OCTOBER 14-15, 2025
ANNUAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT FORUM
OCTOBER 14–15, 2025
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina San Diego, CA
The 16th Annual CESA Market Development Forum (MDF) will be held at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in San Diego, CA, on October 14–15, 2025.
Traditionally an invite-only gathering, new this year, the event will be open to non-members— welcoming broader participation from across the energy sector. The MDF convenes regulators, utilities, and energy storage leaders to discuss the evolving role of storage in advancing California’s decarbonization and grid reliability goals. Attendees can look forward to premier networking opportunities and a robust program featuring key industry topics such as permitting, safety, long-term planning and procurement, resource adequacy, financing, and interconnection. Visit https://storagealliance.org/mdf2025 to learn more and register!
Agenda
DAY 1 - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Member Registration Opens
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Annual CESA Member Meeting (CESA Members Only)
In this member-only session, CESA will introduce new Board members and discuss strategic priorities for 2026.
• Scott Murtishaw, Executive Director, CESA
• Renae Steichen, CESA Board Chair, REV Renewables
• Karolina Maslanka, Policy Director, CESA
• Cara Martinson, CESA’s Safety & Permitting Working Group - Public House Consulting
• Don Tretheway, CESA’s CAISO Working GroupManaging Director, GDS Associates, Inc.
• Perry Servedio, CESA’s IRP & RA Working GroupsSenior Project Manager, GDS Associates, Inc.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Coffee Break and Non-member Registration
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM Opening Remarks
• Scott Murtishaw, Executive Director, CESA
• Karin Burns, CEO of San Diego Community Power
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Keynote Speaker: Andrew Campbell, Vice ChairGoverning Body, Western Energy Markets (WEM)
Building Energy Markets in the Western US
The real-time Western Energy Imbalance Market has demonstrated how a geographically diverse energy market can lower consumer costs, increase reliability and support state policy goals. Hear how cooperation and compromise has designed a day-ahead market that will provide even greater benefits for the region once it starts operating in 2026.
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
State of the Market and the Future of Storage in CA
Gain a clear picture of California’s energy storage landscape with insights on current market conditions, emerging trends, and lessons learned from other jurisdictions. This forwardlooking discussion will explore where the industry is headed and what it means for the state’s clean energy future.
• Arne Olson, Senior Partner, Energy+Environmental Economics (E3)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel: Driving CAISO Market Design Forward for the West’s Leading Resource
With storage now the primary resource under development in the West, urgency is key. This session brings together industry leaders to explore how developers, IOUs, and stakeholders can work with CAISO to advance storage design and modeling initiatives, build consensus on market design priorities, and accelerate progress toward a more storage-ready grid.
• Moderator: Don Tretheway, CESA’s CAISO Working Group - Managing Director, GDS Associates, Inc.
• Cathleen Colbert, Senior Director, Western Markets Policy, Vistra
• Alva Svoboda, Principal, Market Design Integration, PG&E
• Drew Gray, Head of Trading, West, REV Renewables
• Becky Robinson, Director, Market Policy Development, California ISO
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 PM - 1:35 PM
Keynote Speaker: Siva Gunda, Vice Chair - California Energy Commission
1:35 PM - 2:15 PM
The Road to RO: How Will Governance Changes Impact the Stakeholder Process?
As legislation advances to create a new Regional Organization (RO), questions loom over structure, governance, and timing. This session unpacks the status and timeline for the RO, compares its framework to CAISO, and examines how the stakeholder process could evolve under this new model.
• Kathleen Staks, Executive Director, Western Freedom
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Panel: Reforming the Queue – Experiences in Navigating the New Transmission Interconnection Rules
From Cluster 15 to the latest Interconnection Process
Enhancements, the transmission queue is evolving fast. Hear developer, IOU, and CCA perspectives on the 2023 changes, lessons learned from navigating the new rules, and what to expect as CAISO moves forward with its next round of IPE reforms.
