Which Way to Electrification of the U.S. Transportation System?
Over the course of two days, GW Law's Sustainable Energy Initiative will host an extraordinary group of speakers who will lead the audience on an exploration of the initiatives in electric transportation in the U.S. with an emphasis on the role of government. We will look closely at the technology behind the policy, and its risks, including those occurring where technology and policy intersect. We will consider the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local governmental and regulatory bodies, both with respect to what they should do and where industry should lead instead. At the beginning and end, a poll will assess your understanding and views. The conference will close with a discussion of how the two-day immersion influenced the attendees’ understanding and views and next steps. The poll results will also inform any subsequent white paper recommendations emerging from the conference as well as further research. Join us for this interactive, policy-shaping event!
This conference is presented by George Washington University Law School through its Sustainable Energy Initiative. Consistent with GW Law’s educational mission, the program is structured to deepen the participants’ understanding of the progress, opportunities, risks, and challenges for the future of the transportation sector and electrification, and how that can or should affect government policy and regulation of the sector. GW Law plans to issue a report or articles based on the conference output so that ideas developed by the participants can be more widely shared. We hope this will become an annual event, so that the network built during this meeting will have a forum in which to regularly share ideas as the electric transportation sector evolves.
Agenda
9–10:15 am: Networking Breakfast
10:15–10:30 am: Introduction and Welcome
- Daniel Hagan, Partner, White & Case
10:30–Noon: Setting the Course
Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s assessment of the market will set a framework for this discussion. Company executives and policy leaders sitting in the cross-hairs of the electrification movement will discuss their visions for the future, the role of government, laws, and policies in shaping that future, and how their organizations are charting a path forward.
- Diane Munns (moderator), Senior Director of External Affairs, Clean Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund
- Melissa Lavinson, Senior Vice President of Government and External Affairs, Pepco Holdings
- Salim Morsy, Transportation Analyst, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
- Colin Murchie, Senior Director, Business Development, EVgo
- David Springe, Executive Director, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.
- Cody Thacker, Director, Audi ONE, Audi of America
Noon–12:30 pm: Keynote Address
Introduction
- Drew Murphy, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Edison International; Vice-Chair, GW Energy Law Advisory Council
Keynote
- The Honorable Dan Brouillette, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy
12:30–1:30 pm: Luncheon
1:30–2:15 pm: Under the Hood
The rapidly changing technology and markets have created opportunities and challenges. This panel will discuss adaptation -- in business models and regulation – and how to carve a path forward in this evolving landscape.
- Mary Anne Sullivan (moderator), Partner, Hogan Lovells
- Scott Fisher, Vice President - East, Greenlots
- Michael Kagan, Senior Vice President, Concentric Energy Advisors
- Charles Larsen, Partner, White & Case
2:15–2:30 pm: Rest stop
2:30–3 pm: Lessons from China: Rapid EV Adoption in a Dynamic Policy Landscape
- John Helveston, Assistant Professor, George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science
3–4:15 pm: Managing Battery Supply Chain Risks
One of the strongest policy arguments for transportation electrification is the potential environmental benefit. Achieving this goal, and maintaining high ethical standards, requires management of the entire supply chain. This panel will address emerging standards and best practices across the spectrum of mineral mining, manufacturing, and recycling. Understanding and managing these issues will affect cost and feasibility needed for wide-scale deployment of battery-based transportation.
- Fredrick Wilson (moderator), Associate, White & Case
- Hillary Amster, Head of Audit Operations, Responsible Business Alliance
- Dr. Linda Gaines, Transportation System Analyst, Argonne Laboratory
- Perrine Toledano, Head, Extractive Industries, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Columbia University
4:15–4:45 pm: The Greenlots Story: An investor’s perspective on transportation electrification opportunities
- Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Utility Officer, Energy Impact Partners
4:45–5 pm: Closing remarks for Day 1
- Kenneth Shiver, Chief Economist and Director of Planning and Regulatory Support, Southern Company
5–7 pm: Road House Rendezvous!
Debrief and relax during our welcome reception
8:15–9:15 am: Breakfast and Networking
9:15-9:30 am: Welcome
9:30–11 am: Where the Fleet Meets the Pavement
Electrifying medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles seems like an easy step to carbon reduction. Is it? What are the benefits and challenges of fleet electrification and the appropriate role of government?
