Thursday, April 9, 2009
Session One: ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
9:00 am – 9:50 am: Plasma Waste-To-Energy SystemsSpeaker: Mr. George “Ron” Omley, HQ Air Force Special Operation Command, Hurlburt Field, FL
Presentation Description: The presentation will discuss new technologies using plasma-based waste to energy systems designed to treat various waste streams to include industrial/municipal solid waste, biomedical waste, and sludge. The technology uses the intense energy found in plasma to convert waste into energy and useful materials. The discussion will provide an overview of the system’s deployment for the U.S. Air Force. Energy managers/engineers, utility companies/energy producers, facility managers, investors, academia/government, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Mr. Omley serves as the Command Environmental Chief for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), at Hurlburt Field, Florida. He directs all areas to include: the Restoration Program, Compliance Program, Pollution Prevention Program, Conservation Program and is responsible for environmental policy and guidance, program evaluation, resource planning, programming, budgeting, allocation and direct support. He serves as a consultant to The Civil Engineer and staff on Command civil engineering environmental issues. The Command is the air component of U.S. Special Operations Command, providing Air Force special operations forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands. AFSOC has approximately 12,500 people assigned to three active flying units, which fly a variety of unique fixed and rotary wing aircraft at locations worldwide. Mr. Omely earned a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Florida Technological University in 1975 on an "Airmen's Education and Commissioning Program" scholarship. Mr. Omley's Air Force career began in 1969 as a weapons specialist and has held many supervisory positions as a commissioned officer, a non commissioned officer and a civilian to include: Lead nuclear/conventional weapons specialist, Civil Engineering Officer, Chief of Resources and Requirements, Chief of Industrial Engineering, Chief of Programming, Chief of Environmental Engineering, Chief of Technical Design, Chief of Operations, and Chief of Environmental HQ AFSOC.
10:00 am – 10:50 am: Energy Efficient Construction Using Alternative Building SystemsSpeaker: Mr. Todd Miller, Insulated Concrete Technology
Presentation Description: The presentation will focus on resource-efficient, sustainable construction that uses the latest advancements in construction using insulated concrete technology. Builders/developers, construction managers, architects, energy managers/engineers, facility managers, investors, utility companies, home owners, HERS raters/green consultants, and those involved in energy policy are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Todd Miller has over 20 years of experience in management and marketing, construction services, high technology communication solutions and financial institution background. His experience includes developing and presenting detailed presentations to executive level cliental and then insuring product implementation. Todd started his career in a family owned residential and light commercial construction company and quickly moved from field supervision to project and office management. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1988 he expanded his knowledge into the financial arena. His experience includes branch management of ITT Financial Services in Mississippi and Florida, international account representation for Chase Manhattan and Vice President of Credit and Collections for Trans-America Mortgage. While advancing his financial career, he stayed connected to the building industry by owning and operating several small companies which provided financial and housing opportunities. Upon moving back to Mississippi from Florida, Todd became involved with developing international satellite communications and was the Regional Manager for North America for San Diego, CA based Boatracs and later the Regional Manager for Newport, RI based Seawave. Todd stayed with Seawave until the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. After the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Todd owned and operated a residential home construction and repair business that secured over 70 separate contracts renovating and rebuilding hurricane damaged buildings. In 2007, his expertise was further used as a Project Manager with J Levens Builders, Inc. coordinating disaster rebuilding and providing affordable housing construction between FEMA, Mississippi Development Authority, HUD, the local housing authorities and private individuals. During this time Todd was introduced to Insulated Concrete Technology and became convinced that the ICT building method was going to be a premiere method of the future. Currently, Todd is the Marketing Manager for ICT and is based in at the Long Beach, MS Production Facility.
