EAN 2024 Annual Network Summit: Speakers
Keynote: From Awareness to Action: Behavioral Insights for Increasing Consumer Uptake of Low-Carbon Technologies | Dr. Kim Wolske
Dr Kim Wolske is a research associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a scholar with EPIC, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Her work draws on the fields of environmental, social, and cognitive psychology to examine the behavioral dimensions of energy issues, with the aim of improving the design of public-facing policies and programs. A central focus of her work is on understanding the motivations and barriers associated with consumer adoption of efficient and renewable energy technologies. For the past decade she has partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to examine drivers of rooftop solar adoption. Dr. Wolske previously worked at the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise and as an independent consultant to Opower. Dr. Wolske is a past president of the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology and was recently named a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
Rewiring America Tool | Hillary Andrews, Efficiency Vermont
For the past 20 years, Hillary Andrews has worked in marketing and communications, specializing in the utility, energy, and efficiency sectors for the last 16, and most recently serving as the Director of Marketing & Communications for the state’s Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont. Hillary’s focus is on leveraging data-driven insights to craft compelling narratives that foster impactful connections with customers, ultimately driving deeper engagement with sustainable energy solutions.
A Fossil Fuel Free Equipment Pledge | Jacob Flanigan
AI Tools for engaging residential customers | Morgan Hood, VGS
Morgan Hood currently serves as the Manager of Innovative Products and Services at VGS. She brings 17 years of experience in the energy industry to her work designing and managing products and services focused on decarbonization and efficiency. Morgan’s highly developed and wide-ranging customer engagement expertise with energy users – from the individual homeowner or renter to large industrial companies, helps her unlock the invaluable customer insights that fuel the product development process. Her method-based approach employs the principles of design thinking, value proposition design, and the business model canvas as creative frameworks for evidence-based decision-making.
Equity in Charging | Darren Springer and Jennifer Green, BED
Darren Springer was appointed and confirmed as General Manager in October 2018, and since that time Burlington Electric developed and published its Net Zero Energy Roadmap, which the Smart Electric Power Alliance termed the “first US Net Zero 2030 plan.” Formerly, Darren served as Burlington Electric Department’s Chief Operating Officer and led the Center for Innovation team which includes the Policy & Planning, Finance, Information Technology and Energy Services divisions. Prior to joining BED, Darren served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Peter Shumlin.
Jennifer Green is the Director of Sustainability and Workforce Vitality. Jennifer’s work involves efforts to transition Burlington to net zero energy in the thermal and transportation sectors and in this capacity, supports, designs and implements projects within Burlington Electric Department, including work across city offices, and with stakeholders throughout Burlington, and beyond.
Gopher: Expanding Electrified Transit and Transportation Options | Amanda Carlson, Community Rides Vermont
Amanda Carlson is the General Manager of Community Rides Vermont, a new transportation non-profit, with the goals of providing mobility and access for people with low incomes, and decarbonizing transportation in rural Vermont. A self-proclaimed “Jill of all trades”, she has worked in such diverse fields as healthcare, emergency services, hospitality and outdoor business management and most recently as a Project Manager in the Climate Impact Division of Capstone Community Action where she helped plan and launch this new company. Through her various experiences she came to value work which makes an impact on her community and the importance of addressing the climate crisis, which will touch us all.
Walking, biking, and rolling for reduced emissions | Jonathon Weber, Local Motion
As the Programs Directer at Local Motion, Jonathon’s work is focused on helping communities become better places to walk, bike, and roll. At Local Motion, he supports a team that advocates for change and provides services to accelerate that change, including technical assistance for infrastructure and policy, walk/bike safety education, promotion of e-bikes, Safe Routes to School Programming, and more.
A VT exploration of West Coast Market-Based Approaches to Decarbonize Transportation | Ryan Lamberg, Tied Branch Consulting
Ryan Lamberg is the founder of Tied Branch Clean Energy Consulting, specializing in decarbonizing transportation and advancing renewable energy projects. He has played key roles in launching renewable energy startups and securing millions in grants for projects from RNG and Carbon Capture to Biomass and Hydrogen. After years in CA and NY, Ryan lives in Stowe, VT with his family and wants Vermont to reach its Greenest potential as fast as possible.
Energy Justice in Housing | Kathy Beyer, EverNorth
Kathy Beyer is the Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development at Evernorth. Over the past 30 years, Ms. Beyer has been directly involved in affordable housing and community development. She directs the real estate development activities at Evernorth, a nonprofit development corporation working to serve communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Kathy holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Minnesota.
