changing consumer habits and purchasing decision requires proactive and innovative strategy. On this panel, sustainability experts with achievements ranging from founding a consumer-friendly startup to greening the U.S. Navy will discuss market drivers for energy efficiency, best data-communication practices, and incentives that can result in reduced energy consumption while also helping utilities maintain stakeholder support, financial viability, and quality of service. 

2:50 PM

-ENERGY-

How to Accelerate Growth of Energy and Water Efficiency Through Policy and Finance (P3)

Moderator:
Gary Gero, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles County

Panelists:
Eliot Abel, Senior Business Development Manager, Renovate America
Jay Jacobs, Managing Director, Sustainability Partners
Bob Foster, Epcor Board Member; former Chair, California ISO; former President, SCE
Adam Krantz, CEO, National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Facilitating market adoption of energy efficiency technologies is one of the largest nuts still to crack in the clean energy space. However, with the growth of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, companies such as Renovate America have helped thousands of California homeowners make energy and water efficient upgrades to their properties. Looking to 2017, what changes in third party financing have the potential to make this year a big year for energy and water efficiency technologies, even as federal support could wane? What role can a regional or local municipality play in incentivizing adoption?

-WATER-

Tactics: Wastewater Reuse Yesterday and Today (P2)

Moderator:
Martin Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Panelists:
Traci Minamide, Chief Operating Officer, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation
Robb Whitaker, General Manager, Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Mike Markus, General Manager, Orange County Water District
Jean-François Lamy, President, Aquartis

California water officials have begun working on standards that would allow treated wastewater to be used for human consumption. As advancing wastewater treatment technology uses less energy, costs continue to decline. Hear from the leaders of today’s state-of-the-art projects about how greywater recycling, on-site recycling systems, and expanding water recycling centers are interacting with regional and statewide mandates and goals.

-TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE-

California's Sustainable Freight Action Plan: Implementing Projects (P1)

Moderator:
Ellen Greenberg, Deputy Director for Sustainability, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Panelists:
Hector De La Torre, Board Member, California Air Resources Board
Lisa Alexander, VP Customer Solutions and Communications, Southern California Gas Company
Rick Cameron, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach

Since Governor Brown’s 2015 executive order, California agencies and departments have strived to accelerate the greening of the goods movement system in the state. Under the Sustainable Freight Action Plan, the state has already implemented policies, programs, and investments aimed at improving freight efficiency and transitioning to zero-emission technologies, both to help clean our air and to increase the competitiveness of the system. In this panel, California stakeholders curate a presentation of pilot projects in the trucking, rail, shipping, and port industries—particularly in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—that offer successful models for profitable, sustainable freight.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Sustainability Performance: Responding to Markets, Customers, and Global Supply Chain Dynamics (B3)

Moderator:
Mike Wallace, Managing Director, BrownFlynn

Panelists:
Kathy Gerwig, VP Employee Safety, Health and Wellness, Kaiser Permanente
Mark Callaway, Senior VP and Senior Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley
Evan Harvey, Managing Director of Corporate Sustainability, The NASDAQ OMX Group
Brian Thurston, National Business Development Manager, Waste Management Sustainability Services

Whether a large, publicly traded, multi-national corporation, a small private company, a non-profit healthcare provider or a government agency, stakeholders are increasingly demanding disclosure of an organization’s sustainability information, also known as environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance information.  This session will explain how markets, investors and customers are shaping the sustainability field and influencing how all organizations measure, manage and report sustainability information. Panelists will provide an overview of the growing trends in this field, present the strategic opportunities around sustainability, and demonstrate how influential stakeholders are using this information this make purchasing and investment decisions.

3:35 PM

-ENERGY-

Microgrids: Are They Changing the U.S. Power Landscape? (P3)

**This session continues until the closing reception at 5:25 pm.

Moderator:
Robyn Beavers, VP Tech and Investments, Lennar

Panelists:
Garrett Wong, Sustainability Analyst, Climate and Energy Programs, City of Santa Monica
Dan Cohee, Vice President, PDE Total Energy Solutions
Alex Spataru, President, The ADEPT Group
Matt Wartian, Regional Global Practice Manager, Environmental Studies and Permitting, Burns & McDonnell

With utility customers no longer just buying energy, but generating, storing, and selling it as well, it is clear that the traditional electricity grid is unprepared to meet the dynamic energy needs of the future. Instead, independent microgrids drawing from distributed energy sources are becoming an increasingly popular solution for renewables, energy storage, and demand management. This panel will explore how utilities have approached this disruptive technology, where there is room for cities and municipalities to facilitate the energy transformation, and what replicable models exist in the Los Angeles area.

