Nov

02-04

Energy Management (Nov 02-04)

Professionals in natural gas energy supply, transportation and storage gather for presentations and roundtable discussions focused on Western North America’s demand outlook and factors expected to influence the cost of delivering natural gas. This collaborative atmosphere, combined with the attendee’s high level of expertise, leads to complex and analytical discussions regarding long-term forecasts, international energy demand, LNG updates, the price of carbon, renewable developments, electric/gas convergence issues, renewable natural gas, and the influence of storage and infrastructure projects.

Register Now

General Details

  • Program Chair(s)
  • Christine Wallat, Business Development Lead, Williams Northwest Pipeline

    • Program Location
    • Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
    • 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
    • Who Should Attend
    • Senior level management responsible for energy supply, storage, transportation, trading, marketing, transmission or business development. Electric utilities with gas generation are encouraged to attend.

  • Registration Options
  • Member: $799 USD

    Registration price increases $100 after October 19, 2022. Registration includes attendance to all agenda topics and events as well as comprehensive meeting materials. Guest tickets are available for $150 and allow for a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions.

    There is a $100 discount for registering for more than one of the three Gas Week forums: Energy Management, Renewable Gases, and Hydrogen Engineers. To receive the discount email Kris Taylor and she can complete your registrations. You will be emailed an invoice for the event registrations. Kris Taylor can also facilitate refunds if you have already registered for two forums at full price.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
  • Participation Policy
  • Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
  • For more information contact Kris Taylor, Director of Programs + Service Company Membership at (971) 930-2033.

Agenda

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Registration

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

California Policy Updates

This is an optional joint session with the Renewable Gases Forum and the Hydrogen Engineers Forum. Renewable Gases Forum attendees will share their recent policy updates and Energy Management attendees are welcome to ask clarifying questions. Please RSVP if you plan to attend so we can appropriately manage the room size. If the room is full, WEI will put you on a waitlist and notify you if a seat in the room opens up.

PG&E and SoCalGas will provide information on and lead a discussion on both the California Track 2A workshop and the CSCA Zonal Decommissioning of Gas Infrastructure.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

US Policy Updates

This is an optional joint session with the Renewable Gases Forum and the Hydrogen Engineers Forum. Renewable Gases Forum attendees will share their recent policy updates and Energy Management attendees are welcome to ask clarifying questions. 

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Networking Break

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Canadian Policy Updates

This is an optional joint session with the Renewable Gases Forum and the Hydrogen Engineers Forum. Renewable Gases Forum attendees will share their recent policy updates and Energy Management attendees are welcome to ask clarifying questions. 

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Networking Break

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Networking Reception

This is a joint reception with the Renewable Gases Forum and the Hydrogen Engineers Forum. Enjoy a few beverages with business development professionals and renewables engineers.

Thursday, November 3, 2022

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Welcome and Introductions
Facilitator(s): Christine Wallat, Business Development Lead, Williams Northwest Pipeline

We will take a quick 15 minutes to go around the table and introduce ourselves and our companies to each other.

8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

Decarbonization Trends in the Western US: The Future of Gas
Speaker(s): Danielle Vitoff, Director of Energy Systems Decarbonization Solutions, Guidehouse

Decarbonization trends continue to grow stronger across the West. Increasingly, polices and pressure from stakeholders is setting the expectation that utilities will deliver on a decarbonized energy system. But how likely are these trends to evolve and how quickly will they reshape the natural gas sector across the West. What does the next 3-5 years look like, how about the next decade? And what solutions will really win out: electrification, hydrogen, biomethane, carbon capture? Guidehouse’s Danielle Vitoff will share insights on the evolving natural gas market and the role that current decarbonization trends will have on reshaping fuel supply and demand across the West. 

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Networking Break

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

PNW Regulatory Updates
Speaker(s): Dan Kirschner, Executive Director, Northwest Gas Association

Dan Kirschner, NWGA will lead a discussion of the regional policy updates focusing on renewable gases in the Pacific Northwest.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Hosted Lunch

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

IRP Updates Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Scott Johnson, Director of Gas Supply, NW Natural

Our long-term planning environment is in flux. We hope to learn from each other and ask each attendee to come prepared to share learnings from their recent long-term planning process, whether that be an IRP or something similar. Contact Kris Taylor for additional information.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Decommissioning/Zonal Electrification Facilitated Discussion

Join this facilitated discussion of the impacts of Decommissioning and Zonal Electrification on renewable gases.

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Networking Break

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Challenges + Successes Roundtable

Friday, November 4, 2022

7:30 AM - 8:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Challenges + Successes Roundtable
Facilitator(s): Christine Wallat, Business Development Lead, Williams Northwest Pipeline

Attendees discuss issues of importance for their utilities.

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Networking Break

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Open Roundtable Discussion

This time is intentionally left open to continue discussions previously cut short for time. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own questions to the group.

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Wrap Up and Planning for the 2023 May 2-4, 2023 meeting

Hotel + Travel

  • Reservation Instructions
  • In addition to the reservation link, you may book your room by calling the hotel’s global reservations department at 1-800-THE-OMNI (1800-843-6664) using the group code 220333WEI. The Western Energy Institute (WEI) special room rate is $239 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until October 19, 2022 or until the WEI room block is full.

Onsite Safety + Health Info

Effective August 18, 2022, proof of vaccination status or results of a negative COVID-19 test will not be required for admittance into most WEI-hosted programs.

WEI continues to monitor all federal level CDC, Canadian government and public health agency recommendations, as well as local ordinances, as a policy baseline for in-person programs. We encourage all attendees to review the current guidelines related to isolation and precautions prior to traveling to a WEI event, as well as guidance for traveling to and from Canada, which may differ from guidance for traveling to or from the United States.

Some WEI-hosted programs may require proof of vaccination status, if essential for participation, in which case WEI will communicate this requirement in advance of the program start date.

Please refer to WEI’s Safety + Health Code of Conduct for other important considerations.

Meet The Speakers

Dan Kirschner

Northwest Gas Association

Executive Director

Christine Wallat

Williams Northwest Pipeline

Business Development Lead

Scott Johnson

NW Natural

Director of Gas Supply

Danielle Vitoff

Guidehouse

Director of Energy Systems Decarbonization Solutions
Learn More

Danielle Vitoff is the leader of Guidehouse’s global Energy Systems Decarbonization solutions team, which focuses on mapping optimized decarbonization pathways, advising on low carbon fuel strategies, and developing sustainability programs and GHG emissions accounting methodologies for energy clients. Danielle leads cross-functional teams to construct strategies that position clients for success in the complex and changing landscape of climate and sustainability. Danielle is adept at managing diverse stakeholder networks, exposing underlying drivers, and driving forward strategies with wide support. Notable engagements include leading the development of decarbonization roadmaps for multiple utilities, including advising on Duke Energy’s North Carolina Carbon Plan, leading the development of the San Antonio Climate Action and Adaptation and serving as the lead author on a first-of-its-kind report for the American Gas Foundation: Building A Resilient Energy Future: How the Gas System Contributes to US Energy System Resilience. Danielle has a background in architecture and specific experience designing high-performance, whole-building solutions for both residential and commercial buildings. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Danielle was the Research Director for Maclay Architects, a small sustainable design firm. In this position she supported multiple Zero Net Energy (ZNE) projects and the writing of the book The New Net Zero. Danielle holds BAs in Environmental Design and Environmental Studies from Montana State University.