Weatherization at Scale | Neale Lunderville, VGS
Neale F. Lunderville joined VGS in June 2020 and serves as President and CEO effective October 1st. Neale recently served as Interim Director of the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) in Burlington, Vermont and, from 2014 to 2018, as General Manager of Burlington Electric Department. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of NG Advantage LLC, a natural gas distribution company. In 2011, he was appointed Irene Recovery Officer for the State of Vermont, leading and coordinating Vermont’s recovery from the worst disaster to hit the state since the floods of 1927. He served in two top cabinet posts in Vermont state government: Secretary of Administration from 2008 to 2011 where he oversaw the daily operations of state government; and, as Secretary of Transportation from 2006 to 2008. He also served as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs and a member of the governor’s senior staff.
Thermal Energy Networks | Debbie New, Vermont Community Thermal Networks
Debbie New is a teacher and community organizer by training. She has coordinated coalitions and working groups dedicated to decarbonization of the thermal sector. She launched Vermont Community Thermal Networks in 2022 to put Thermal Energy Network solutions on the table in Vermont.
Clean, Reliable, Resilient: Electrifying Vermont | Maddy Murray-Clasen, Green Mountain Power
As the Innovation and Resiliency Project Manager at Green Mountain Power, Maddy designs, coordinates, and delivers pilot and resiliency programs that help customers cut costs and carbon with energy storage, EV charging, and more. Maddy also works with communities on utility scale storage programs that are leading the way in the country. She has extensive experience working in the renewable energy and battery storage industry and graduated from the University of Vermont where she studied environmental studies and political science.
Clean Heat Standard | Richard Cowart, VT Climate Council
Richard Cowart is a Principal with the Regulatory Assistance Project, a global non-profit advising governments on climate and energy policies. He has over 30 years of experience on these issues in the US, China, and several other nations, including a decade building RAP’s multi-national team in Europe. He has served on Boards and advisory councils for the International Energy Agency, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the New England and New York power system operators. During the Obama Administration, he served three terms as Chair of the Electricity Advisory Committee of the US Department of Energy.
Richard has also worked on clean energy policies in Vermont. He launched Vermont’s utility-scale efficiency programs and advanced renewables during 12 years as Chair of Vermont’s PUC, serves on the Board of VEIC, and is a member of the Vermont Climate Council. A former law professor, he holds JD and MCP degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, where he directed the graduate program in law and planning.
Solar for All | Andrew Perchlik, VT Public Service Department
Andrew Perchlik is the Director of the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) located within the Public Service Department. Prior to becoming the CEDF Director in 2009 Andrew was the founder and executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV).
Workforce and Housing | Kevin Chu, Vermont Futures Project
Kevin Chu grew up in Vermont and is looking forward to growing old here too. He is the son of immigrants and spent most of his early years living and learning in Burlington. Kevin is a graduate of Middlebury College, where he studied the environment and education while also competing in track and field. He is now the Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project, a nonpartisan organization that is working to answer the mission question: “How can we use data to support the evolution of Vermont’s economy towards a thriving future with opportunity for all?”
Workforce Development / Talent Pipeline Management thru Efficiency Vermont | Will Schwartz, EVT
Will Schwartz is the Workforce Development Manager at Efficiency Vermont. Before joining Efficiency Vermont, Will worked as a Civic Innovation Consultant, addressing workforce and sustainability issues in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from Miami University and a Master’s degree in Development Practice from The University of Queensland.
Training Vermont’s Climate Workers | Kate Gluckman, Serve Earn Learn and David Justice, VT Adult Learning
Kate directs the Serve Learn Earn workforce development coalition, bringing nonprofit partners together to provide high-quality training and service opportunities throughout Vermont. Before SLE, Kate has spent time in the nonprofit education sector, as a small business owner, and in intercollegiate athletics. Kate grew up in VT and currently lives in North Troy.
David Justice has served in the nonprofit sector since 2004 as a director, consultant, program manager, developer, teacher, and employment specialist. He leads Vermont Adult Learning’s workforce development administration and expansion, strategic planning implementation, and central office administration.
Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships | Rowan Hawthorne, DOL
Rowan is Principal Assistant in the Commissioner’s Office at the Vermont Department of Labor, where her work supports the Commissioner of Labor. Her previous experience was as a Committee Assistant for the General Assembly. Rowan grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Vermont for school in 2018, and has since become an honorary Vermonter through her love of outdoor sports and art.
Climate Jobs Campaign | Gabrielle Stebbins
Gabrielle specializes in the development of policy and programs for promotion of renewable energy, strategic electrification and energy efficiency, with a special focus on efforts to integrate all three. She has extensive expertise in policy and planning from work as a consultant, as director of Vermont’s statewide renewable energy industry trade association, a member of the Vermont System Planning Committee (addressing transmission grid reliability planning) and as Chair of the Board of the Burlington Electric Department (BED), Vermont’s largest municipal electric utility. In the latter role, Gabrielle has provided strategic direction on BEDs IRP, maintaining BED’s 100% renewably-sourced portfolio and on Burlington’s goal to be a net-zero city across all energy use by 2030.