11:00 am – 11:50 am: Vertical Axis Wind Turbines in an Urban SettingSpeaker: Mr. Mike Hess, CEO, Mariah Power
Presentation Description: The presentation will discuss wind technology and explain how small-scale Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) are a real and viable solution for urban settings. Participants will learn about the advantages of VAWTs and see where they are being used today to produce energy in urban settings. Energy managers/engineers, investors/venture capitalists, energy producers, utility companies, community planners, academia/government, scientists, and those involved in energy policy are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Mike Hess, a successful entrepreneur, is a co-founder and CEO of Mariah Power. Mike has spent the past 15 years bringing new technologies into the market with experience ranging from hardware platforms to software, developing the first digital pager, the first MPEG2 encoding system for DirecTV, and component level, optical component technologies. Mike has cofounded three companies and has also served as vice president of finance and vice president of operations for companies including etNetworks, a business education broadcasting company; Raychem, which creates products based on material science technology; Spectra Physics, specializing in semiconductor-based laser and optical technologies; Measurex, which develops computer control systems for industry, and Meta Systems, creators of the first digital pager. Under Mike’s leadership, Mariah Power has been the recipient the 2008 Nevada Governor’s Industry Appreciation Award and Popular Science’s Best of What’s New Award in the green category. Mike was also recently named a 2008 Reno Journal Gazette Entrepreneur of the Year. Mike currently resides in Lake Tahoe with his wife. When he is not travelling across the globe to speak about Mariah Power, he likes to play poker, snow shoe with his wife, and enjoy a picnic on his boat on Lake Tahoe.
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Taking Advantage of Geothermal HVAC Efficiencies in Hotel PropertiesSpeaker: Mr. Keith Swilley, Gulf Power Company
Presentation Description: The presentation will discuss geothermal HVAC application in large hotel properties. The presenter will discuss the benefits of this technology and provide real-world examples using local case studies of award-winning projects. Energy managers/engineers, scientists, academia/government, energy producers, utility companies, HVAC installers, builders/developers, facility managers, HERS raters/green consultants, and those involved in energy policy are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Keith Swilley is the Pensacola District Marketing Manager for Gulf Power Company. He began working with Gulf Power as a residential marketing rep in 1980. Keith is responsible for managing the residential, commercial and light industrial marketing programs for the Pensacola Area. Keith has over 28 years of experience related to marketing energy efficient programs and has been very involved in promoting geothermal HVAC technology for the past 15 years as well as other high efficiency heating & cooling systems. Keith also served on the Florida Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Advisory Committee 2007. Keith is currently on the board of the Home Builders Association of West Florida and represents the Southern Company on the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium board in based in Washington DC.
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm: Advances in Clean Energy TechnologiesSpeaker: Dr. Sesha Srinivasan, University of South Florida, Clean Energy Research Center
Presentation Description: The presentation will discuss research in the area of clean, renewable sources of energy. The presenter will provide an overview of University of South Florida’s Clean Energy Research Center and its current projects. Energy managers/engineers, scientists, academia/government, investors/venture capitalists, energy producers, utility companies, and those involved in energy policy are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Dr. Srinivasan is associated with the Clean Energy Research Center, University of South Florida, since 2004. He leads a Hydrogen Storage task for the US Department of Energy funded project. Light weight complex chemical hydrides and nanostructures for hydrogen storage are his field of interest. He also actively involved in the development of semiconductor heterogeneous photocatalysts for UV-Visible light photocatalysis applications funded by Center for Biological Defense. He has contributed for two book chapters on hydrogen storage. He has published 30 international journal papers and 35 peer reviewed conference proceedings papers in the field of hydrogen storage and photocatalysis research. He has other responsible scholarly activities which include; M.S./Ph.D committee member, potential reviewer for major journals such as J. Alloys and Compounds, Materials Letters, J. Physical Chemistry. Dr. Sesha S. Srinivasan, has received his Ph.D. from Center for Advanced Studies in Physics, Banaras Hindu University, India in the year 2000. His doctoral specialization is on the “Research and Development of Novel Hydrogen Storage Materials for Device Applications”.
Session Two: ENERGY POLICY
9:00 am – 9:50 am: Energy Security and Energy Independence Speaker: Mr. Scott Pogue, Managing Partner, Agrisa Bioenergy, Resource Efficiency Manager, U.S. Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base
Presentation Description: This talk will be an overview on current energy issues, sources of energy, and energy policies as it relates to national securities. The presentation will also feature a discussion on smart grid technology. Energy managers/engineers, academia/government, facility managers, utility companies/energy producers, economists, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Scott Pogue is the Managing Partner of Agrisa Bioenergy, LLC, a renewable energy consulting company specializing in biomass-to-energy projects. Scott also serves as the Resource Efficiency Manager at Eglin Air Force Base where he has developed a comprehensive energy audit training program for base facility managers at Eglin and other military installations. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science degree. Scott is a Certified Energy Manager and a member of the Association of Energy Engineers. He is Certified Barbecue Judge affiliated with the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
10:00 am – 10:50 am: Renewable Energy Policy: What is Happening in Washington?Speaker: Ms. Jeramy Shays, Policy Associate, American Council on Renewable Energy
Presentation Description: This talk will be an overview on federal renewable energy policy. Topics include implementation of the stimulus package, energy policy including a renewable portfolio standard, grid development and siting standards, as well as climate legislation. The talk will describe components of proposed legislation in addition to the politics and outstanding issues surrounding their passage. Energy managers/engineers, builders/developers, academia/government, facility managers, construction managers, utility companies/energy producers, HERS raters/green consultants, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to atted.
