Midwest Transmission Summit

December 7, 2021 | Online :: Central Time

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“The conference provided a good mix of topics presented by personable subject matter experts.” Group Leader – Transmission Planning, LG&E and KU

“I appreciate EUCI’s opportunity to bring decision makers together in an intimate setting to get to know each other on a 1^st name basis.” Site Manager, Newpark

“This conference had topics that were relevant to me which added value to attending.” Manager, Tx Project Management, FirstEnergy

Record-breaking climate threats continue to put our aging infrastructure to the test in the Midwest. Grid modernization is imperative and innovative solutions are needed. Register now for this virtual conference for a unique opportunity to hear from leading utilities, RTOs, renewable developers, regulatory directors and solutions providers on strategies for a more reliable and resilient transmission system in the Midwest.

 Learning Outcomes

• Gauge project development opportunities in the Midwest, including transmission expansion, network upgrades, and renewables integration
• Receive RTO updates on market activities, programs and initiatives for reliability and resiliency for Midwestern climate
• Evaluate emerging technologies on the grid such as DERs and other non-wire alternatives for grid stabilization and optimization
• Review interregional planning efforts and opportunities at the seams
• Assess the C&I market, ESG goals, and how customer demands and voluntary efforts toward decarbonization will impact the grid at large
• Review various types of bidding, contracting, and the nuances of utility/EPC partnerships
• NEW THIS YEAR, get best practices and lessons learned on remote project management

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 : Central Time

 

Each session will conclude with Q&A with the audience.

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. :: Keynote Address: Outlook on Transmission Development in the Midwest

Krista Tanner, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, ITC Holdings Corp.

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. :: RTO Updates

This session will provide the latest information on market activities, programs, and initiatives in the SPP, MISO, and PJM footprint, including:

• Solutions for added capacity
• Reducing congestion
• Increased opportunities for renewables (wind, solar, storage)
• Reliability and resiliency planning

Casey Cathey, Director, System Planning, SPP

Andrew Witmeier, Director of Resource Utilization, MISO

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Case Study: Transmission Contracting and Project Management

This case study will cover some of the various types of bidding, contracting, and the nuances of utility/EPC partnerships. What are the different considerations to make when selecting a company to partner with when beginning a new transmission project including the engineering and construction phases? New this year, best practices and lessons learned on remote project management.

John Waterhouse, Director, Project Management, Ameren

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. :: Transmission Expansion for Renewable Integration in the Midwest

This panel will cover regulatory and market drivers for network upgrades and transmission expansion, including:

• Grid enhancing technologies/next generation transmission – innovation and increasing use of what we already have
• Plans for aging infrastructure
• Perspectives on free rider issue
• Timelines for various activities
• Cost for projects
• Deterministic vs probabilistic planning practices
• Opportunities at the seams
• Communication/System Protection – Fiber, DTT, OPGW
• Hurdles and possible solutions to interconnection

Brian C. Drumm, Director, Regional Policy and RTO Engagement, ITC Holdings Corp.

Jason Minalga, Vice President, Grid Integration, Pine Gate Renewables

Devin Moeller, Senior Renewable Energy Manager, Black Hills Energy

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. :: Emerging Technologies

This session will provide an overview of the latest innovations and use cases that are transforming the grid, including:

• New regulations that incentivize the deployment of innovative technologies
• Energy storage as a transmission asset
• Other transmission solutions for grid stabilization and power flow optimization
• DERMS
• Digitization and automation

Bernd Niemann, Business Development Manager, Siemens Energy

Robert McKee, Strategic Projects Director, American Transmission Company

Andy Zellers, President & General Counsel, Influent Energy

 

3:45 – 5:00 p.m. :: The Voluntary Market & Factoring-In DERs to the Greater Transmission System

In addition to federal and state goals, the Midwest is home to many commercial and industrial (C&I) electricity customers, many of which have lofty decarbonization goals themselves. This panel will discuss:

• Regulations that enable the procurement of renewables in the C&I market
• Impacts of C&I end-users who establish their own ESG goals and voluntary requests for clean energy from native tribes and residential end-users
• Community solar and BTM impacts on the greater transmission system
• Planning for electric vehicle adoption
• Data-driven digital utilities
• Distribution automation
• Utility transformation commitments and progress

Devin Moeller, Senior Renewable Energy Manager, Black Hills Energy

Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer, IPS Solar

Andy Zellers, President & General Counsel, Influent Energy

5:00 p.m. :: Summit Adjourns

• Casey Cathey, Director, System Planning, SPP

• Brian C. Drumm, Director, Regional Policy and RTO Engagement, ITC Holdings Corp.

• Robert McKee, Strategic Projects Director, American Transmission Company

• Jason Minalga, Vice President, Grid Integration, Pine Gate Renewables

• Devin Moeller, Senior Renewable Energy Manager, Black Hills Energy

• Bernd Niemann, Business Development Manager, Siemens Energy

• Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer, IPS Solar

• Krista Tanner, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, ITC Holdings Corp.

• John Waterhouse, Director, Project Management, Ameren

• Andrew Witmeier, Director of Resource Utilization, MISO

• Andy Zellers, President & General Counsel, Influent Energy

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Midwest Transmission Summit

December 7, 2021 | Online

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Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.7 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Panel Discussions and PowerPoint presentations will be used in the program.

Who Should Attend

• Utilities, transmission owners and operators
• Transmission developers, project managers and engineers
• Renewable energy developers
• EPCs and solutions providers
• Environmental planners
• State public utility commission advisors and staff
• Financiers and investors