- Natalia Mathura (moderator), Manager, Energy Services, Pepco Holdings
- Steve Chriss, Director, Energy & Strategy Analysis, Walmart
- Jason Mathers, Director, On-Road Vehicles Environmental Defense Fund
- Eric McCarthy, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Public Policy & Legal Affairs, Proterra
- Drew Murphy, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Edison International
- Kellen Schefter, Manager, Sustainable Technology, Edison Electric Institute
11–11:15 am: Rest Stop
11:15–11:30 am: GW School of Business Project Presentation
GWSB graduate student group will present a fleet conversion evaluation model based on life-cycle cost, that it developed for EDF for use by municipalities.
11:30–Noon: Driver or co-pilot? Utility roles in enabling electrification
- Michael Krauthamer, Alliance for Transportation Electrification
Noon–1:30 pm: Re-polling; Lunch
1:30–2 pm: The Maryland Experience, Part I
- Jason Stanek, Chairman, Maryland Public Service Commission
2– 2:30 pm: How did Norway Do It?
- Karine Hertzberg, Counselor for Climate and Environment, Royal Norwegian Embassy
2:30–2:45 pm: Rest Stop
2:45–3 pm: The Maryland Experience, Part II
- R. Earl Lewis, Jr., Deputy Secretary for Transportation for Maryland and Chair, Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council
3–4:30 pm: Networked-End-To-End
This panel will address coordination efforts among various governmental agencies, industry, and others to electrify interstate corridors or other multi-jurisdictional areas.
- Noel Black (moderator), Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Southern Company
- Elin Swanson Katz, Connecticut Consumer Counsel
- R. Earl Lewis. Jr., Deputy Secretary for Transportation for Maryland and Chair, Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council
- Stephen Prince, Senior Vice President, Centrica
- Patricia B. Readinger, Manager, Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy, Electrify America
- Laura Renger, Principal Manager, Air & Climate Policy, Southern California Edison
4:30–5 pm: Next Trip
Moderated audience discussion including the poll results and proposed action agenda. Closing remarks.
Planning Committee
- Edison Electric Institute, Emily Fisher and Becky Knox
- Edison International, Drew Murphy and Laura Renger
- Energy Impact Partners, Kevin Fitzgerald
- Environmental Defense Fund, Diane Munns
- Hogan Lovells, Mary Anne Sullivan
- McGuire Woods, Todd Mullins
- Pepco Holdings, Natalia Mathura
- Southern Company, Noel Black
- White & Case, Daniel Hagan & Fred Wilson
- GW’s Sustainable Energy Initiative, Donna Attanasio, Achinthi Vithanage, LeRoy Paddock
GW Energy Law Advisory Council
The GW Law Energy Advisory Council provides support, substantively and financially, for the Sustainable Energy Initiative and the energy law program, generally, at GW Law. The ideas, encouragement, and support of the council members launched the “Which Way?” conference. GW Law and its students greatly appreciate the many things that the council does.
GW Law’s Energy Law Advisory Council:
Chair
- Charles Berardesco, JD ‘83, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Vice-Chair
- Drew Murphy, JD ‘87, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Edison International
Members of the Council
- Noel W. Black, Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Southern Company
- George (“Chip”) D. Cannon, Jr., JD ‘94, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
- Douglas E. Davidson, JD ’71
- David Dulick, JD ‘78, General Counsel, Allegheny Electric Cooperative
- Emily Fisher, Vice President, Legal & Corporate Secretary, Edison Electric Institute
- Kevin C. Fitzgerald, JD ’91, Chief Utility Officer, Energy Impact Partners
- Daniel Hagan, Partner, White & Case
- Emma F. Hand, Partner, Dentons US
- Todd Mullins, JD ‘89, Partner, McGuire Woods
- Diane Munns, Senior Director, Clean Energy Collaboration, Environmental Defense Fund
- Earle H. O’Donnell, JD ‘75
- Daniel J. Oginsky, JD ‘99, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, ITC Holdings Corp.
- Daniel F. Stenger, JD ‘80, Partner, Hogan Lovells US