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Energy and environmental issues are increasingly intertwined.  This is even more the case with climate policies driving energy policies as well as an emphasis being placed on “environmental justice.”  With a new Administration in Washington and a new Governor to be elected this year, the state of energy and environmental policies are in flux.

NJBIA’s Energy and Environmental Policy Forum is the largest and most substantive such conference in New Jersey and will set the tone for the next Administration.  From resiliency to reliability and from EJ to plastics, this conference will cover it all.

For a special government rate, please contact Jaimie Freeman at JFreeman@njbia.org

Sponsorship Opportunities

Our Agenda

8:00 AM
Networking, Breakfast, Registration
8:45 AM
Introductions
9:00 AM
Opening Remarks

Presented by Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Commissioner, NJ Board of Public Utilities

9:15 AM
Energy Usage and Reliability

Energy policy needs to be based on reality. How much energy are we using, anticipated to use, and where it is coming from. We also need to ensure that our supply and demand requirements are consistent with reliability needs. This panel will address these issues.

Presented by Tim Burdis - PJM Interconnection , Cynthia Niemeyer-Tieskoetter - American Petroleum Institute, Matthew Schwall - Alpha Generation, LLC

10:00 AM
Climate Change, SLR, Extreme Weather, and Risk

For the past two decades, energy policy has been driven by climate fears. But are those fears realistic? This panel will address what to expect from sea level rise, extreme weather, and how to prepare for these eventualities.

Presented by Peter Conway - AON, Bob Kopp - Rutgers, Jessica Weinkle - UNCW

11:00 AM
Urban Redevelopment Challenges

State policy has favored the redevelopment of our urban areas. However, developing in urban areas has a unique set of challenges from environmental, transportation, economic, and others. This expert panel will discuss how to overcome these challenges.

Presented by Zoe Baldwin - Regional Plan Association, Caryn Barnes - Langan, Caroline Ehrlich - Woodbridge Township, Ted Zangari - Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. Moderated by Dan Kennedy - NAIOP

11:45 AM
Transmission

In addition to the need to upgrade the transmission grid to support the growth of “green energy”, the grid needs to address resiliency, security, overall growth of electrical usage. Bob Martin, an expert in energy policy, will address the needs of the grid and how to address them.

Presented by Bob Martin - Christie 55 Solutions LLC

12:15 PM
Lunch & Networking
12:45 PM
Keynote Speaker & Award Presentation

Presented by Governor Chris Christie

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions – Two to Choose From

Nuclear
With the demand for more carbon free energy, the world is turning once again to nuclear power. Is this realistic? Will new technologies, such as small modular reactors, lead nuclear into the future?

Presented by Rick Mroz - Archer Public Affairs, Pat O'Brien - Holtec. Moderated by Erick A. Ford - NJ Energy Coalition.

Plastics: Opportunities and Challenges
Plastics are a basic building block of modern society. Nearly everything we use is either built from plastics. Our expert panel will discuss a range of issues from recycling to ocean pollution to product redesign.

Presented by Anne Badaef - Colgate-Palmolive, Charlotte Dreizen - Plastics Industry Association, Melanie Bower - ExxonMobil. Moderated by Greg Costa - Consumer Brands Association

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions – Two to Choose From

Rate Setting, Why are Rates Going Up and What Can We Do About It?
Everyone pays utility rates but how many know how those rates are calculated. Given recent rate hikes, this panel is a must attend.

Presented by Brian Lipman - Division of Rate Counsel, Ken Sheehan - Genova Burns LLC. Moderated by Steven S. Goldenberg, Esq. - Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla

Environmental Justice
It's been well over a year since the DEP’s EJ regulations have been in place. How is the program going? What should entities expect if they need to go through the EJ process in order to get a permit?

Presented by Paul Baldauf - DEP Assistant Commissioner, Tony Bianchini - Environmental Resources Management, Alena Hyatt - Parker McCay, Michael Van Brunt - Reworld. Moderated by Matt Blaine - Davison Eastman Muñoz Paone, P.A.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions – Two to Choose From

Fusion, Is the Future Now?
The joke has been that fusion energy is ten years away and always will be. However, the Commonwealth of Virginia has recently contracted to build the world’s first fusion power plant. Is the time for fusion now?

Presented by Brian Berzin - Thea Energy, Sara Castegini - Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Moderated by Andrew Zwicker - Senator / Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

Legal
It has been a busy year for environmental law and policy in all forums, the courts, the Legislature, and DEP. Our expert panel will break it all down.

Presented by John Valeri - CSG Law, Neil Yoskin - Cullen and Dykman LLP. Moderated by David Haworth - Ballard Spahr LLP.

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Federal Energy and Environmental Policies Under Trump

Perhaps the greatest impact to New Jersey’s energy and environmental policies will come, not from Trenton, but from Washington DC. What has the Trump Administration done and what will they do to upend longstanding policies?

Presented by Matt Leggett - K&L Gates LLP, Rob Rains - Washington Analysis and moderated by Grace Power - Solar Landscape.