• Moderator: Renae Steichen, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, REV Renewables
• Jorge Chacon, Technical Director - Interconnection Services, Electric Power Engineers
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• Danielle Mills, Principal, Infrastructure Policy Development, California ISO
• John McNamara, Director, Structured Contracts, Clean Power Alliance
• Margaret Miller, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, ENGIE
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Coffee Break
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
Panel: Distributed Energy Resources – Finding a Path Forward
With demand rising and utility-scale projects facing development and transmission challenges, DERs have never been more important. This session examines how LSEs are integrating distributed resources, including storage, into planning and procurement, what’s working, where barriers remain, and how interconnection reforms and proactive grid investments can unlock DER potential. Speakers will also explore ways to enhance reliability so DERs can play a larger role in meeting Resource Adequacy needs.
• Moderator: Karolina Maslanka, Policy Director, CESA
• Matt Coldwell, Manager - Distribution Planning, California Public Utilities Commission
• Dean Kinports, Senior Strategic Policy Manager, San Diego Community Power
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Adapting to Market Shifts (IRA and Tariffs)
Explore how shifting federal policies and trade measures are shaping the clean energy landscape, and what industry leaders are doing to navigate an uncertain path forward.
• Judy McElroy, CEO, Fractal Energy Storage Consultants
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM Closing Remarks
• Scott Murtishaw, Executive Director, CESA
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Reception
DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast and Registration
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Keynote Speakers: Chief Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CAL FIRE & Fire Chief Tony Mecham, San Diego County
State and Local Fire Fighter Perspectives on BESS Safety
The rapid growth of energy storage in California has forced safety officials to understand these technologies and update their standards and permitting processes. Learn how state and regional fire officials are adapting to the rise of energy storage and creating the necessary frameworks to ensure the safe deployment and operations of storage facilities.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Session Title TBD
• Rohimah Moly, Deputy Director, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Coffee Break
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Safety Panel: BESS Ordinances, Planning, and Coordination
From permitting to emergency response, battery energy storage systems present unique challenges for local jurisdictions. This panel shares lessons from communities that have adopted BESS-specific ordinances, explores the role of fire departments and state agencies, and highlights best practices for safely integrating this emerging land use.
• Moderator: Cara Martinson, CESA’s Safety & Permitting Working Group - Public House Consulting
• Rob Rezende, Battalion Chief, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
• Jason Anderson, President and CEO, Cleantech San Diego
• Paul Hayes, FPE, VP of Energy Infrastructure, The Hiller Companies
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Lessons from the CPUC’s New Energy Storage Auditing and Inspection Program
Get an inside look at lessons emerging from recent GO 167-C audits and what they reveal about compliance, performance, and opportunities for improvement.
• Eric Wu, Ph.D., P.E., Program Manager | Electric Safety and Reliability Branch, California Public Utilities Commission
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Keynote Speaker: Commissioner John Reynolds, California Public Utilities Commission
1:30M - 2:30 PM
IRP and Portfolio Planning Panel: Long-term Resource Planning and Procurement – Is it Working?
This panel examines the health of California’s long-term procurement markets from both the LSE and developer perspectives. Hear what signals each side is receiving, the barriers slowing efficient development, and whether current structures adequately value long-duration storage. Panelists will also explore whether the system is broken— and what it would take to fix it.
• Moderator: Perry Servedio, CESA’s IRP & RA Working Groups - Senior Project Manager, GDS Associates, Inc.
• CC Song, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Clean Power Alliance
• Rahul Kalaskar, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, The AES Corporation
• Nathan Barcic, Manager, Electricity Planning, California Public Utilities Commission
• Maria Litos, Principal Manager, Energy Procurement & Management, Southern California Edison
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Coffee Break
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Resource Adequacy Panel: California Capacity Implications in a West-Wide Market
As California advances its 24-hour RA framework, how will capacity be bought, sold, and valued both in-state and across the West? This panel explores the prospects and barriers for RA and firm capacity sales, assesses whether current market structures align with reliability needs, and considers how long-duration storage fits into a west-wide capacity market.
