Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Chair Ann Berwick kicks off our first panel, The Evolving Regulatory Landscape for Distributed Generation in New England, with a presentation on the Commonwealth's revised net metering rules (including the system/administrator of net metering assurance), and an introduction to the DPU's Notice of Inquiry on Electric Grid Modernization.  Next, Christie Bradway, Manager for Renewable Power Contracts at Northeast Utilities, discusses Connecticut's new, innovative approach to supporting distributed generation through renewable energy credit (LREC & ZREC) auctions, and will share the results of the first auction.

Rounding out the panel is a joint presentation on the recently-filed consensus package recommendations of the Massachusetts DG Interconnection Working Group for a revamped DG interconnection process by co-presenters Fran Cummings, VP at Peregrine Energy Group (who represented SEIA and SEBANE in the Working Group) and Tim Roughan, Director of Energy & Environmental Policy at National Grid.  Fran and Tim also provide their respective DG and utility perspectives on the evolving DG-related policy landscape in New England.

Today, distributed generation (behind the customer meter) in New England is dominated by solar PV installations, with some CHP, small wind, and other niche technologies. Our second panel, Potential Next Wave DG-Related Resources and Technologies, explores a sampling of resources and technologies that could play an increasing role in the distributed generation field in New England, including fuel cells, anaerobic digesters (now eligible for net metering in MA), and shrouded wind turbines.  This panel also looks at the role that battery and other storage technologies can play in firming up distributed generation. We have assembled a wonderful panel of presenters from entrepreneurial DG-related companies, including:

Phil Giudice, CEO & President, Ambri Inc. (battery storage)

Charles Fox, Dir. East Coast Regulatory Affairs, Bloom Energy (fuel cells)

Wayne Davis, Co-Founder/VP Gov't Affairs, Harvest Power (anaerobic)

John Howe, Director of Public Affairs, FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp