Solar Development in New York:

Progress and Promise

Friday, August 10, 2012 · College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering · Albany, New York 

Solar Development in New York:

Promise and Progress

The last year has seen some critical developments with important ramifications for the solar industry in New York, including the NY-Sun program, the New York Energy Highway and others. But are we headed in the right direction? And how long will it take us to get there?

Last year, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the New York Solar Energy Society, and the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering of the University at Albany, paired up to create an exciting day of discussions with the people making the critical business and policy decisions affecting the solar industry. We continued that tradition this year with another diverse group of outstanding speakers. Together, we provided you with an update on important policy and legal developments which have occurred over the last year in New York, and gave you the insiders’ knowledge on where the industry is headed and, more importantly, where it should be headed, to foster a thriving solar industry in New York State.

On August 10, 2012, at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, the Solar Development in New York Conference provided a fast-paced review of the critical developments in New York's solar program over the last year, led by the people who have helped to make them happen. 

Keynote Speaker:

Gil Quiniones was nominated to serve as the President of the New York Power Authority by Governor Andrew Cuomo in October 2011 and was unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate in January 2012. Mr. Quiniones has been with NYPA since 2008 as acting president and CEO and was NYPA’s chief operating officer. In addition to serving as NYPA’s COO, Gil Quiniones is a member of the Board of Directors of the Electric Power Research Institute, serves on the steering committee of the Large Public Power Council and is NYPA’s primary representative to the American Public Power Association.

Session Speakers:

Wyldon King Fishman, Founder and President, New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES), raises funds to support programs to educate children and families about energy conservation and renewable energy. NYSES also develops professional development courses for members and forums for the public to learn the latest technology and to network about jobs.

Francis J. Murray, Jr. was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on January 26, 2009. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Murray served as Senior Advisor at the international environmental consulting firm Ecology and Environment, Inc., where he provided strategic policy and market development guidance on environmental and energy issues to a number of private sector and not-for-profit clients. Mr. Murray also represented the Pace Energy and Climate Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council in the New York Public Service Commission proceeding to establish an energy efficiency portfolio standard program.

Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc. (ACE NY), a New York non-profit corporation formed in 2006 to promote clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency. She serves as a member of New York’s RGGI Advisory Board, Climate Action Council Advisory Panel, New York City’s Energy Policy Task Force and the Solar City Advisory Board. She is a board member and past president of Women in Communications and Energy, a non-profit organization providing networking and mentoring opportunities for women in the energy and communications industries. She is a nationally recognized expert on energy issues and a frequent commentator in the media.

Michael Voltz joined the Long Island Power Authority (“LIPA”) in December 2010 as Director of Program Evaluation after a long career at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation where he most recently served as Senior Director of Energy Investments. At LIPA, Mr. Voltz is responsible for planning and evaluation of all energy efficiency and renewable energy programs with an annual budget of over $100 million. Mr. Voltz has experience in supply-side and demand-side resource acquisition, having previously managed power plant construction as well as managing energy efficiency programs for Central Hudson. He holds a master’s degree in Industrial Administration, a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York State.

Panel Moderator:

Panel Members:

Ron Reisman has been the Renewable Energy Program Manager at New Jersey's Clean Energy Program since March 2011. His responsibilities include promoting the development and growth of solar, wind and biopower markets in the state and providing outreach to public officials, non-profits and private organizations interested in renewable energy; leading and managing renewable energy program market development activities; and representing the program in public forum. Mr. Reisman served more than 15 years at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, most recently as Manager of Business Outreach, advising the state's business community about taking a strategic approach to energy through energy efficiency, renewable energy and third-party supply shopping. He also spent 20 years at Elizabethtown Gas Company - primarily as Director of Public Relations & Advertising - communicating with the utility's key audiences of customers, employees and shareholders.

Shaun Chapman is a Deputy Director of Government Affairs for SolarCity covering the northeast. Prior to this, he opened the east coast campaigns office for Vote Solar, the national solar non-profit. He has degrees in Economics from Hartwick College and the University of Essex. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three bicycles.

Alex Sheets is the Director of Environmental Markets at SRECTrade. Prior to joining SRECTrade, Alex Sheets was the SREC Portfolio Manager for SunEdison. In that role, he was responsible for managing one of the largest SREC portfolios in the nation, developing the firm's trading strategy and executing transactions through a large network of relationships in the energy industry. Alex was also integral in the firm's development process, advising SunEdison's project finance team in existing markets and exploring incentive programs in new markets. At World Energy, Alex helped build the publicly traded energy firm's Environmental Markets desk, exploring carbon and renewable energy credit opportunities throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Richard Harris is a principal and founder of VCAP Financial, LLC. VCAP Financial’s business focuses includes developing flexible and innovative funding structures which will enable clients to access the lowest cost of funds to finance their particular capital requirements. Mr. Harris has held numerous positions as an Executive Business Development Manager for such companies as IBM, Raytheon Data, Honeywell and NYNEX/Verizon. Over the last 26 years, Mr. Harris has worked in commercial and government project funding with a focus to structuring debt capital to acquire costly capital systems with a large number of low revenue transactions, i.e. data call financing a network or KWHS financing PV solar systems.

Elizabeth Grisaru is Of Counsel at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. Ms. Grisaru joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in 2009 after working as General Counsel to Noble Environmental Power, a wind developer. She previously served as in-house counsel to the New York Independent System Operator and in the New York State Attorney General’s office. She has experience with renewable energy development, transmission, project financing, and energy market and grid integration issues.