-WATER-

Regional Stormwater Management: Sustainability & Financing Challenges (P2)

Moderator:
Felicia Marcus, Chair, State Water Resources Board

Panelists:
Gary Hildebrand, Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Harlan Kelly, General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Charles D. Herbertson, Director, Culver City Department of Public Works
Ron Gastelum, President and Board Chair, Water Conservation Partners

We may be in the wettest winter over the last decade, but what challenges are municipal governments running into regarding capturing the stormwater before it runs out to sea? Learn how have municipalities managed to finance state-of-the-art stormwater capture projects, and where Southern California might turn to upgrade its aging water infrastructure.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Pension Investment and Banking on Clean Energy: State Leadership in Financing Regional Innovation and Infrastructure (B3)

Moderator:
Jim Wunderman, President & CEO, Bay Area Council

Panelists:
Betty Yee, California State Controller
Allan Emkin, Managing Director, Pension Consulting Alliance
Tom Unterman, Founding Partner, Rustic Canyon Partners & CalSTERs Board Member
Ken MastersBoard Chair, Lumera

Show me the money! For California’s fiscal shepherds, the push towards clean energy and climate action has meant divesting the state’s two giant public pensions funds (CalPERS and CalSTRS) from the coal industry. As California state leaders are assessing impact investing and revolving loan funds for funding projects, what are the long-term implications to the fiscal solvency of the state? What are the strategic opportunities for investment in energy storage, vehicle-to-grid infrastructure, and climate resilient projects? As VC capital continues to flow into clean transportation and clean energy generation startups, what are the complementary opportunities for state leaders to support? 

4:25 PM

-WATER-

The Smart City: Nexus of Water, Energy and Technology (P2)

Moderator:
Abigale Abel, Global Director, GE Ecomagination

Panelists:
Jeff Berk, Senior Vice President, AECOM
David Wright, General Manager, L
os Angeles Department of Water and Power
Liane Randolph, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
Andrew Chastain-Howley, Director, Water System Efficiency, Black & Veatch
Andy Lipkis, Founder, TreePeople

The “smart city” framework recognizes that many of our most fundamental systems and resources are already interdependent—transportation and energy, energy and water, and more—and calls for our infrastructure to be equally interconnected. In the smart city, where everything from the electricity grid to the healthcare system functions as a single dynamic network, a constant stream of information and communication among public agencies, technology companies, utilities, and machines themselves is paramount. This panel explores how (and whether) these parties are working well together to capitalize on the nexuses of our most crucial infrastructure systems, and realize the successful smart city.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Financing Green Infrastructure: To P3 or Not to P3? Identifying the Appropriate Project Delivery Model (B3)

Opening Remarks:
John Chiang, California State Treasurer

Moderator:
Peter Taylor, President, ECMC Foundation

Panelists:
Daniel Feitelberg, Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance, University of California-Merced
Joshua Schank, Chief Innovation Officer, Los Angeles Metro

The nation’s aging infrastructure is becoming increasingly inefficient and vulnerable to climate change, while public funding for upgrades has become more difficult to come by. In many cases, public-private partnerships (P3s) have arisen as a solution to deliver green infrastructure projects that meet both public and private interests—by benefitting the environment and improving quality of life, as well as demonstrating the viability of advanced products. But do P3s work for every project? What do you need to know before initiating one? And what other options are there? This panel features those who have successfully utilized the P3 model at scale.