4:45 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
5:30 PM
Cocktail Reception

Meet Our Speakers

Michele N.     Siekerka, Esq.
Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. President & CEO, NJBIA
Ray Cantor
Ray Cantor Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, NJBIA
Paul Baldauf
Paul Baldauf Assistant Commissioner for Air, Energy and Materials Sustainability, DEP
Zoe Baldwin
Zoe Baldwin Vice President, State Programs & NJ Direction, Regional Plan Association
Caryn Barnes
Caryn Barnes Senior Principal and Vice President, Langan
Brian Berzin
Brian Berzin Co-founder and CEO, Thea Energy
Anne Bedarf
Anne Bedarf Director, Global Packaging & Plastics Sustainability, Colgate-Palmolive
Tony Bianchini
Tony Bianchini Principal Consultant, Environmental Resources Management
Matthew K. Blaine, Esq.
Matthew K. Blaine, Esq. Shareholder, Davison Eastman Muñoz & Paone, P.A.
Melanie Bower, Ph.D.
Melanie Bower, Ph.D. Regulatory Development Manager – Circular Products, ExxonMobil
Timothy C. Burdis
Timothy C. Burdis Director of State Policy Solutions, PJM Interconnection
Sara Castegini
Sara Castegini Principal Global Policy Lead, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Governor Chris Christie
Governor Chris Christie 55th Governor of the State of New Jersey
Dr. Zenon Christodoulou
Dr. Zenon Christodoulou Commissioner, NJ Board of Public Utilities
Jack Ciattarelli
Jack Ciattarelli Candidate for Governor
Pete Conway
Pete Conway Managing Director – Aon Power & Renewables 
Greg Costa
Greg Costa Senior Director, State Affairs, Consumer Brands Association
Charlotte Dreizen
Charlotte Dreizen Director of Sustainability & Environment, Plastics Industry Association
Caroline Ehrlich
Caroline Ehrlich Chief-of-Staff to Woodbridge Township, Executive Director of the Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency and Director of the Division of Sustainability
Ray Fakhoury
Ray Fakhoury Energy Policy Manager, Amazon Web Services
Erick A. Ford
Erick A. Ford President, New Jersey Energy Coalition
Steven S. Goldenberg, Esq.
Steven S. Goldenberg, Esq. Shareholder, Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, PC
David Haworth
David Haworth Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
Alena Hyatt
Alena Hyatt Associate, Parker McCay
Daniel Kennedy
Daniel Kennedy Chief Executive Officer, NAIOP
Robert Kopp
Robert Kopp Professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences and Co-Director, University Office of Climate Action, Rutgers University
Matt Leggett
Matt Leggett Partner, K&L Gates LLP
Brian O. Lipman, Esq.
Brian O. Lipman, Esq. Director, Division of Rate Counsel
Bob Martin
Bob Martin Managing Director, Christie 55 Solutions LLC
Mike Martucci
Mike Martucci EPA Region 2 Administrator
Richard S. Mroz, Esq.
Richard S. Mroz, Esq. Senior Director-Strategy & Regulatory Affairs, Archer Public Affairs
Cynthia Niemeyer-Tieskoetter
Cynthia Niemeyer-Tieskoetter Policy Advisor, Domestic Gas Markets, American Petroleum Institute (API)
Patrick O'Brien
Patrick O'Brien Director, Government Affairs and Communications, Holtec International
Laura Perrotta
Laura Perrotta CAE, President New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers
Grace Power, Esq.
Grace Power, Esq. General Counsel & EVP of Government Affairs, Solar Landscape
Rob Rains
Rob Rains Director of Policy Research, Energy Analyst, Washington Analysis
Matthew Schwall
Matthew Schwall Director of Regulatory Affairs for Alpha Generation, LLC
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill Candidate for Governor
Kenneth J. Sheehan, Esq.
Kenneth J. Sheehan, Esq. Counsel, Genova Burns LLC
John G. Valeri Jr.
John G. Valeri Jr. Practice Group Leader, Environmental Law, CSG Law
Michael Van Brunt
Michael Van Brunt VP Environmental and Sustainability, Reworld
Neil Yoskin
Neil Yoskin Of Counsel, Cullen and Dykman LLP
Ted Zangari
Ted Zangari Member, Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
Senator Andrew Zwicker
Senator Andrew Zwicker Senator & Head of Public Engagement & Workforce Development, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Meet Our Award Winners

Governor Chris Christie
Governor Chris Christie 55th Governor of the State of New Jersey
Amy Cradic
Amy Cradic SVP & COO of Non-Utility Businesses, Strategy and External Affairs New Jersey Resources
Toby Hanna
Toby Hanna Partner, ERM, Retired
Governor Thomas H. Kean
Governor Thomas H. Kean
Senator Joseph Kyrillos
Senator Joseph Kyrillos
Marilyn Lennon
Marilyn Lennon
Dr. Krishna Singh
Dr. Krishna Singh Chief Executive Officer, Holtec International
Gary Sondermeyer
Gary Sondermeyer Vice President of Operations, Bayshore Recycling

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Refund Policy: If you cancel 7 days or more prior to the scheduled event date, you will be eligible for a full 100% refund. Unfortunately, cancellations made within 1 week (7 days) of the event will not be eligible for any refunds.