Level Setting – Why is District Energy Important? – Gerard MacDonald, ReShape Strategies

District energy systems can help to accelerate decarbonization, reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a community scale, and offer a way to relieve stress on the electric grid. This panel will focus on energy transition opportunities in the Pacific Northwest, including impact on the grid, environmental objectives, and issues of energy affordability.

Panelists:

• Beth Doglio, WA State Legislature
• Jeff Giffin, Corix
• Ian Goepferd, CenTrio
• Gerard MacDonald, ReShape Strategies
• Alex Ramel, WA State Legislature
• David Woodson, University of Washington

What technologies are being deployed today, who is implementing them, and what are the practical examples from the region and beyond? Where are the gaps and bottlenecks? How do district thermal solutions de-risk electric capacity additions? What does a productive utility–thermal partnership look like (governance, tariffs, interconnection, risk)? 

Panelists: 
• Alejandro Davila-Miranda, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
• Michael Hogan, Port of Bellingham
• Mark Lenssen, Puget Sound Energy
• Rob Neimeier, Ramboll

Moderated by: Michael Ahern, Ever-Green Energy

The policy landscape, including incentives (“carrots”), requirements (“sticks”), and how legislation is shaping the future of district energy. Enabling policy, codes & the implementation playbook. What code/rule tweaks unlock faster deployment? What templates can owners adopt tomorrow? How do we align city/state rules with TEN adoption?

Panelists:
• Steve Brooks, UMC
• Andi Burnham, DeltaE Consulting
• Jeff Giffin, Corix
• Eric Moe, dJoule
• Robby Oylear, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
• Darrel Tremaine, CenTrio

Moderated by: Mark Spurr, FVB Energy

How are projects financed, the affordability challenge, leveraging available funding, and strategies to accelerate and scale district energy solutions? Which stacks work here? How do we turn public dollars into private leverage? What delivery models (utility, concession/SPV, ESCO) best fit campus vs. downtown? How to leverage CCA dollars, federal tools, green/climate bonds, $/ton effectiveness, gap-funding, and off-balance-sheet structures for public institutions?

Panelists:
• Ash Awad, McKinstry
• Wayne Barnett, Cordia
• Keith Bate, Creative Energy
• Travis Hickford-Kulak, Corix
• Isaac Kastama, Water Street Public Affairs
• Meghan Riesterer, CenTrio
• David Woodson, University of Washington

Moderated by: Bonnie Frye Hemphill, UMC