Key Microgrid Initiatives and Takeaways to Date
Monday, March 18, 2019 | 9:00 - 10:15 am
Development of microgrids started as simply as local generation serving loads at multiple buildings in a given geographic location. PURPA and its incentives to qualifying facilities paved the way for more efficient distributed energy resources being sited closer to load with the benefit of improving reliability, power quality, and resiliency. Fast forward to today, and we see greater interest in microgrids by customers and developers to control energy costs and adopt more on-site, renewable energy generation to meet public policy and environmental stewardship goals. This panel will focus on real-life installations of microgrids and the benefits and costs faced by host sites, utilities, and customers. Panelists are in the business of planning, investing, and facilitating development of and will share lessons learned and best practices for successful microgrid installation and operation.
Speakers:
Paul DeCotis is senior director and head of West Monroe Partners' east coast Energy & Utilities practice, based in New York City. He leads the firm's executive advisory and regulatory offerings and is an accomplished and respected executive and thought leader. Prior to joining West Monroe, Paul was managing director for contract oversight at Long Island Power Authority, and vice president of power markets, overseeing power generation, project development, contract management, integrated resource planning, including clean and renewable energy and demand response, and FERC and RTO market policy.
Paul was energy secretary for two New York Governors, chaired the State Energy Planning Board and was a member of the NYC Energy Planning Board. As the senior energy advisor to the governors, he oversaw strategy, policy, legislation, and implementation activities for the state's energy agencies. Paul has over eight dozen professional publications dealing with energy industry and policy matters and serves on several national energy related Boards.
Mr. Michael F. McGhee is the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives and is responsible for the development of large-scale renewable and alternative energy projects which enhance energy security and resiliency for Army installations by leveraging private sector financing. Mr. McGhee's responsibilities include the development of projects for onsite energy generation, and control systems to ensure availability of power for Army installations energy requirements. Prior to joining OEI, Mr. McGhee held multiple positions in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy for 10 years. Mr. McGhee holds Masters Degrees in National Resource Strategy, Business Administration, and Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, former Congressional Fellow, and former U.S. Air Force officer.
Mr. Foxen is a proven energy project developer and engineering consultant with over 30 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields. He recently managed microgrid feasibility studies funded by NYSERDA in Southampton, Greenport, and Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York. He previously developed and operated a variety of energy projects, including a 54-MW peaking plant in Greenport, New York; two 12.5-MW biomass fired power plants in California; a 500-kW anaerobic digester/cogeneration project in New York; and a 150,000-ton per year wood pellet plant in Georgia.
He previously co-founded and was CEO of ERM-New England, Inc., a leading environmental consulting company for Fortune 500 Companies. ERM was acquired in 2001 by 3i Group, plc, a London-based private equity firm. He also co-founded a boutique investment bank and insurance brokerage firm that arranges financing and insurance for brownfield site development. Also, Mr. Foxen has had first-hand environmental regulatory and policy experience with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Programs.
Mr. Foxen has a Bachelor of Science from Villanova University and a Masters of Engineering from Manhattan College. He also completed the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School. He is a registered professional engineer, a Certified Energy Manager, and a Technical Assistance Partner with PSEG-Long Island, and a PACE Funding Partner.
Additional panelists TBA
Speakers:
Paul DeCotis
Senior Director-Energy & Utilities Practice
West Monroe Partners
Senior Director-Energy & Utilities Practice
West Monroe Partners
Paul DeCotis is senior director and head of West Monroe Partners' east coast Energy & Utilities practice, based in New York City. He leads the firm's executive advisory and regulatory offerings and is an accomplished and respected executive and thought leader. Prior to joining West Monroe, Paul was managing director for contract oversight at Long Island Power Authority, and vice president of power markets, overseeing power generation, project development, contract management, integrated resource planning, including clean and renewable energy and demand response, and FERC and RTO market policy.
Paul was energy secretary for two New York Governors, chaired the State Energy Planning Board and was a member of the NYC Energy Planning Board. As the senior energy advisor to the governors, he oversaw strategy, policy, legislation, and implementation activities for the state's energy agencies. Paul has over eight dozen professional publications dealing with energy industry and policy matters and serves on several national energy related Boards.
Michael F. McGhee
Executive Director
U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives
Executive Director
U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives
Mr. Michael F. McGhee is the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives and is responsible for the development of large-scale renewable and alternative energy projects which enhance energy security and resiliency for Army installations by leveraging private sector financing. Mr. McGhee's responsibilities include the development of projects for onsite energy generation, and control systems to ensure availability of power for Army installations energy requirements. Prior to joining OEI, Mr. McGhee held multiple positions in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy for 10 years. Mr. McGhee holds Masters Degrees in National Resource Strategy, Business Administration, and Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, former Congressional Fellow, and former U.S. Air Force officer.
Robert J. Foxen, P.E., C.E.M.
Chief Executive Officer
Global Common, LLC
Chief Executive Officer
Global Common, LLC
Mr. Foxen is a proven energy project developer and engineering consultant with over 30 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields. He recently managed microgrid feasibility studies funded by NYSERDA in Southampton, Greenport, and Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York. He previously developed and operated a variety of energy projects, including a 54-MW peaking plant in Greenport, New York; two 12.5-MW biomass fired power plants in California; a 500-kW anaerobic digester/cogeneration project in New York; and a 150,000-ton per year wood pellet plant in Georgia.
He previously co-founded and was CEO of ERM-New England, Inc., a leading environmental consulting company for Fortune 500 Companies. ERM was acquired in 2001 by 3i Group, plc, a London-based private equity firm. He also co-founded a boutique investment bank and insurance brokerage firm that arranges financing and insurance for brownfield site development. Also, Mr. Foxen has had first-hand environmental regulatory and policy experience with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Programs.
Mr. Foxen has a Bachelor of Science from Villanova University and a Masters of Engineering from Manhattan College. He also completed the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School. He is a registered professional engineer, a Certified Energy Manager, and a Technical Assistance Partner with PSEG-Long Island, and a PACE Funding Partner.