National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) 2024 brought together policymakers, industry leaders and advocates to discuss the future of clean energy in the U.S. and abroad. The NCEW Policymakers Symposium featured two full days of in-person programming at the Conrad in Washington, D.C.
With a robust lineup of panels, congressional speakers, and thought-provoking discussions, NCEW 2024 highlighted several key wins for clean energy advocates everywhere.
The symposium featured key congressional remarks from Reps. John Curtis (R-Utah), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), who spoke about the importance of continued investment in clean energy technologies and the economic opportunities they bring to their districts.
Biden administration officials were also featured with keynote remarks from Jigar Shah, director of the Loan Programs Office at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and a fireside chat with Seth Hanlon, the deputy assistant secretary for tax and climate policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Dr. Rachael Nealer, deputy director for the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, opened a panel discussing the future of electric vehicles and Dr. Nick Montoni, deputy chief of staff at the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy made an appearance on a panel discussing the role of rural America in the clean energy economy. In addition, Phil Kangas, director of outreach and business development at the DOE’s Loan Programs Office Department of Energy took part in a conversation about how American innovation drives down industrial emissions.
Day one of the symposium kicked off with a fireside chat with the CEO of Pattern Energy Hunter Armistead who detailed how Pattern is building the largest clean energy infrastructure project in history with its SunZia Transmission line that is estimated to carry more energy than the Hoover Dam. One of the standout panels during the symposium, “Looking Ahead: Energy, Climate and Tax Policy in the 119th Congress,” dove into upcoming legislative priorities. This session provided a look at the intersection of tax policy and climate initiatives, with discussions on the future of clean energy provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Another session was “Accelerating Energy Investments Across America,” which featured notable CEOs and presidents of notable clean energy trade associations including Abigail Ross Hopper of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Dan R. Brouillette of Edison Electric Institute (EEI), JC Sandberg of American Clean Power Association (ACP), Craig Sundstrom of Amazon Web Services and John Di Stasio of the Large Public Power Council. These speakers discussed the complex challenges and opportunities for adding clean power to our grid.
A recurring theme throughout the week was the need for permitting reform. Speakers across several panels and keynote remarks examined how reforming the permitting process is essential to accelerating clean energy deployment across the U.S. Moreover, the symposium brought together leaders in clean energy from across the political spectrum, reflecting the spirit of bipartisanship that NCEW was founded on.
Closing out the week, an exclusive VIP dinner featured a fireside chat with Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), moderated by NCEW Chair and CRES Forum President Heather Reams, where he outlined his priority to get significant permitting reform legislation across the finish line in Congress. Overall, NCEW 2024 was a testament to the collaborative efforts needed to advance clean energy solutions, from reforming tax policies to streamlining permitting processes and fostering global leadership.