Bio: Ms. Jeramy Shays is Policy Associate at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE). Ms. Shays works with ACORE staff and members to help develop and implement the organization’s policy strategy. This includes educating public officials about the benefits of bringing renewable energy into the mainstream of American economy and lifestyle, as well as the policies to make this possible. In addition she works to keep ACORE members informed about renewable energy policy developments in Washington, DC. Ms. Shays also serves as staff to the Climate Change Committee and its two working groups, the Markets Working Group and Policy Working Group. Ms. Shays joined ACORE in 2008 after completing a joint Law and Masters of Environmental Management degree (MEM) from Vermont Law School and Yale School of Environmental Studies. During her graduate and undergraduate schooling, Ms. Shays interned at the Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, The Wilderness Society, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of CT, a Member of Congress, the U.S. Embassy in Denmark and General Electric’s Corporate Environmental Program. Prior to graduate school, Ms. Shays was a Research Associate and Director of Seminars at the Environmental Law Institute.
11:00 am – 11:50 am: Feed-in-Tariff (FIT)/Renewable Energy Dividend ProgramSpeaker: Mike Antheil, Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy
Presentation Description: The presentation will discuss the first U.S. solar photovoltaic electric feed-in-tariff (FIT) program in Gainesville, Florida. The discussion will provide an overview of the program and its impact on the renewable energy market. Energy managers/engineers, solar PV installers, utility companies/energy producers, academia/government, facility managers, investors, builders/developers, home owners/rate payers, HERS raters/green consultants, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Mike Antheil is the Executive Director of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE), a group dedicated to achieving rapid, widespread deployment of renewable energy for the entire State of Florida. His efforts include educating and engaging Floridians including legislators and policy makers, businesses both large and small, and individual residents all across Florida. In addition to his role with FARE, Mike is the owner of Green Atom Inc., a collaborative effort of environmental solutions providers and a managing partner at Green Asset Finance LLC. Mike earned two Bachelor Degrees from Jacksonville University in Sociology and Geography, while playing four years of football. Mike went in to the financial industry out of college, starting at a small boutique advisory firm in 2002 and quickly working his way to running a highly regarded Business Consultancy practice at a Fortune 500 Advisory Firm. After starting a small business on his own in the environmental services field, Mike created the much larger vision of bringing all environmental solutions into one place. Mike is currently involved in several charitable organizations, with his primary goal being to help create and stimulate a renewable energy market in Florida.
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Building Energy Codes Focus on Energy Efficiency Speaker: Ms. Cosimina Panetti, CEM, LEED AP, Building Codes Assistance Program
Presentation Description: The presentation will provide an overview of the Alliance to Save Energy’s Building Codes Assistance Project and cover changes to building energy codes. Energy managers/engineers, builders/developers, academia/government, facility managers, construction managers, utility companies/energy producers, HERS raters/green consultants, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Ms. Panetti joined the Alliance to Save Energy’s Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) eight years ago supporting the organization’s nationally recognized efforts to assist states and local jurisdictions in enacting and implementing strong and effective building energy codes through advocacy, technical assistance, outreach programs and coalition building efforts. Ms. Panetti is a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers, a LEED AP, and a graduate of the State University of New York Institute of Technology. Prior to joining the Alliance to Save Energy, she spent over 20 years working in different aspects of energy engineering in both the private and public sectors. Working for BCAP, Cosimina has given numerous educational workshops, testimonials and energy code advocacy presentations all over the country. Her work rallying and supporting public and private stakeholders has brought an awareness of the existing regional and local viewpoints that must be accounted for in any successful advocacy campaign. Cosimina has worked effectively with these varying perspectives that exist in the country, managing to build consensus which has resulted in far-reaching acceptance and awareness of the value of energy efficient building codes as good public policy.
