- Improving Resiliency Through Microgrids and Storage Solutions: October 19
- Virginia’s Clean Power Plan
- USGBC to Explore Resiliency at GreenBuild 2017
- Resilient Virginia Conference Resources Available
- Resilient Events Calendar
- Your Membership Counts!
What’s New
Improving Resiliency Through Microgrids and Storage Solutions: October 19, 5:30–6:30pm
Resilient Virginia is partnering again this October with Leaders in Energy to bring together an exceptional group of national and regional speakers on microgrids and storage solutions as a means to significantly increase energy resiliency. Especially in the wake of this year’s severe hurricanes, the utilization of microgrids plus battery storage is seen increasingly by public and private organizations as the wave of the future to help ensure energy reliability.
This event, which will take place at the Edison Electric Institute, will provide participants with the opportunity to meet leaders who are considering and implementing microgrid or battery storage in the Washington DC region. In addition, several speakers will provide a national perspective on the utility-microgrid interface and federal R&D programs.
Confirmed speakers for this event are:
Dr. John Caldwell, Director of Economics, Edison Electric Institute, who heads its Microgrid Task Force, will discuss the utility/microgrid interface. The EEI Microgrid Task Force was formed to support the industry’s advocacy effort for policies that support utility involvement in the construction, owning, and operating of microgrids.
Dan Ton, Program Manager, Smart Grid R&D, US Department of Energy, will present an overview of national research and development initiatives. The US DOE recently awarded $32 million in research funds for ”resilient distribution systems,” including $12 million for two microgrid projects.
Brendan Owens, Chief of Engineering, US Green Building Council, will highlight the Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal (PEER), the first certification system for sustainable power systems such as microgrids. PEER has been utilized locally to help assess feasibility of a microgrid expansion project at Gallaudet University.
Michael Yambrach, Capital Projects Manager, Montgomery County, will provide a regional example of innovation in the use of microgrids to increase resiliency in critical facilities, and in the development of “Microgrids as a Service,” which has established a structure for costs, construction, and management of systems to be carried out by the private partners.
Bracken Hendricks, CEO and Founder, Urban Ingenuity, leads the implementation of the company’s vision: to finance and develop advanced energy infrastructure projects that speed the clean energy future. UI served as the lead energy development partner in the design of a state-of-the-art district energy system and advanced microgrid at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Join businesses, university and government representatives to learn more about the potential for microgrid utilization in the DMV region. Register at lercpa.org/microgrids by October 12 for the early registration rate.
Virginia’s Clean Power Plan — Get Info at October Meetings
In the wake of just-announced steps by the federal government to repeal the Clean Power Plan, Virginia citizens have the opportunity to help ensure that the Virginia Clean Power Plan is successfully implemented. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and other environmental advocacy organizations are hosting a series of meeting during October that provide Virginia citizens the chance to learn more about this plan, how the new regulations will affect the state, and how citizens can help ensure that the program moves forward. Dates and locations — starting October 19 in Charlottesville are detailed in this flyer.
In May 2017, Governor McAuliffe issued Executive Directive 11 — also known as the Clean Energy Virginia initiative — which directed the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to draft proposed regulations to reduce carbon pollution from stationary sources. Governor McAuliffe’s goal is to work toward reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the Commonwealth’s power plants and to spur the development of new, clean energy jobs. By setting this limit, Governor McAuliffe made Virginia the first southern state to directly address climate change. Over the course of 2017, DEQ has been drafting the proposed regulations and will present them to the State Air Pollution Control Board for review and approval. This vote will happen in mid-November.
Join other community members during October to hear more about the Clean Energy Virginia Initiative, how mitigation of carbon emissions will assist in reducing the impacts from climate change, and how Virginians can continue to move forward in creating clean energy jobs.
USGBC to Address Community Resiliency at GreenBuild 2017
Resilient Virginia is a partner this year with USGBC’s Communities & Affordable Homes Summit at Greenbuild 2017 on Tuesday, November 7 from 9:00 am–5:30 pm in Boston.
The Summit will focus on the development of vibrant, sustainable communities through the lenses of resilience, social equity, health, and economic opportunity. Join the U.S. Green Building Council community of sustainability leaders, environmental justice, and health advocates for information-sharing and problem-solving with the goal of expediting the economic, social, and ecological health and vitality of all communities. This event will focus on the convergence of community sustainability through the lens of:
- Resilient and healthy community design, planning, and preparedness
- Financing strategies that result in vibrant local economies
- Affordable housing development
- Community engagement and access to resources
- Equitable development
This year, the Summit will be a call to action — and the participants will be part of creating that action plan for USGBC and its partners to advance equity in green building over the coming year. Two separate tracks will feature some of the leaders at the forefront of community development, environmental justice, and sustainability. The first track highlights successful case studies, discusses practical tools, and provides application techniques for success. The second track brings people and partners together to co-create an action plan to advance equity and sustainability in our buildings and communities. Multi-disciplinary leaders will facilitate small group dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and problem-solving with the singular goal of expediting the economic, social, and ecological health of underserved communities locally, regionally, and globally.
Now is the time for concerted, meaningful, and immediate action to advance a green social justice agenda. Join the dialogue and register today!
Resilient Virginia Conference 2017 Resources Available
Resilient Virginia is pleased to report very positive feedback from our post-conference survey, with close to 90% of the respondents giving the 2017 Resilient Virginia Conference positive reviews. Conference attendees provided ideas for making this type of event even more worthwhile, which included more information on planning for resilience, technical solutions, and financing, and more time with exhibitors and for networking. For the next conference, a wide range of suggestions were provided, including: 1) hearing from the new governor on his resiliency and sustainability programs, 2) offering regional roundtables to spur state-wide resiliency initiatives, and 3) presentations on what role resiliency will have in recovery efforts from the severe hurricanes of 2017.
Resources that are now available to conference attendees and newsletter readers include:
- Governor McAuliffe’s Introductory Remarks
- Audio recordings of the Plenary Sessions
- Breakout session presentations (with more to follow)
Resilient Virginia would like to again thank Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security; Virginia Department of Emergency Management; Dominion Energy; and all our additional sponsors who made the conference possible, as well as the Conference Planning Committee for their efforts in assembling world-class sessions and speakers.
Thanks to Our 2017 Annual Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Community Leader Sponsor
Lifeboat Sponsors
Village Sponsor
Resilience Events Calendar
Fall 2017 Event Highlights
- October 14: Virginia Solar Congress, Location: James Madison University
- October 19: Improving Resilience through Microgrids and Battery Storage
- October 24: Webinar: Climate Change, Education, and Democracy
- October 27: Virginia Coastal Policy Center’s 5th Annual Conference: Defending Our Coasts
Check our Resilient Events Calendar on a regular basis to find out what is happening in Virginia, around the nation, and virtually through webinars.
Membership — Always in Season!
Resilient Virginia is on a mission to
*Inform *Educate and *Activate
Virginia communities to build resiliency in the face of challenges to community prosperity, national security, and changing climate.
You can help by:
Becoming a Member
Signing on as an Annual Sponsor
Thank you to our recent new and renewing members!
Allen Asbury, Smyth County Public Schools
Daniel Bradway
Julie Shortridge, VA Tech
Kathryn Miller
Doug Hendren, MD
Avis Renshaw
James Keck, VCU
Do you shop online? Sign up for one or both of these online shopping sites that contribute to Resilient Virginia:
