The Eversource Energy Center organized a conference entitled ‘Navigating Conference Change and Energy Security in the Northeast: The Next Five Years’ on Monday, October 24, 2022 in downtown Hartford, CT. In attendance were over 180 politicians, academics, industry leaders and extraordinary students gathered to discuss the current status, needs and future of the energy sector in Connecticut and the region. The discussions centered around addressing global challenges at the local level, which requires bridging the gap between limited resources and latent federal funding opportunities. The need for the scientific community to develop the tools to create actionable information was highlighted by elected officials. Additionally, the need for the industry and educators to identify the skill sets necessary to be cultivated in students and the workforce pipeline in order to be ready to deliver on projects that the federal government is providing. Beyond technical skill sets, the power of listening and platforming voices, vis-à-vis equity and justice, was placed at the center of our discussions and identified as a key direction moving forward. The final emergent theme was an acute awareness of the need for increasing interregional relations for utilities to meet renewable integration goals and challenges. The conference ended with an exhortation to continue working towards forward-thinking policy to stay in step with the Justice40 milestones within Connecticut. The event proved to be a launching pad for the attendees and is just the beginning of continued partnerships to address the complex environmental, social, political and technical challenges of these times.

 

 

Image Caption: (From left to right: Frank Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, UIL Holdings Corporation/Avangrid, Marissa Gillet Chariman Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Bill Quinian President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects, Eversource)