LAEDC/World Trade Center Event - *By Invitation Only* (P1)

Remarks:
John Emerson, U.S. Ambassador to Germany
Mickey Kantor, former U.S. Trade Representative
Vilma Martinez, U.S. Ambassador to Argentina

 

5:25 PM

VX2017 / World Trade Center Reception for Ambassador John Emerson

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

7:15 AM

Registration and Breakfast

7:45 AM

VX2017 / FutureBuild Welcome (B1)

David Abel, Chair, VerdeXchange
Gail Goldberg, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute-Los Angeles

8:00 AM

Morning Plenary

The Transformative Prospects of L.A. 2024 Olympics (B1)

Remarks:
Gene Sykes, CEO, LA2024

Moderator:
Renata Simril, President and CEO, LA84 Foundation

Panelists:
Bill Hanway, Executive Vice President, AECOM
Phillip Washington, CEO, Los Angeles Metro
Brence Culp, Executive Director, Sustainability and Legacy, LA2024
James T. Butts, Mayor of the City of Inglewood

Though some of the region’s most ambitious projects are already underway—including the dramatic expansion of Metro rail, investments of our Universities, and the stadium-led revitalization of Inglewood—a plethora of infrastructure upgrades, transit expansions, and development opportunities is in store if Los Angeles wins its bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The 1984 Games were wildly successful, generating a profit of $93 million and spurring groundbreaking innovations in transportation technology. Can this year’s bid recreate that success? What critical advancements might the promise of the Games bring to LA this time around? Join the leaders pushing for this transformative opportunity at the opening plenary of the FutureBuild sessions at VerdeXchange.

8:40 AM

Innovation and Cities: Advancing Public Policies that Drive Risk Capital Investment (B1)

Moderator:
Rick Cole, City Manager, City of Santa Monica

Increasingly, cities are being recognized as the major economic and policy engines of the globe. What steps, then, can cities take to maximize their competitive market impact? This panel will cover concrete public policy strategies to help cities promote innovation, acceleration, and commercialization—from investments in freight, transit, and Internet connectivity, to training programs that develop a talented workforce, to urban planning that creates bustling hubs where entrepreneurs, investors, and academic institutions can collaborate and maximize their economic impact for the better.

9:20 AM

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

Innovation & Energy In The Built Environment & Future Communities (P2)

Moderator:
Ann Gray, FAIA, FRICS, Principal, GRAY Real Estate Advisors

Panelists:
Adrian Foley, Chief Operating Officer, Brookfield Residential California
Robyn Beavers, VP Tech and Investments, Lennar
Russell Fortmeyer, Sustainability Leader, Arup
Kevin Kampschroer, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director, Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings, US GSA

This panel focuses on large-scale projects, whether residential or commercial, that incorporates truly state-of-the-art energy technology. The projects showcased continue to push the limits of energy efficiency, generation, storage, or available onsite load-balancing capabilities. Panelists will offer lessons about the challenges and opportunities of creating high-tech, eco-friendly buildings. Leaders of major companies will work through all aspects of the projects—planning, design, engineering, financing, and more—to give participants a comprehensive picture of what it takes to bring a major, cutting-edge project to fruition. Hear from these leading practitioners about unlocking the potential of the built environment to improve citywide energy systems.

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

New Infrastructure for Resilient Cities (P3)

Moderator:
Marissa Aho, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Los Angeles

Panelists:
Josh Sawislak, Global Director of Resilience, AECOM
Heather Rosenberg, Director, LA Resilience Initiative, U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles
Paul Silvern, Partner, HR&A Advisors
Hayato Nakazono, Deputy Manager, Water Pipeline Division, JFE Engineering Corporation

Resilience is fast becoming a prime consideration for every developer and professional working with the built environment. In this session, participants will learn the components that must be integrated into a project during the design, construction, and maintenance phases in order to mitigate the impacts of disaster or failure. They will also gain guidance on how to implement and advocate for these measures, which in many cases are new or progressive, in cities strapped for investment capital.

-ENERGY-

The Clean Energy Revolution: Reversible or Resolute? (B3)

Moderator:
David Fransen, Fellow, Public Policy Forum

Panelists:
Dean Wiberg, Manager, Commercial Technology Partnership Office, JPL-NASA
Nate Lewis, George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry, Caltech
Deepa Lounsbury, California Clean Energy Fund
Alex Beavers, CEO, Palma Sola Consulting

The development of technologies with the potential to reshape the world as we know it is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. But how many of these transformative applications and products actually make it to market—let alone to widespread adoption? And with a new federal administration, how much harder will it become for the global green economy to go to scale? This panel will explore the sectors that attract the most research dollars and equity investment and demonstrate the greatest potential for scalability. Panelists will also discuss the role of strategic forces such as the university and policymakers in facilitating innovation and pushing advanced technologies out of the lab and onto the market.

