2024

Northern New England Energy Conference

June 17-19, 2024

NNEEC 2024 • Bar Harbor

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Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet, and Understanding the CO2 Impacts of Zero-Emission Trucks

Rebecca Brewster

President of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)

American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) President Rebecca Brewster will present the findings of two recent ATRI studies, both of which deal with the potential electrification of our transportation system. To document challenges associated with charging our nation’s truck fleet, ATRI focused on three critical challenges for nationwide vehicle electrification: U.S. electricity supply and demand, electric vehicle production, and truck charging requirements. The results of a separate study will also be presented, and that study focused on emissions associated with so-called  zero-emissions truck. In this study, ATRI utilized federal and industry-sourced data to identify and compare full life-cycle CO2 emissions for a range of truck types, including a baseline diesel truck, battery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

Policy Trends in the Region and Country – A Panel Discussion

Sean Cota

President & CEO of the National Energy & Fuel Institure (NEFI)

Sean Cota has more than 35 years of experience in the heating fuels industry. Cota is a highly regarded professional in the heating fuels industry with a national and international perspective and reputation.

Cota has testified before Congress and the CFTC ten (10) times as a subject matter expert on energy trading market functions, and in the areas of swaps, futures, options, and other non- regulated, structured financial products.

Current Position: Cota is the President and CEO of The National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI), representing the liquid heating fuels industry and related services companies. NEFI members deliver a safe, dependable, and efficient heating fuels, including Renewable Liquid Heating Fuels to six million homes and businesses across the country. Of the five billion gallons of heating oil used on average in the United States each winter, 85-percent is utilized in the Northeast from Maryland to Maine.

Michael S. Giaimo

Northeast Regional Director of American Petroleum Institute (API)

Michael S. Giaimo joined the American Petroleum Institute (API) in October of 2020 and is the association’s Northeast Regional Director. API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry and supports more than 11 million U.S. jobs. API’s mission is to promote safety across the industry globally and to influence public policy in support of a strong, viable U.S. oil and natural gas industry.

Before joining API, Giaimo was nominated and confirmed as Commissioner of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in August 2017. He served on the Site Evaluation Committee and was a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s Board of Directors. He served on committees and in various capacities with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners. He also served on the Commission to Study the Establishment of a State Department of Energy and the Joint Nominating Committee for ISO New England.

Prior to joining the Public Utilities Commission, Giaimo worked for a decade in the External Affairs Department for ISO New England (ISO). While there he supported the ISO’s outreach plans for regional system planning, wholesale electricity markets, and power system emergencies. Giaimo managed relationships with legislators, regulators, and policymakers, and at one time or another during his tenure was ISO’s primary contact in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In his role with the ISO, he participated in legislative and regulatory proceedings throughout the region and testified before state legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy issues on a wide range of electricity issues.

Upon graduating law school, Giaimo spent eight years as Vice President responsible for energy and environmental affairs for the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire.

Giaimo is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Suffolk University Law School.

Rob Underwood

President of the Energy Marketers of America (EMA)

Rob Underwood is the President of the Energy Marketers of America representing energy marketers on Capitol Hill. He joined EMA in July 2007 as the Director of Government Relations and took over as President in 2015.

Underwood played a key role in reauthorizing the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). NORA was signed into law in February 2014 and again in 2018 for ten years which resulted in over $100 million for research and development and education and training to the heating fuels industry. Underwood also led EMA’s efforts negotiating with the EPA on a costly underground storage tank proposed rule that resulted in a reduction in compliance costs while achieving equally protective environmental standards. He also steered the organization’s name change from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) to the Energy Marketers of America in October 2020.

Underwood serves as the chief spokesperson for EMA. He is frequently quoted in Politico, Washington Post, Reuters, Oil Express and CSP Daily News. Underwood also serves as a liaison to EMA’s wholly owned subsidiary, the Petroleum Marketers Oil Company, LLC (PMOCO) known as the Spirit Brand®, and currently chairs the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC). Underwood oversees and leads contribution decisions for EMA’s Small Business Committee – Political Action Committee (PAC) totaling approximately $300,000.00 and EMA’s Marketer Defense Fund (MDF) totaling $150,000.00.

The most important role as EMA President is serving its 47 state and regional trade associations as well as over 4,000 independent energy marketing companies before Congress and the federal agencies. Underwood is a native of Georgia where he earned a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining EMA, he worked for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA).

Energy Emergency Preparedness and Response – A Panel Discussion

Steven Mallory

Director of Operations & Response of Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Steven Mallory began his career by patrolling rural Maine for 18+ years in an area of over 3,500 square miles. Since it was such a remote area, he became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Mallory later worked as the Director of Security/Risk Management for the first casino in Maine and then for a security contractor overseas. He became one of the country’s first State-wide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). Then Mallory became the Director of Operations and Response for the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). With over 33 years as a Police Officer, he still patrols for a local department in the Augusta, Maine area.

Mallory has a Master of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice and an associate degree in Building Construction and Architectural Design. He’s an instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Incident Commander for the State Emergency Operations Center, and has been deployed to numerous disasters, including Hurricane Sandy in New York.

Deborah Lord

State Exercise Officer for the State of Maine

Deborah Lord is a Maine Criminal Justice Academy Graduate and former Correctional Officer at the Maine State Prison. Lord spent several years working for the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification, where she began her career in training and exercise for Criminal Justice Academy Graduates. Lord is currently the State Exercise Officer for the State of Maine and a Duty Officer and Operations Section Chief. In addition, Lord serves as a member of the preparedness team that develops and maintains the Integrated Preparedness Plan for the State. She will be a Co-Chair for the Maine Preparedness Conference in August this year.

Dr. Robert A. Christensen

The State Emergency Operations Center Manager for NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Dr. Robert Christensen is Chief of Training, Exercises, and Development and the State Emergency Operations Center Manager for NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management, overseeing the State Emergency Operation Center’s readiness, situational awareness, operations, and all-hazards training, exercises, and development throughout the State. Previously, he was an administrator for the State’s E-911 system and Toll Manager for the NH Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Turnpikes. He also instructs L-0146 Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and G-191 ICS/EOC Interface.

Dr. Christensen holds a Doctor of Arts degree in leadership from Franklin Pierce University, the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies degree in educational leadership from Plymouth State University, the Master of Arts in Religion degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from Liberty University and a Biblical Studies Diploma from Boston Baptist College.

Faith E. Staples

Technological Hazards Program Manager for the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Faith Staples has been with MEMA for 15 years and manages the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Program with Federal, State, County, Local, and facility organizations. In addition, she works
with the various hazmat teams around the State, providing training and equipment. Previously Staples worked with the State Police as a Communications Specialist for four years. She has a variety of training that ranges from ICS 400 to Hazmat Operations and Operations Section Chief. She is also the State Coordinator for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).