Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

Accelerating Global Energy Access

Date and Time
Friday, February 23, 2018 - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location
Duke in DC, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004

About

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Please join the launch of the Energy Access Project Friday, February 23, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

This event will begin with a keynote address by Jim Rogers former CEO and chairman of the board for electric utility Duke Energy and an advocate for universal electricity access. He will join other speakers and guests who are leaders in business, government, civil society and academia to explore the most pressing challenges around global energy access and to shape the agenda for this new research program at Duke University. The main programming runs from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and includes: 

  • A conversation with Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator of Power Africa
  • Panel discussion on scaling productive use and capitalizing on the commercial and industrial opportunity with speakers Jake Cusack, CrossBoundary; Alexia Kelly, Microgrid Investment Accelerator; Bunmi Adekore, Breakthrough Energy Ventures; Andrew Herscowitz, Power Africa
  • Panel discussion on unlocking human potential and last-mile electrification with speakers Kristina Skierka, Power for All; Katherine Lucey, Solar Sister; Sasanka Thilakasiri, Oxfam; Xavier Helgesen, Off-Grid Electric; Hela Cheikhrouhou, Nithio
  • Introducing the Energy Access Project's research and partner network with Duke affiliates Subhrendu Pattanayak and Marc Jeuland and Edwin Muchapondwa of the University of Cape Town
  • Afternoon keynote featuring Rachel Kyte, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
  • Panel discussion on fulfilling the promise of off-grid and the role of public investment and innovative financing, with speakers Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC (former); Justin Guay, ClimateWorks; Johanna Diecker, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association; Monojeet Pal, African Development Bank

Please stick around for one of three afternoon roundtables running concurrently on energy access issues related to China's Belt and Road Initiative, accelerating deployment of cleaner cooking technologies, and solar import tariffs and electrification impacts from 1:45-3:30 p.m. Reception will follow.

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From the event:

Speakers

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Keynote Speakers

Jim Rogers, former CEO and chairman of the board for electric utility Duke Energy, will deliver the keynote address. A CEO in the power sector for almost 25 years, Rogers has been an advocate for energy-efficiency investment, modernization of electric infrastructure, and universal electricity access.

Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Rachel Kyte, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All.


Featured Speakers

Bunmi Adekore, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Hela Cheikhrouhou, CEO and Co-Founder of Nithio
Jake Cusack, Co-founder and Managing Partner, CrossBoundary
Johanna Diecker, Director of Policy, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association
Justin Guay, Portfolio Director, Clean Air, Clean Energy
Xavier Helgesen, CEO & Co-Founder at Off.Grid:Electric
Marc Jeuland, Associate Professor, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University
Alexia Kelly, CEO and Managing Partner, Microgrid Investment Accelerator
Elizabeth Littlefield, Former President and CEO, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Katherine Lucey, Founder and CEO, Solar Sister
Edwin Muchapondwa, Professor, School of Economics, University of Cape Town
Monojeet Pal, Division Manager, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department, African Development Bank
Subhrendu Pattanayak, Professor, Sanford School of Public Policy, the Nicholas School of the Environment, and the Duke Global Health Institute at Duke University
Jonathan Phillips, Director, Energy Access Project, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University
Kristina Skierka, CEO, Power for All
Sasanka Thilakasiri, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Change and Energy at Oxfam Americad

This gathering is in compliance with our understanding of the requirements and restrictions of the North Carolina Ethics Act and Lobbying Law, NCGS ยง138A-32(e).

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