Renewable Gases including biomethane or RNG, hydrogen and syngas present an opportunity for members to reduce the carbon intensity of the gas streams provided to their end use customers. Join utility professionals responsible for carbon reduction efforts at their company as we discuss a wide range of strategic topics from policies, regulatory framework, safety and economics to gas quality and operational issues related to these efforts.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Michael Whitby, Renewable Natural Gas Program Manager, Avista Utilities
- Program Location
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
- 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
- Who Should Attend
- Senior Management responsible for Renewable Gas efforts at their utility
- Business Development professionals involved with Renewable Gas efforts at their utility
- Government Affairs and Regulatory professionals within the utility
- Invited Renewable Gas Subject Matter Experts
- Registration Options
Member: $599 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
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Registration
1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Welcome + Introductions
Facilitator(s): Michael Whitby, Renewable Natural Gas Program Manager, Avista Utilities
We will take a quick 15 minutes to go around the table and introduce ourselves and our companies to each other.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Canadian Policy Hot Topics
Facilitator(s): Kevin Larmer, Director, Innovation and Markets, Canadian Gas Association
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hydrogen Roundtable Discussion
Attendees will hold a series of facilitated discussions on hydrogen including the US Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal Hydrogen Hub RFPs, hydrogen pyrolysis in British Columbia, and leaving time for additional topics brought up by the attendees.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Developing RNG Projects
Speaker(s): Ralph Epling, Principal, Sustainable Energy Ventures LLC
Join Ralph Epling as he discusses his companies efforts as a developer of RNG projects. After retiring from BP Energy in 2019, Ralph started his own company to pursue the development of RNG projects Ralph has continued to provide RNG offtake agreement and gas interconnection agreement expertise for his teams projects as well as other developers RNG projects. He will discuss his team's experience developing projects and provide insights as to the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on the RNG business and RNG markets in general.
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Hotel Check-in + Break
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Networking Reception (dinner on your own)
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
PG&E Gas Strategy
Speaker(s): Chris DiGiovanni, Manager, GHG Emission Strategies, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
California Policy Updates
Speaker(s): Jared Liu-Klein, Public Policy Manager, Southern California Gas Company
The California policy update will recap the 2022 legislative session and summarize recent California regulatory proceedings at the Public Utilities Commission (other than the Gas OIR).
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Networking Break
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Open Roundtable Updates/Discussion
This time is intentionally left open to leave space to continue previous conversations that were cut short for time, and to provide an opportunity for attendees to bring their questions to the group.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Networking Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Joint Forum Networking Break
Energy Management Forum and Hydrogen Engineers Forum attendees joint Renewable Gases Forum attendees for the afternoon.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
California Policy Updates
Speaker(s): Chris DiGiovanni, Manager, GHG Emission Strategies, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Nate Taylor, Strategic Planning and Analysis Manager, Southern California Gas Company
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 + State Policy Updates
Policy updates since the last meeting will be presented by a variety of US utilities. Utilities are encouraged to discuss policies, issues and opportunities for their company related to renewable gas projects.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Canadian + Provincial Policy Updates
Policy updates since the last meeting will be presented by a variety of Canadian utilities. Utilities are encouraged to discuss policies, issues and opportunities for their company related to renewable gas projects.
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Networking Break
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Joint Networking Reception (dinner on your own)
This is a joint reception with the Energy Management Forum and the Hydrogen Engineers Forum. Enjoy a few beverages as gas supply professionals and renewables engineers join our business development professionals.
Hotel + Travel
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
- 41000 Bob Hope Drive
- Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
- Phone: (888) 444-6664
Click here to make your reservation now.
- 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.