-WATER-

Water Supply: A Look Forward (P1)

Moderator:
Jim Newton, Editor-in-Chief, Blueprint Magazine

Panelists:
Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Michael George, California Delta Water Master
Dr. Jerry Meral, former Executive Director, Planning and Conservation League

In 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown was everywhere campaigning for Proposition 1—the $7.5-billion water bond. What progress has been made on increasing water supply levels since then? Even though the drought emergency in Southern California might be over, the overall state is still well below normal water supply levels. This panel will cover the vital DeltaFix infrastructure project, and expert projections on water infrastructure decisions in 2017.

10:15 AM

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

Will Developers Assume Responsibility for Integration of Health & Wellness into the Built Environment? (P2)

Moderator:
Lew Horne, President, Greater Los Angeles/Orange County Region, CBRE

Panelists:
Kathy Gerwig, VP Employee Safety, Health and Wellness, Kaiser Permanente
Niko Järvinen, CEO, Naava
Wayne Ratkovich, President and CEO, The Ratkovich Company
David Pogue, Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, CBRE

The built environment can impact social and physical health in ways far beyond basic safety. At the level of the office, the building, and the community, good design can improve users’ daily access to important health indicators—clean air, daylight, physical movement, even mere contact with other people. Through an expert discussion and successful case studies, this panel will demonstrate the concrete impacts good development and design can have on the health of the individual, the public, and the city.

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

Road to Disruption: Robo-Vehicles and City Planning (P3)

Moderator:
Seleta Reynolds, General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Transportation

Panelists:
Sarah Potts Ashton, Public Affairs-Southern California, Uber
John Eddy, Principal, Infrastructure Leader, Arup
Vince Bertoni, Director, Los Angeles Department of City Planning

When self-driving cars become not just elite demonstrations, but the norm, our cities and infrastructure will have to adapt. What will urban design for sensor-equipped mobile computers look like? Will we still need road signs? Parking garages? Residential parking? On this panel, transportation managers and major companies on the front lines of shared mobility and AV innovation discuss how this cutting-edge technology will transform far more about our cities than the auto industry.

-ENERGY-

Community Choice Aggregation (B3)

Moderator:
Katy Young, Deputy for the Environment and Arts, Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl

Panelists:
Gary Gero, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles County
Joe Galliani, Founding Organizer, South Bay Clean Power
Dawn Weisz, CEO, Marin Clean Energy
Colin Cushnie, VP Energy Procurement & Management, Southern California Edison

Community Choice Aggregation allows local governments in markets served by investor owned utilities, including counties and cities in California, to procure or generate electricity, set rates, and implement customer programs, as an alternative to electricity provided by an investor owned utility. The county of Los Angeles is considering a regional community choice aggregation model to bring increased local benefits, including lower rates, greener power, local green jobs, and increased consumer choice. What opportunities and challenges do Southern California leaders face in the coming year? How do they plan to confront competing interests? What can they learn from CCA pioneers?

-WATER-

Water Quality, Efficiency & Supply Management: Science and Technology (P1)

Moderator:
William Funderburk, Vice President, LADWP Board of Commissioners

Panelists:
Dr. Randall R. Friedl, Manager, Earth Science Research and Mission Formulation Office, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Director, NASA Western Water Applications Office
Dr. Robert Lempert, Principal Researcher, The RAND Corporation; Director, Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition
Dr. Kelly Sanders, Assistant Professor, Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

In a climate-change era, managing the water supply of the western United States is nothing short of an existential challenge—one that scientists, officials, and entrepreneurs are rising to meet. This panel will discuss how rapidly advancing drone, satellite, and data technology are becoming tools for in the decision-making of government agencies, water suppliers, and resource managers. But will these innovations be effective enough, and widespread enough, to meet Governor Brown’s goal of reducing per capita water use by 20 percent by 2020? How can NASA and other researchers work with practitioners to provide value? What innovations are still needed to help the West ensure an ongoing supply of safe and reliable drinking water?

11:15 AM

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

Beyond the Energy Code: Improving Resiliency and Energy & Water Efficiency of Existing Buildings (P2)

Moderator:
Terry O’Day, Vice President, EVgo; Santa Monica City Councilmember

Panelists:
Osama Younan, Executive Officer, Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety
Jacques-Alexandre Fortin, Vice President, Rackam (Québec)
Martin Howell, Energy Group Leader, Arup

Many cities require homeowners to outfit houses with up-to-date water conservation technologies. Similar standards for home energy systems are less common—but in 2019, California faces a new set of energy-efficiency standards for existing buildings. What is the potential for smart grid-enabled technologies to help buildings achieve net zero—or, even better than net zero, load-balancing? What funding mechanisms are needed to fund these upgrades and optimize the performance of our building stock?