• Moderator: Perry Servedio, CESA’s IRP & RA Working Groups - Senior Project Manager, GDS Associates, Inc.
• Ted Tardif, Director, Power Origination, Clean Power Alliance
• Nuo Tang, Director of Asset Management, Middle River Power
• Luke Nickerman, Manager, Market and Procurement Policy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• Mark Thompson, Senior Director, State Affairs, Form Energy
• Aine Folan, Manager - Power & Capacity Brokerage & Marketing, Karbone
4:15 PM -4:30 PM Wrap-Up and Next Steps
• Scott Murtishaw, Executive Director, CESA
SPEAKER BIOS
Jason Anderson, President and CEO, Cleantech San Diego
Jason is President and CEO of Cleantech San Diego, a business organization that positions the region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. Representing more than 130 members across business, academia, government, and nonprofits, Cleantech San Diego advances sustainable solutions for the economy, environment, and community. In 2016, the organization launched the Southern California Energy Innovation Network with support from the California Energy Commission to help energy entrepreneurs bring innovations to market. Before joining Cleantech San Diego in 2010, Jason served as Vice President of Business Development at the San Diego Regional EDC and previously worked in the Texas State Capitol. He holds a degree in Corporate Communications from the University of Texas at Austin and serves on multiple regional boards.
Nathan Barcic, Program Manager, California Public Utilities Commission
Nathan Barcic is acting Program Manager for CPUC Energy Division’s Electricity Planning and Market Design branch. He has worked on resource planning and procurement for nearly a decade, mostly a manager and analyst on Integrated Resource Planning. Prior to that, he worked on the RPS program and demand response policy. In his free time he volunteers with the local youth soccer club.
Chief Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CAL FIRE
Chief Daniel Berlant was appointed California’s State Fire Marshal by the Governor in 2023. In this role, he leads the state’s fire prevention efforts, overseeing programs that include building and fire code development, state building inspections, fire protection licensing, wildfire prevention, pipeline safety, and firefighter training and certification. Chief Berlant has served with CAL FIRE since 2001, holding a variety of leadership positions throughout his career.
Andrew Campbell, Vice ChairGoverning Body, Western Energy Markets (WEM)
Andrew Campbell is the Executive Director of the Energy Institute at Haas at UC Berkeley, where he connects the research community with business and policy leaders on energy economics and policy. He also serves on the Governing Body for the Western Energy Markets, advancing grid reliability, cost reduction, and renewable energy integration across the Western U.S. Previously, Campbell worked for energy technology startups Tendril and Sentient Energy, and spent five years at the California Public Utilities Commission advising commissioners on grid modernization, data access, EV charging, and rate design. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker in Citigroup’s Global Energy Group and a reservoir engineer at ExxonMobil. He holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Economics from Rice University and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
Jorge Chacon, Technical DirectorInterconnection Services, Electric Power Engineers
Jorge Chacon is a seasoned professional with over 27 years of experience in Transmission and Distribution Planning, including 25 years at Southern California Edison (SCE). At SCE, he advanced from performing technical studies to leading engineering teams specializing in transmission planning, generation and large load interconnections, and grid modernization. He has deep expertise in planning, permitting, construction, and operation of power systems and has sponsored major projects including the Tehachapi Renewable, Eldorado-Ivanpah, and West-of-Devers transmission projects. An expert in subtransmission and transmission planning, Jorge has shaped interconnection processes at CAISO and developed strategies to meet California’s electrification goals. He is also skilled in addressing interconnection challenges for energy storage and communicating with utilities, developers, and agencies such as CAISO, CPUC, and FERC.
Cathleen Colbert, Senior Director of Western Markets Policy, Vistra Corp
Cathleen Colbert is Senior Director of Western Markets Policy for Vistra Corp.,
where she advocates for capacity, energy, and ancillary service market policies before the CPUC, CAISO, WEIM, and broader western market initiatives. She brings over fifteen years of experience in wholesale energy market oversight, design, and operations.
