Please join us for registration and a networking breakfast. Complimentary pastries, bagels, fruit and yogurt will be provided.

Fostering Effective Collaboration between Key Stakeholders in Energy

Welcome Remarks:

Domenika Lynch, CHCI President & CEO

Session Co-Chairs:

Rep. Bill Flores

Rep. Darren Soto

Key Note speaker:

Dennis Arriola, Sempra

Moderator:

Steve LeVine, Axios

Speakers:

• Mike Carr, New Energy America
• Marty Durbin, American Petroleum Institute
• Lola Infante, Edison Electric Institute
• Karen Alderman Harbert, US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute

This opening plenary will set the stage for the day of discussions on energy by examining critical issues including:
– shifting energy supply and demand trends over the last decade;
– the role of government and implications of various policy choices;
– geopolitical shifts and trends in international trade;
– increased domestic oil and natural gas production and implications on energy security

The U.S. has shifted from an energy-dependent importer to one of the world’s top producers of oil and gas. By 2030, the U.S. is expected to produce more than 30 million barrels of oil and gas a day, 50 percent more than any other country has ever produced in a single year. How will this energy production in the U.S. impact the global oil and natural gas markets, and benefit the local economy?

Renewable Energy: Innovation and Future Trends in Sustainability

Welcome Remarks

Cristina Antelo, Ferox Strategies; CHCI Board Member

Chair:

Rep. Scott Peters

Moderator:

Julia Hamm, Smart Electric Power Alliance

Speakers:

• Patrick Bean, Tesla
• Mark Magaña, GreenLatinos
• Ron Minsk, Center on Global Energy Policy – Columbia University
• Alejandra Núñez, Sierra Club

The way energy is generated, stored, and distributed is undergoing a seismic shift. Use of sustainable energy sources bypasses the requirement for complex infrastructure for installation and operation. Furthermore, these new business models and a change in consumer needs, present new policy implications.

California is home to one of the largest Latino populations in the country, and is a powerhouse for energy innovation – presenting an opportunity to share the availability and benefits of renewable energy sources. This session will examine the sources and trends in renewable energy including: wind, solar and hydroelectric energy.

Digitalization of Energy Infrastructure: New Opportunities & Threats

Welcome Remarks

Ron Estrada, Univision, CHCI Board Member

Leroy Nix, Southern Company

Chair:

Rep. Gene Green

Moderator:

Amy Harder, Axios

Speakers:

• Luis Martinez, Natural Resources Defense Council 
• Karen Lefkowitz, Pepco Holdings, Inc.
• Dr. Phyllis A. Schneck, Promontory Financial Group

Digitalization is continuously improving the accessibility, safety, production, and sustainability of energy sources. As an early adopter of digital technology dating back to the 1970s, the energy industry has been a veteran leader at the forefront of cutting edge technology. In the coming decades, digitalization will make energy systems even more reliable, connected, cost effective, efficient, and sustainable than ever.

The dynamic nature of these futuristic systems presents new and complex challenges that key stakeholders, such as suppliers, and and policy makers need to address. In this digitally enhanced energy sector, non-state actors have greater capabilities and systems are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Updated government policies and implementation are crucial in fostering a secure, efficient, and sustainable transition to an upgraded digital reality.

The Role of Energy in Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery: Rebuilding with Sustainability in Mind

Welcome Remarks

Juan Otero, Comcast Corporation; CHCI Board Member

Chairs:

• Rep. Tony Cardenas
• Rep. Nydia Velazquez

Moderator:

Matt Daily, Politico

Speakers:

• Laura Genao, Edison International 
• Jessica Hogle, PG&E
• Rod West, Entergy

This panel will examine the nexus between energy, emergency preparedness, business continuity planning principles, and disaster recovery. Energy and emergency preparedness experts will discuss best practices in restoring damaged energy systems and components, as well as fortifying the resilience of the energy industry considering real world emergencies such as, the recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas, wildfires and droughts in California, as well as other and other disasters such as earthquakes or cyber-attacks.

The experts will address how we can ensure the protection of critical energy assets, build more resilient infrastructure and reduce the devastating impact of emergencies like Hurricane Maria that has continued to leave thousands of its residents without power.

Latinos in Energy & STEM: Preparing the Next Generation of the Energy Workforce for New and Innovative Job Opportunities in the Energy Sector

Welcome Remarks:

Domenika Lynch, CHCI President and CEO

Chair:

Rep. Bobby L. Rush

Moderator:

Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D.

Speakers:

• Anna M. Park, J.D., Great Minds in STEM™
• José L. Pérez, Hispanics in Energy
• Nicolas Quiñones, Salt River Project
• Rebecca Winkel, American Petroleum Institute

By 2035, estimates show that close to 40% of the nearly 1.9 million job opportunities in the oil, natural gas, and petrochemical industry will be filled by minorities. Furthermore, by 2025, one in two people entering the workforce will be Latino yet, less than 10% of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce are currently Latino.

Concurrently, the energy sector is facing a sharp shift in the demographics of its workforce, with thousands of seasoned employees retiring annually. This demographic shift, presents an entry point for young emerging leaders in the space. The industry is adopting a plethora of innovations including: sensory technology, innovations in refinery safety, drone technology, integrated social media and marketing, cyber-security preparedness, new systems for fossil fuel extraction, renewable energy technology and many others.

Please join us for a networking reception immediately following the closing plenary. Complimentary wine and appetizers will be served.