IPPNY's 40th Annual Spring Conference Agenda

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COCKTAIL PARTY – MARCH 23

  • Networking Reception – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

CONFERENCE – MARCH 24

  • Breakfast/Registration – 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.

  • Welcome Remarks – 9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
    • Rich Barlette, IPPNY Chair, Director, State Government Affairs, Constellation

  • Morning Keynote – 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
    • Rich Dewey, President & CEO, New York Independent System Operator

  • Panel Discussion: How to Keep the Damn Lights On - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m

Over the past year, there has been a shift in tone from the State and its agencies that a gap solution of generation assets is needed to ensure system reliability while increasing affordability. The NYISO has been clear that more dispatchable resources are leaving the grid than entering it, especially resources that have the same reliability value. As New York’s generation continues to age well beyond its expected operational life, there is currently a lack of an investment signal and permit certainty to retrofit this existing generation. 

This panel will examine the steps to repowering generation assets in New York to decrease the chance of end-of-life failures, which would create significant shortfalls in generation. This includes an investigation of what needs to change to make repowering feasible in light of the State’s 2040 zero emissions mandate. The panel includes experts from the independent power sector, manufacturers, and economists.

Moderator: John Reese, Principal, Morningside Energy, LLC

Panelist: Matt Schwall, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Alpha Generation

Panelist: Pallas LeeVanShaick, Vice President, Potomac Economics

Panelist: Gabriella Hudis, Vice President, Wholesale Power and Market Services, Gabel Associates

Panelist: John Young, Senior Manager, Government Relations, Mitsubishi Power

  • Coffee Break - 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • Breakout Sessions: Located on the First Floor - 12:00 - 1:15 p.m.

    • Breakout Session #1 - Developing Renewable Energy While Managing Uncertainty

Renewable energy projects are striving to move forward with project development despite challenges. Projects are slower in getting built due to global and national factors, such as high interest rates and inflation, unprecedented supply chain bottlenecks, and cuts to Federal funding and work stoppages. Within our state, projects face lengthy timelines for siting and permits, haphazard renewable energy credit procurements and award announcements, inadequacies in the transmission system and interconnection, and local opposition from communities concerned about land use, aesthetics, and other factors. 

These challenges have created a high level of uncertainty for renewable project development, importantly as a time when the State remains dedicated to making progress toward the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s targets in the context of the all-of-the-above approach of the recently adopted New York State Energy Plan. 

This panel will discuss how to move forward with renewable project development, while managing factors such as risk, communicating the ongoing importance of renewables projects, reliability, litigation, job impacts, and project financing.

Moderator: Ekin Senlet, Partner, Barclay Damon LLP

Panelist: Alicia Gené Artessa, Director, New York Offshore Wind Alliance 

Panelist: Jeff Escobar, Partner, Sheppard Mullin

More Panelists to Be Announced Soon!

    • Breakout Session #2 - A Changing Energy System's Impacts on Independent Power Generation in New York

In an IPPNY first – this panel brings together experts responsible for managing significant supply in the NYISO to provide insight into what issues they are dealing with now, and how they are planning for the future. The discussion will highlight inter and intra market issues that impact the commercial side of power plant management, helping bridge the gap between the regulatory and commercial environments. During the last year, far more power has been moving in and out of the New York Control Area due to market changes in ISO-NE, PJM and IESO. Starting in 2026, New York City will have an increased reliance on Canadian hydropower which is already constrained by low water levels. Firm gas price modifiers in the capacity market are changing how generators contract for fuel in an already constrained gas system. Forward looking, data centers pose a new set of challenges with highly variable and unpredictable load, creating uncertainty for grid operators. All of these moving pieces have lasting impacts on generation owners' decisions about if, what, and where, to invest.

Moderator: Carl Liggio, Managing Partner, Pharos Enterprise Intelligence, LLC

Panelist: Mike Paxton, Executive Director of Energy Management, Castleton Commodities International LLC 

Panelist: Michael Cordaro, Senior Director of Wholesale Operations, NRG Energy

More Panelists to Be Announced Soon!

  • Lunch - 1:15 - 1:45 p.m.

  • Afternoon Keynote - 1:45 - 2:15 p.m.

    • Ruben Diaz Jr., Senior Vice President - Strategic Initiatives, Montefiore
      • Leadership Council, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future
      • Former Bronx Borough President
      • Former Assemblymember

Conversations about New York’s energy future have shifted in recent years. Ruben Díaz Jr. joins IPPNY’s Spring Conference to explore the State’s “all-of-the-above” energy approach, which balances renewables, nuclear, natural gas, and future zero emission resources to ensure energy affordability and reliability are both achieved.

Drawing from his deep-rooted leadership, spanning roles as Bronx Borough President, State Assembly Member, and currently as a leader on the Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future Council, Mr. Diaz will chart a realistic course toward energy in New York that remains affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible.

Additionally, Mr. Diaz Jr. will provide insight and highlights on his leadership in advancing pragmatic solutions, including the recently approved Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline, which will be a critical infrastructure project designed to meet growing energy demand while the State undergoes its clean-energy transition. 

  • Coffee Break - 2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

  • Afternoon Presentation - 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.

    • Jake Dilemani, Partner, Mercury Public Affairs

  • Closing Remarks - 3:00 p.m.

    • Gavin J. Donohue, President & CEO, IPPNY

*This agenda is subject to change prior to the event.