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm: Florida’s Renewable Portfolio StandardsSpeaker: Mr. Benjamin Stewart, Governor’s Energy Office
Presentation Description: The presentation will give an update on Florida Public Service Commission’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. The discussion will provide a background on Florida’s RPS and general information on the Governor’s Energy Office and its legislative priorities as they relate to energy and the environment. Utility companies/energy producers, energy managers/engineers, investors/entrepreneurs, lending institutions, academia/government, facility managers, rate payers, green consultants, economists, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are encouraged to attend.
Bio: Leon Jacobs is a partner in the law firm of Williams & Jacobs, LLC, in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Jacobs has a lengthy background in both the private and public sectors. With an undergraduate degree in Data Processing, he worked as a computer analyst and computer consultant at the headquarters of the Eastman Kodak Company, and in a major corporate data center for the RCA Corporation. Following law school, he served as legal counsel with the Florida Public Service Commission, as an Assistant Attorney General with the Office of Attorney General, and as legal counsel with the Florida Legislature. He is also a certified Circuit Civil Mediator in Florida. In 1998, he was appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission, where he served one term until 2002, including service as Chairman in 2001. Mr. Jacobs specializes in administrative, environmental, insurance and public utility law. In addition to the practice of law, Mr. Jacobs also consults with clients on public utility policy and law. He holds a bachelor of technology degree in data processing from Florida A&M University, and a Law degree from the Florida State University College of Law. He is married to Ruth Jacobs, and has two adult children, Jasmine and Bron.
Session Three: FINANCING ENERGY PROJECTS
9:00 am – 9:50 am: Grants, Loans Guarantees, and Private Investments – Achieving a Balance Speaker: Dr. Tawainga Katsvairo, ArcHorizon, Managing Partner
Presentation Description: Attendees will learn perspectives and challenges associated with funding projects. Similarities and differences in the documentation required for obtaining grant funding, loan guarantees and private investor funding will be discussed. The attendees will learn tips to enhance the chances to obtain grant funding, loan guarantees and private investor funding. Project managers, grant writers, inventors/entrepreneurs, lending institutions/investors, builders/developers, construction managers, academia/government, and green consultants, are all encouraged to attend.
Bio: Dr Tawainga Katsvairo is a Managing Partner to ArcHorizon, a consultant and grant writing company. ArcHorizon consultants are comprised of PhDs in several disciplines and MBAs. ArcHorizon clients of small and large companies include technology developers, biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, green electricity co-generation companies, and non-profit trade based organizations. Tawainga provides consulting and workshops on grant writing and loan guarantees for federal, state and foundation grants. Tawainga’s duties also includes evaluation of technologies, coordinating the design, permitting, environmental and construction engineering issues associated with the construction and operation of refineries and plants. Tawainga performs agronomic research on feedstocks, evaluates feedstock availability and assists in conducting feasibility studies. Tawainga developed expertise in precision agriculture and cropping systems in the Northeastern US. He has presented numerous scientific seminars/lectures, often as an invited, conducted research and managed projects in several countries including Puerto Rico, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Zimbabwe and Poland. Tawainga is widely published with over 70 scientific publications covering a wide range of research in soil and crop sciences and renewable energy. Tawainga holds a PhD degree from Cornell University, MS from Michigan State University and BS from the University of Zimbabwe. All three degrees are in Crop and Soil Sciences with a minor in Managerial Agricultural Economics.
10:00 am – 10:50 am: The Stimulus Plan and the Advancements of a Green Economy Speaker: Dr. Rick Harper, Director, Haas Center for Business, University of West Florida
Presentation Description: The presentation will provide details of the stimulus plan and its impact on the green economy. The discussion will focus on key business sectors such as construction, energy, and infrastructure. Economists, investors/entrepreneurs, lending institutions, builders/developers, construction managers, facility managers, green consultants, and home owners, are all encouraged to attend.