Before joining Vistra, she was Regulatory Affairs Manager at NRG Energy, supporting its PJM distributed energy resources and western generation fleet. She began her western markets work at FERC, analyzing market manipulation, and later joined CAISO’s market design team, developing more than 30 day-ahead and real-time market enhancements.
Matt Coldwell, Distribution Planning Branch Manager, California Public Utilities Commission
Matt Coldwell is the Distribution Planning Branch manager within the CPUC’s Energy Division. He oversees a broad portfolio of work that includes grid planning, interconnection, energization, microgrids, and transportation electrification. Prior to his work at the CPUC, Matt spent 13 years at the California Energy Commission serving in several different roles, including as a distributed generation analyst, a policy advisor to former CEC Vice Chair Janea Scott, and as the CEC’s demand forecasting manager. Matt was born and raised in northern California and is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento.
Josh Gerber, CEO and Principal Consultant, 33 North Energy
Josh Gerber is CEO and Principal Consultant at 33 North Energy, a San Diego-based firm focused on California’s energy storage sector. Since 2017, he has supported battery manufacturers, BESS developers, and storage operators with regulatory strategy, commercial planning, and technology implementation. His work spans utility-scale and distributed storage projects across a range of use cases.
Before founding 33 North Energy, Josh spent 15 years at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) in senior technical and management roles. There, he led efforts in smart grid development and early utility-scale energy storage projects, helping to shape SDG&E’s approach to grid modernization and clean energy integration.
Siva Gunda, Vice Chair - California Energy Commission
Commissioner Siva Gunda is serving his first term on the California Energy Commission, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2021 and named Vice Chair that September. He is the lead commissioner on energy assessments. Previously, Gunda managed the Demand Analysis Office and served as deputy director of the Energy Assessments Division, which forecasts and evaluates California’s energy demand and supply. Before joining the Commission, he held multiple roles at the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Institute, including director of research. Gunda holds a master’s degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from Utah State University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at UC Davis. A devoted cricket fan and former college team captain, he lives in Davis with his family.
Rahul Kalaskar, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, The AES Corporation
Rahul Kalaskar is a seasoned energy industry professional with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as Sr. Director of Regulatory Policy at AES Corporation’s Clean Energy Business. He has a strong background in decarbonization strategy, clean energy technologies, and power system operations, having previously held key positions at the California Independent System Operator and ISO-New England. Rahul’s expertise spans market design, policy development, and integrating renewable energy and storage technologies into grid operations. He has advocated for clean energy interests at FERC, ISO/RTO, and public utilities across multiple states, focusing on solar, storage, and wind technologies. Rahul holds a Master’s in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor’s in electrical engineering. His work involves advocating for clean energy platforms at regulatory agencies in California and the rest of the WECC and representing AES in Western regionalization efforts and Pathways initiatives.
Dean Kinports, Senior Strategic Policy Manager, San Diego Community Power
Dean Kinports is a Senior Strategic Policy Manager at San Diego Community Power, a Community Choice Aggregator serving
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nearly 1,000,000 customers in the San Diego region. He leads regulatory engagement at the CPUC and CEC, focusing on distributed energy resources, demand response, and flexible load issues. He works to advance policies and programs that deliver clean energy, affordability, resilience, and local community benefits. He brings over fifteen years of experience working in the energy policy space.
Maria Litos, Principal Manager, Energy Procurement & Management, Southern California Edison
Maria Litos is a Principal Manager of Origination in the Energy Procurement & Management organization at Southern California Edison Company (SCE). Maria joined SCE in 2016 and has over 25 years of experience in the power industry. Her responsibilities as Principal Manager of Origination include overseeing competitive solicitations of utilityscale structured transactions through negotiations of long-term power purchase agreements, while ensuring compliance with the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) rules and regulations. More recently, Maria was responsible for overseeing SCE’s Mid-Term Reliability RFO, procuring over 5,700 MW of new generation, including battery storage, long duration energy storage, geothermal and RPS resources. Maria is also responsible for managing SCE’s resource adequacy procurement, among other responsibilities.