-ULI FUTUREBUILD-

Where’s the Sweet Spot: Energy Monitoring and Management (P3)

Moderator:
Andy Mannle, VP Strategic Development, Promise Energy

Panelists:
Evan Birenbaum, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Chai Energy
David Jacot, Director of Efficiency Solutions, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Sara Neff, Senior Vice President, Kilroy Realty Corporation
Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

With all our devices connected to the internet, sensors everywhere and the dawn of “Big Data,” hear from experts on how developers and asset managers can use data to make smart business decisions about energy? Here's your chance to find out from experts who are finding the the sweet spot on incentivizing energy management devices to meet increasing energy standards. Learn about the new Energy & Water Ordinance for existing buildings in Los Angeles and Title 24 Energy Codes, and what they mean for Multifamily Apartment owners and operators.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

De-Risking Cities: Connectivity and Cybersecurity (P1)

Moderator:
David Alexander, Director of Information Security, LA Department of Water and Power

Panelists:
Cheryl Santor, Information Security Manager (retired), Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Nelson Gibbs, President, Los Angeles Chapter, ISACA
Miguel Villegas, Vice President, K3DES

With more and more infrastructure coming to rely on a network of computers communicating around the clock, the most critical functions of our cities could soon be more vulnerable than ever before. In the Internet age, urban “resilience” means not only responding to climate change, but also protecting our ubiquitous networks from both hack and glitch. Yet in prophecies of the “smart city,” cybersecurity is rarely addressed. This panel will reveal how the field of cybersecurity is—or is not—staying ahead of the curve of the new, advanced technology taking over our cities, as well as how major public agencies incorporate security practices into their increasingly “connected” operations.

-WATER-

Water Projects Charrette - *By Invitation Only* (Bunker Hill Room)

**This session continues until 2:40 pm.

Facilitator:
Jack Baylis, President and CEO, The Baylis Group

Co-Hosts:
Martin Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Adel Hagekhalil, LA City Sanitation, NACWA Chair
Brian Jordan, Vice President, Tetra Tech
Gary Hildebrand, Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Liz Crosson, Water Policy Advisor, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

12:10 PM

Luncheon Plenary

Paradigm Change: Rethinking Cities and Nations in an Age of Connectivity (B1)

Remarks:
Kelli Bernard, Chief Executive-Los Angeles Metro, AECOM

Introduction:
Mark Callaway, Senior VP and Senior Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley

Featured Speaker:

Steve Westly, Founder and Managing Director, The Westly Group

The future is promising! Investment continues in innovation and greater investment in infrastructure is now promising. For investors, scientists, developers, planners, and more, it will be crucial to get ahead of these changes—to leverage newly available or soon-to-be-available technologies to make the urban built environment more sustainable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of a new generation of inhabitants.

1:45 PM

Roundtable

NASDAQ and LACI: Going Public Seminar (Regency Boardroom)

-ENERGY-

Quay Valley: California's First High-Tech New Town of the Future to Integrate Cutting-Edge Technology (P2)

Moderator:
Michael George, California Delta Water Master

Panelists:
Quay Hays, CEO, GROW Holdings
Jacob Lipa, Founder and CEO, Micropolitan/Psomas
Steph Stoppenhagen, Smart Cities Business Development Manager, Black & Veatch

Can new energy technology help us build fully powered communities that never see an electric bill? Can door-to-door fiber connectivity allow homes to become instant healthcare hubs? Leaders in energy management and resilient infrastructure are demonstrating that connected, sustainable, and “future-proof” communities are closer than we think—as developers, tech companies, and local governments are already partnering to integrate cutting-edge technology into the very fabric of daily life.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Parks and Placemaking: How Will LA Spend $93 Million Annually in Park Funding? (P1)

Moderator:
Richard Katz, Commissioner, Los Angeles Planning Commission

Panelists:
Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 1
Irma Muñoz, Chair, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
David Ryu, Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 4
Tori Kjer, Los Angeles Program Director, The Trust for Public Land

In November, Los Angeles County voters reaffirmed a commitment to funding the maintenance and creation of more parks. Los Angeles parks will continue to be a jewel within the region, but a comprehensive assessment before the vote found a disparity in the amount of green space accessible to underserved communities. How will Los Angeles maximize this funding to combat urban heat islands, revitalize our cities, and provide positive health and economic benefits to residents? How will we use creative financing sources, community action, and adaptive reuse projects to bring about a new era of urban parks?

-TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE-

The EV Infrastructure Market: California Drives Investment (P3)

Moderator:
Terry O'Day, Vice President, EVgo; Santa Monica City Councilmember

Panelists:
Colleen Quinn, Senior VP Global Public Policy, ChargePoint
Laura Renger, Principal Manager, Air and Climate, Southern California Edison
Janea Scott, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Elise Keddie, Manager, Zero-Emission Vehicle Implementation, California Air Resources Board

When an electric vehicle plugs into a charging station to refuel, it is connecting to the electrical infrastructure that runs throughout the entire city—tapping into the same pervasive energy that powers everything from streetlights to refrigerators. EV charging links cars and drivers to buildings, utilities, and cities. Electric vehicles therefore have the potential to lower the cost of electricity, increase the stability of our electrical grid, automate parking enforcement, and increase security on our streets and parking lots. Networked EV charging will link the connected car and the smart city.  This session builds upon the work of other smart cities efforts, in the hopes of unpacking the benefits that electric car charging could bring for individuals, communities, automakers, businesses, and governments.
 

2:00 PM

-POLICY/FINANCE-

YPE/ULI Young Leaders Roundtable

Procurement of Renewables: Disruptive Financing Models (A)

Moderator:
Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Controller

Panelists:
Susan Cline, Director, City of Santa Monica Department of Public Works
Thomas Cain, CEO, Sustainability Partners
Sara Neff, Senior VP Sustainability, Kilroy Realty
Gregory Nelson, Captain, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department

One of the largest remaining barriers to integrating clean energy technologies is the procurement process, and both the time and capital needed to pilot clean energy projects. In efforts to cut the proverbial red-tape of the procurement process, disruptive financing models have developed, exposing future opportunities for collaboration and uncovering synergies to progress investments in renewables and accelerate ROI.

2:40 PM

-ENERGY-

Realizing a Sustainable Food System: Growing Our Hamburgers (Regency Boardroom)

Led by: 
Paula Daniels, Chair, Center for Good Food Purchasing
Bob Powell, Professor, UC Davis

Conversations about resilience and sustainability often focus on buildings, communications, and transportation. But just as vital is the global food system. Climate change impacts like drought, flooding, and fire make the development of climate-resilient crops and low-carbon shipping options critical to a viable, durable food system nationwide. On this panel, the people who are feeding the world connect with those who are changing the world with these new technologies. Panelists will discuss investments being made by the world’s mega-companies in the food space, new models of food retail and food production, and how California can become a global hub for food and agricultural innovation.

-POLICY/FINANCE-

Achieving Zero Waste (P1)

Moderator:
Bob Sipchen, Senior Editor, California Section, Los Angeles Times

Panelists:
Heather Repenning, Commissioner, City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works
Karen Coca, Solid Resources Manager, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation
Daniel Lafferty, Assistant Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

By 2050, the 4-million-person city of Los Angeles hopes to generate zero waste. On the way to achieving that ambitious goal, the city recently revamped its waste-hauling system with the aim of diverting materials from the waste stream and place them back into the economic stream. it will have to create a truly sustainable waste management system – one that maximizes recovery of materials currently sent to landfills in order to create new products, generate renewable energy, and even produce negative carbon fuel. This panel explores the vision for a waste-free future at the nexus of sustainability, climate change, renewable energy and waste management.

-WATER-

Next-Generation Compliance: Where Affordability & Innovation Intersect (B3)

Moderator:
Adam Krantz, CEO, National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Panelists:
Debra Coy, Partner, XPV Water Partners
Steve Wirtel, Executive Vice President Business Development, Kore Infrastructure
Greg Quist, Director, Rincon Water District; CEO, SmartCover Systems
Brian Jordan, Vice President, Tetra Tech

3:30 PM

VX2017 Closing Reception - Hosted by NACWA and VerdeXchange