Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

Diving into the Green New Deal with Greentech Media (Energy Mix + Panel Discussion)

Date and Time
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Location
Gross Hall for Interdisciplinary Innovation, Energy Hub & Ahmadieh Family Auditorium (Gross 107)

About

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The Green New Deal rattled Washington with its call "to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers." Lawmakers are grappling with how to use federal policy to achieve a nationwide reduction in carbon emissions from energy. But what do the people who build clean energy think about it?  

Greentech Media and the Duke University Energy Initiative will host a panel discussion among leaders from climate activism, the utility sector and the clean energy industry, who will discuss the most effective ways to build clean electric power plants, fast. Moderated by Greentech Media writer and Duke alumnus Julian Spector (T'14), the panel will seek to identify which policies and business approaches have worked, which haven't, and what policymakers in Congress should learn from those attempts as they hash out the Green New Deal.

An Energy Mix networking reception with food and drink will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the panel discussion will commence at 6:30. This 4/2 event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Complimentary parking is available in the Chemistry Lot on Circuit Drive, adjacent to Gross Hall, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

PANELIST BIOS

Miriam Makhyoun is the Chief Executive Officer of EQ Research, a national energy consulting firm known for Policy Vista‚Ñ¢, an online platform tracking and analyzing regulatory proposals, state legislation and general rate cases. Makhyoun has nearly a decade of utility and energy industry experience, most recently as Power Supply Contracts Manager at MCE, California's first Community Choice Aggregation Program, where she managed MCE's 2018 Energy Storage Request for Offer process. Other experience includes portfolio management for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company procuring Resource Adequacy capacity and carbon compliance instruments. Before PG&E, Makhyoun provided customized research for members of Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), authoring the 2014 report, "Electric Utilities, Energy Storage and Solar: Trends in Technologies, Applications and Costs." She also published numerous energy industry reports while at North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA). Makhyoun holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Appropriate Technology (Renewable Energy) from Appalachian State University.

Shaina Nanavati is Durham Hub Coordinator with Sunrise, a youth-led movement that is mobilizing to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. Prior to starting the first Sunrise hub in North Carolina, Nanavati worked for North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, where she witnessed first hand the effects of the last hurricane season on North Carolina's rural poor. She joins the activism world with a broad range of experience ranging from working at a clean tech start up to state level policy research and advocacy. Nanavati graduated from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment with a MEM in Energy and Environment in 2017. She also received a BA in Economics and Philosophy from University of California, Davis.

Paul Quinlan is a Clean Tech Manager with ScottMadden. His responsibilities include developing industry leading research and assisting clean energy and utility clients with market research, strategic planning, business planning, and due diligence evaluations. Prior to joining ScottMadden, Quinlan worked as managing director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, a nonprofit organization focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency policy issues. Quinlan earned a master of public policy and a master of environmental management from Duke University and a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame.

Katherine Ryzhaya serves as Chief Commercial Officer of Lightsource BP, a global solar and storage IPP with 2 GW of assets under management. As head of business growth and revenue for North America, Ryzhaya oversees strategy development, origination, contracting and partnerships for large-scale renewable infrastructure across the US. 

Prior to joining Lightsource, Ryzhaya was co-founder and CCO of Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS), a market leader in energy storage and data analytics. During her tenure, AMS grew to 50 employees and secured 145 MW in contracts and $225MM in financing.

Previously in her career, Ryzhaya held the roles of Vice President and Director at Evolution Markets, Principal of Energy Procurement at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and various finance functions at RBC Capital Markets and UBS Warburg. She has 13 years of experience in structuring energy and capacity transactions in wholesale markets and has, to date, negotiated and executed nearly $3B in power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Ryzhaya earned a BS in Finance from the University of San Francisco and an MBA from Duke University. A Ukrainian refugee to the United States, Ryzhaya is a mother to two young boys, a mentor and advisor to younger women navigating careers in energy and entrepreneurship and an active participant in Youth Business USA's "Sky Is The Limit" initiative.

RELATED EVENT: You might also be interested in Grid Edge East, a one-day Greentech Media forum focused on how innovation and centralization can result in a more resilient energy system. Hosted at Duke's Fuqua School of Business on Wednesday, April 3, the event will explore how frontier technologies such as AI, edge computing and power electronics are already impacting grid resiliency and customer experience, and how market leaders are innovating core systems at the edge of the grid. Featuring expert insights from leading utilities, smart grid tech giants, and Wood Mackenzie researchers. Industry professionals can register here (use code DUKE20 at checkout for 20% off registration). Duke students can register as student participants or as free auditors (more details on these options here).