Greetings!
We sadly learned this week about the passing of a dear colleague, friend, and Leaders in Energy member, Jeannette "Jan" Brinch. Jan made multiple, valuable contributions to our organization as a panel speaker, facilitator, and moderator. She served as the moderator of our 2016 "Undebate on Clean Energy and Sustainability" which was held at the New York University (NYU) Campus in Washington DC. You can read more about her below and also how to contribute in her honor to HopeWell Cancer Support.

Our upcoming LE events include the 9/22 Circular Economy Tech Tour and 10/4 Utilities of the Future Educational Forum at the Edison Electric Institute.

Learn more about various job openings and our recent blog articles below.
Circular Economy Technical Tour -
September 22, 2018
Circular Economy Technical Tour -- Saturday, September 22, 2018, from Noon to 5 pm
Join our Circular Economy Working Group for a tour of C2 Management, a recycling facility in Berryville, VA, and a local sustainable vineyard. Tour is free and includes lunch. 

Register to attend and coordinate carpooling. Please do so by Friday, September 14th so we can have enough lead-time for planning logistics. Learn more about our Circular Economy Working Group activities and this tour here .

Thanks for C2 Management for inviting us to visit their facility and for hosting our lunch. 
Utilities of the Future - How to Modernize the Grid and Decarbonize Our Energy System
October 4, 2018
Utilities of the Future Educational Forum
at the Edison Electric Institute
Washington DC on October 4, 2018, 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Leaders in Energy will conduct its "Utilities of the Future" Educational Forum at the Edison Electric Institute on Thursday, October 4th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm. Topics include how the electric grid can be a key driver in decarbonizing our energy system as new technologies and policies create pathways to a new paradigm for utilities. Our event partner is Resilient Virginia and our host is the Edison Electric Institute.

Our speakers include industry experts from the Edison Electric Institute, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative. Learn more about them below.

Topics include:
  • grid modernization, electrification, and the future of the electric grid
  • distributed energy resources, including renewable energy, storage, and demand management
  • transactive energy and a participatory grid
  • the potential for decarbonizing the grid
  • disruptive technologies and policies that can facilitate an evolved electric grid
  • setting expectations – optimistic vs realistic scenarios on the pace of change over the next few years

Early bird discounts are available through 9/27 as well as job seeker and student rates. Pizza and beverages included with admission. Network with others in the industry and/or who are interested in these topics.  You can also learn more about our event here .

Location: 
Edison Electric Institute
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004  (Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter stop on Metro’s Yellow and Green Lines is located directly in front of the EEI building.)

Our Speakers
John Caldwell, Ph.D., Edison Electric Institute
John Caldwell, Ph.D., is the Director of Economics at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). He has been working with industry consultants and colleagues at EEI in the development of new recommended regulatory policies and business models that will better enable investor-owned utilities to contend with the many imminent and potentially significant changes facing the electricity industry. Dr. Caldwell was a speaker at Leaders in Energy's microgrid event in 2017. 

Dr. Caldwell has worked in the electric and gas utility industry for over twenty-five years, first at the Illinois Power Company (now part of Ameren) as a planning engineer, and then at NiSource, where he was involved in the development of long-term forecast models for energy use and peak demand, the introduction of innovative alternative rate designs, and the design and implementation of financial hedging strategies and risk management systems to support these products. Dr. Caldwell holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, an MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield, an M.S. in mathematics from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Cyril Draffin, MIT Energy Initiative
Cyril Draffin is a project advisor to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative. His expertise includes low-carbon energy including solar, other renewable energy generation, and nuclear; how the electric grid can be a key driver in decarbonizing our energy system; cybersecurity of electric utilities and other energy systems; gas and coal production and carbon capture and utilization; information technology; and strategy. 

Previously he was the director of strategy for Northrop Grumman Corporation with focus on cybersecurity, homeland security, information technology, and defense strategy. Earlier he was vice president of an American Stock Exchange traded venture capital company making investments in information technology; was a director in the U.S. Department of Energy with a focus on solar, biomass, natural gas, coal, and industrial energy usage; and was a nuclear and environmental engineer at the Bechtel Power Corporation. Mr. Draffin has BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from MIT.
Elizabeth Brooke Stein, Environmental Defense Fund
Elizabeth Brooke Stein is an attorney in EDF’s Clean Energy Program, focusing on the development of a low-carbon energy system. She is the lead author of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) a whitepaper titled “Driving Environmental Outcomes Through Utility Reform: Lessons from New York REV,” which is a roadmap for electric utilities seeking to accelerate decarbonization, or the elimination of fossil fuels. It examines the approach New York has taken to transform its 100 year-old electric system from a centralized, one-way grid to a multi-channel network of power and information.

Ms. Stein engages in state and regional proceedings to advocate for the promulgation of technology and practices that improve the flexibility and performance of the electric system, and enable the full deployment of more low-carbon resources, including low-carbon demand response and intermittent renewable resources. Since 2012, Stein and her colleagues in EDF’s New York office have been working to ensure that the post-Sandy transformation of New York’s electric system is built on a foundation of resiliency and sustainability, not just durability. Ms. Stein has a Doctor of Law – JD is from the New York University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in Social Studies.
Tribute to Jeannette "Jan" Brinch,
A Dear Leaders in Energy Colleague
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of a dear friend, professional colleague, and Leaders in Energy (LE) member and major contributor, Jan Brinch.

I first met Jan Brinch at a National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) conference. We shared mutual interests in having worked for state energy offices and in the energy sector throughout our careers. Jan became instrumental in assisting us to build the Leaders in Energy organization in so many ways which are listed below:

  • Facilitator for LE's first Strategic Planning Meeting in September 2014.
  • Panel speaker at inaugural panel featuring Leaders in Energy members who had landed green jobs at LE's Green Jobs event in April 2015. Jan spoke about her position at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
  • Introduced Kerry Worthington (also at NARUC) to report on program at our Green Jobs event. Kerry wrote a wonderful article and subsequently joined Leaders in Energy as a core team member.
  • Moderator of LE's "Undebate on Clean Energy and Sustainability" which took place at the New York University (NYU) campus in Washington DC. The Undebate convened four political representatives from the Democrat, Republican, Green and Libertarian parties. The Undebate sought to reach a consensus on the best path forward on a number of clean energy and sustainability issues. You can read the recap article here and see more below.
  • Provided valuable suggestions on planning our small group sessions at our Circular Economy 2017 workshop.

Jan learned that she had been diagnosed with a rare case of mesothelioma in 2016 and fought courageously to live as long as she could. Her goal was to make it to 100! You can see her obituary and learn more in regard to contributing to cancer research in her honor here .

Moderator of LE's Undebate on Clean Energy and Sustainability at NYU in September 2016
J an Brinch is shown in this photo (see right) with Chris Rackens, Charles Hernick, Arvin Vohra, Tim Willard (l-r), and Jan Brinch.

You can see the article and recording of the Undebate in our blog article titled, " Political Leaders Seek Consensus on Energy and Sustainability Issues at Un-Debate" .
Panel Speaker on Landing a Green Job -- LE's Green Jobs Event in April 2015
Jan was a speaker at this green jobs event in April 2015. See recap article titled: " Tips on Finding a Great, Green Job, and Learning From Other Leaders in Energy Members Who Have Landed One! " by Kerry Worthington


Presenters at event:
Front Row (l-r) Janine Finnell, Coniah Adams, Oana Leahu-Aluas, Jan Brinch , and Thomas Schmitt. Pictured Back Row (l-r): Jack Levenson, Dan Smolen, Andrew Ricci, and Carolyn Slaughter
Green Jobs Corner & LE Green Jobs (Talent) Working Group
Leaders in Energy Partnership with Green Jobs Network:  Post a job opening on the US-wide  Green Jobs Network  and receive a $20 discount by using a Leaders in Energy code. This also helps our organization to sustain its work. Learn more  here  and apply code: 
leaders2018  This unique code is available until December 31, 2018.

  • See more green career job information, job boards, etc. at our Leaders in Energy Career Resources page here.

NOTE: Is your company hiring?  Advertise your positions in our Leaders in Energy Green Jobs Corner. Contact John Gaffigan, Director of Membership and Sponsorship, at [email protected]

INDUSTRY HIRING:

  • The Solar Energy Industries Association is seeking a Membership Development Manager. See more here.
  • The BlueGreen Alliance is seeking for a Program Associate for their Building Clean Program. See more here.

EcoAction Arlington Seeking VOLUNTEERS for Energy Masters Program

EcoAction Arlington is accepting applications for its Energy Masters program   which promotes a more energy efficient and sustainable community by engaging professionally trained volunteers in energy efficiency and water conservation techniques, and in community outreach and education. Student and community (adult) volunteer tracks are available.  Get details about the training program  here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through September 15 or until all spaces are filled. This year's training class begins Thursday, October 4.
Articles on Clean Energy Trends & More!
Check out some of our recent articles below on our blog. Do you want to share your expertise on clean energy and sustainability topics?

If you are interested in submitting an article, contact our LE Director of Communications, Miriam Aczel , at [email protected].
Our LE 2018 Calendar - Save the Dates
Leaders in Energy Circular Economy Working Group Technical Tour. Saturday, September 22, 2018 from Noon to 5 pm. Learn about C2 Management's Recycling Facility in Berryville, VA and visit to local winery on sustainability practices. Lunch is provided and the event is free but you must register in advance to attend. See more details here. 

Utilities of the Future, Thursday, October 4 2018, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, (with Resilient Virginia), at the Edison Electric Institute, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC. Early bird rates through Thursday, September 27th and discounts available for job seekers and students. Pizza and beverages included with admission. Register here.

5th Annual Four Generations Awards and Holiday Event, November 30, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, at the Crystal Condominium Complex, Arlington, VA.
Other Events In the DC Metro Area
and World with LE Partners
LarsEn Energy Branding. "CHARGE 2018 Energy Branding Conference" in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 24-25, 2018. Leaders in Energy members can benefit from a 15% discount to attend this unique energy conference in Iceland, September 24-25 2018. Register   here , and use promo code LEADERS to take advantage of the discount on the registration fee.

Maryland Clean Energy Center. "Gearing Up for the Future: Energy Innovation to Advance Grid Efficiency, Resiliency & Security. October 8-10, 2018, The Hotel of the University of Maryland. Register here .

Bethesda Green, 10th Anniversary Gala, Thursday, October 18, 2018. Hosted by the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Register here.  

EcoAction Arlington EcoExtravaganza - Celebrating 40 Years, Friday, October 19, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT at the Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. Register here .
Learn More About Leaders in Energy
Leaders in Energy is a community of engaged leaders advancing solutions for a sustainable energy system, economy, and world. We are a non-profit organization based in Washington with a worldwide membership.

Our programs connect stakeholders who have valuable knowledge and are passionate about contributing to the development of sustainable and environmentally responsible communities.   For example, we help to connect green job seekers with employers; business suppliers to markets, investors with innovators, and empower individuals to work together with other multi-generational Leaders to make the world a greener, better place.  

Janine Finnell
Executive Director
Leaders in Energy

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