Cara Martinson, CESA’s Safety & Permitting Working Group - Public House Consulting
Cara is the President and Founder of Public House Consulting, specializing in clean energy and local government issues. With over two decades of experience in lobbying and government affairs, she represents multiple clean energy trade associations and advises developers on complex legislative and regulatory matters. Before launching her firm in 2022, Cara was Senior Director of Regulatory and Political Affairs for a Fortune 200 renewable energy company, managing its policy portfolio across ten western states. She previously spent 13 years with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), advocating for local governments at the State Capitol on a wide range of policy issues.
In addition, Cara has nearly a decade of local government experience as a Sacramento County planning commissioner, where she reviewed development proposals and shaped key land use decisions.
Judy McElroy, CEO, Fractal Energy Storage Consultants
Judy is CEO of Fractal Energy Storage Consultants, a specialized energy storage consulting firm that provides expert consulting, due diligence, independent engineering, and advisory services for energy storage and hybrid projects. McElroy is a chemist by trade with energy storage consultation services spanning over a thousand engagements globally. McElroy has expanded Fractal’s reach into regulated, deregulated, and emerging markets worldwide, supporting electric utilities, major developers, and financial institutions as they transition into energy storage. McElroy has devoted significant efforts towards creating utility education, awareness, and policy support to enable energy storage technology planning and procurement. Before joining Fractal, McElroy served as the Chief Marketing Officer for two energy storage companies. McElroy was also the co-founder of Fractal EMS, a global energy storage and renewables controls platform with 14 GWh in operations, as well as other energy practices.
John McNamara, Director, Structured Contracts, Clean Power Alliance
John McNamara serves as the Director of Structured Contracts at Clean Power Alliance (CPA), where he oversees the procurement of long-term energy resources to support CPA’s diverse energy portfolio. He leads a team responsible for the origination, negotiation, and management of long-term power purchase agreements, as well as the design and administration of competitive energy solicitations.
With over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, John has held strategic roles focused on procurement and portfolio management for load-serving entities and financial institutions. His expertise spans contract structuring, risk management, and market strategy,
contributing to the advancement of clean energy initiatives across California. John holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida.
Chief Tony Mecham, Chief of CAL FIRE, San Diego County Fire Authority
Chief Tony Mecham has over 30 years of service with CAL FIRE and currently serves as Chief of CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire Authority. He began his career with the U.S. Forest Service before joining CAL FIRE in 1987, advancing through multiple leadership roles across San Diego, Sonoma, and Riverside units. Chief Mecham has extensive experience in wildfire response, urban search and rescue, emergency medical services, and incident management. In San Diego County, he has been instrumental in advancing wildfire preparedness, regional collaboration, and community resilience. He holds degrees in Fire Science and Public Administration, along with a graduate certificate in Fire Protection Administration.
Margaret Miller, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, ENGIE North America
Margaret Miller is currently Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for ENGIE North America and is responsible for advising the company on regulatory and policy matters in organized and bilateral electricity markets across the Western United States and the MISO region. Prior to joining ENGIE, Margaret held various policy and regulatory specific positions in the electric power industry with Avangrid Renewables, Customized Energy Solutions, Brookfield Renewable and the California ISO.
Danielle Mills, Principal, Infrastructure Policy Development, California ISO
Danielle Osborn Mills has over fifteen years of experience on complex energy and environmental challenges in California and the West. As Principal for Infrastructure Policy Development for the California ISO, Danielle leads policy initiatives regarding interconnection and transmission and works to ensure alignment with state, regional, and federal policies and processes. Prior to her work with the California ISO, Danielle
managed political and regulatory affairs for the west for Pattern Energy Group, and served as the California Director of American Clean Power. In both roles, she worked with global leaders in renewable energy to develop clean energy infrastructure and generation. Danielle has a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and her M.P.A. from the University of Washington.