Bio: Rick Harper’s career as an economist began in 1979 at the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina, where he was involved in all phases of various funded research projects. Rick received his Ph.D. in Economics from Duke University in 1989 and joined the University of West Florida faculty that same year. He received his bachelor's degree from Guilford College in North Carolina. Prior to coming to UWF, Rick lectured at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Other academic experience includes visiting appointments at ESSCA, in Angers, France, the University of Nottingham, England and University College, Cork, Ireland. His published scholarly research is largely in the area of government policy and its effect on the business environment. Through UWF's Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, where he serves as director, Rick has worked with Florida businesses and government leaders on a variety of business research and economic development issues. He represented Northwest Florida on Governor Jeb Bush’s Council of Economic Advisors from 2001 - 2006.
11:00 am – 11:50 am: Economic Development in the Renewable Energy SectorSpeaker: Don David, Capital City Bank
Presentation Description: Participants will learn about the energy policies needed to spur economic development and create local jobs in the renewable energy sector. The discussion will outline specific policies that are required to attract high-wage manufacturing jobs to provide the infrastructure for this growing market. This presentation will offer the unique perspective and experience of a long-time veteran in the banking industry. Lending institutions, economists, business leaders, manufacturers, elected officials, green consultants, and those involved in policy/legislative affairs are all encouraged to attend.
Bio: Mr. Don Davis is a 24-year veteran banker having worked for Barnett Bank, Bank of America, and First National Bank of Alachua prior to being named President of the Gainesville Market. Mr. Davis has also financed several commercial and residential photovoltaic systems. He is a University of Florida Graduate with a Finance Major and a graduate of Leadership Gainesville and more recently, Leadership Florida. He built his own solar hot water and was a graduate of Gainesville Regional Utilities first volunteer energy auditor class.
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Tax Incentives for Green Building for Home Owners and BuildersSpeaker: Dr. Jennifer Languell, Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions
Presentation Description: The presentation will provide an overview of green building and sustainable construction and discuss various green building rating systems. The focus of the discussion will be on the return on investment for constructing green commercial and residential buildings. Builders/developers, home owners, lending institutions, real estate professionals, home remodelers, property appraisers, insurance providers, and HERS raters/green consultants, are all encouraged to attend.
Bio: Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions, Dr. Jennifer Languell is a nationally recognized leader in green building education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering, a Master’s in Civil Engineering and Construction Management, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction. For over a decade, Dr. Languell has been one of the country’s preeminent consultants in the creation of healthy, efficient and sustainable projects in the residential, commercial and, land development sectors and with green building demonstration centers. She conducts approximately 100 educational trainings, seminars and workshops annually for the building and development industries. As a renowned authority on green building, she regularly appears as a speaker at national and international conferences. Dr. Languell was named the National Association of Home Builders’ Green Advocate of the Year in 2006, and also won the Council for Sustainable Florida Leadership Award that same year. In 2007, Trifecta received the Small Business Award from the Council for Sustainable Florida. Dr. Languell is an award-winning author, and has been featured in numerous publications such as BusinessWeek, and on television programs including: CNN Headline News, HGTV, and CNBC’s “Bullseye” and is a co-host on the Discovery Channel “Project Earth.” Since founding Trifecta, Dr. Languell has certified approximately two-thirds of the green homes in the state of Florida using the existing Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Home Certification Standards. In addition, she has worked on more than 250,000 square feet of ongoing USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and FGBC commercial projects, and more than 30,000 acres of FGBC Green Development projects. Dr. Languell serves on the Board of the Florida Green Building Coalition, is also a LEED Accredited Professional of the USGBC, and a Certifying Agent with the FGBC and is a certified trainer for the NAHB. Dr. Languell and Trifecta are also affiliated with numerous organizations including the NAHB, Urban Land Institute, the U.S. EPA, U.S. DOE, and Green Globe.
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm: Understanding Energy Efficient MortgagesSpeaker: Mr. Chris Williams, E-MortgageConnect.com
Presentation Description: Participants will learn about the fundamentals Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) and how it gives borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage. EEMs allow borrowers to stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans thereby allowing borrowers to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home. Lending institutions, real estate professionals/brokers, insurance providers, home remodelers, builders, property appraisers, home owners, and HERS raters/green consultants are all encouraged to attend.
Bio: Chris Williams is Managing Partner at eMortgageConnect.com. He has integrated electronic paperless mortgage technologies with the Energy Efficient Mortgage product. He is spearheading the expansion of the Energy Efficient Mortgage division throughout the South Eastern United States. He has been worked in the Mortgage industry for 7 years and is accredited by the State of Florida to teach the pre-licensing course to new mortgage brokers.
