Which Way to Electrification of the U.S. Transportation System?

March 11, 2019

Over the course of two days, GW Law’s Sustainable Energy Initiative will host a group of speakers who will explore the initiatives in electric transportation in the United States with an emphasis on the role of government. They will look closely at the big picture, evolving business models, the path for regulation in a rapidly changing environment, the successes, and barriers to fleet electrification, inter-organization collaboration, and supply-chain management. They 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. 


Agenda

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

10:15–10:30 am: Introduction and Welcome

  • Daniel Hagan, Partner, White & Case

10:30 am–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
  • 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

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 

2:30–3 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 investors’ perspective on transportation electrification opportunities

  • Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Utility Officer, Energy Impact Partners

4:45–5 pm: Closing remarks for Day 1

  • Noel Black, Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Southern Company   

Thursday, April 4, 2019

9:15–9:30 am: Day 2 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
  • Becky Knox, Senior Director, Customer Solutions, Edison Electric Institute
  • 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

11:15–11:30 am: Student Presentation

Study on the life cycle of medium- and heavy-duty trucks

11:30–Noon: A Legislator's Perspective

  • The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District

1–1:30 pm: Driver or Co-Pilot? Utility Roles in Enabling Electrification

  • Michael Krauthamer, Alliance for Transportation Electrification 

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 

2:45–3 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 & Public Policy, Electrify America, LLC
  • Laura Renger, Principal Manager, Air & Climate Policy, Southern California Edison

4:30–5 pm: Closing Remarks


RSVP

Media interested in attending must contact Kara Tershel at 202.994.0616 or [email protected].


Background

GW Law, long recognized as one of the top law schools in the country, pursues a distinctive research and learning mission that engages the leading law and policy questions of our time and provides students with an education that will position them to help change the world. Accredited by the American Bar Association and a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools, GW Law was founded in 1865 and was the first law school in the District of Columbia.