Rohimah Moly, Deputy Director for Energy and Climate, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
Prior to joining GO-Biz, Ms. Moly worked at a consulting firm for energy and climate startups. She served in various capacities at several state agencies including at the California Public Utilities Commission, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and the California State Treasurer’s Office. She is a board member of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project, a civic organization working to increase engagement of Asian Pacific Islander youth in community and public service in California.
Luke Nickerman, Manager, Market and Procurement Policy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Luke Nickerman is a Manager of Market and Procurement Policy at PG&E. Luke covers supply-side issues like Resource Adequacy, Integrated Resource Planning, Renewable Portfolio Standard, Power Source Disclosure, and Power Charge Indifference Adjustment. Luke has worked on Resource Adequacy issues since 2019 and was a leading voice in the CPUC’s redesign of their Resource Adequacy program.
Luke has worked at PG&E since 2010 and has worked in Customer Programs, Grid Integration and Innovation, and Energy Policy and Procurement. In addition to the areas listed above he has worked on a variety of distributed energy resource (DER) issues: costeffectiveness and avoided costs, forecasting, potential studies, program performance benchmarking, and distribution and transmission investment deferrals.
Prior to PG&E, Luke worked at the US Department of Energy (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the International Energy Agency, covering issues like
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energy efficiency and renewable energy, combined heat and power and science and technology policy. He has a master’s from UC San Diego and a BA from Willamette University.
Arne Olson, Senior Partner, Energy+Environmental Economics (E3)
Arne leads E3’s Integrated System Planning practice helping clients navigate changes to bulk electric system operations and investment needs brought about by higher levels of clean and renewable energy production. He has led a number of landmark studies of the feasibility and cost of achieving deep decarbonization and high renewable penetration goals for electric utilities, including studies of 100% renewable and net zero energy systems in New England, California, the Pacific Northwest, Hawai‘i, and Atlantic Canada. His work in electricity market design is helping modernize markets in critical areas such as resource adequacy, ancillary services, and environmental attributes. Other areas of focus include retail rate design, distributed energy resources, and electricity – natural gas coordination.
Arne has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. He is a frequent speaker at energy industry conferences and has provided expert witness testimony in over a dozen jurisdictions. His clients include utilities, asset owners, market operators, government agencies and environmental organizations. Prior to joining E3 in 2002, he served for six years in the Energy Policy Division of the Washington State Energy Office and its successor agencies.
Commissioner John Reynolds, California Public Utilities Commission
Commissioner John Reynolds was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2021 and reappointed in 2022. An attorney and policy advisor with public- and privatesector experience, he has worked across the energy, telecommunications, transportation, and water industries.
A Brown University graduate with a JD magna cum laude from UC San Francisco College of Law, Reynolds has overseen major CPUC proceedings on wildfire safety, energy procurement and cost recovery, demand
response, telecom obligations, renewable standards, and water consolidations. He has also led reviews of PG&E’s rate cases, billing modernization, and the Verizon-Frontier acquisition.
Nationally, he serves on NARUC’s Energy Resources and Environment Committee and Demand Roundtable, and sits on advisory boards for FRI, NUDC, and Enterprise for Youth.
Rob Rezende, Battalion Chief, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
Chief Rezende has been with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for 19 years. He is currently the Battalion Chief assigned as the regional Alternative Energy Emergency Response coordinator. Rob has been an active member of the hazmat team in all ranks since 2008. Rob has two (2) master’s degrees from San Diego State University. He has deployed as a Hazmat Specialist on many natural disaster responses on behalf of FEMA US&R and most recently as a lithium-ion battery expert to support the EPA at the Maui Fires. Chief Rezende has been tasked by San Diego Fire-Rescue to spearhead the fire department’s preparedness in managing lithiumion battery emergencies. He is also a member of the EPA’s Lithium-Ion Battery Task Force and FIRESCOPE’s Lithium-Ion Battery Subcommittee. He sits on several industry panels for battery safety.
Becky Robinson, Director, Market Policy
Becky Robinson is the Director of Market Policy Development at the California ISO, where she leads the ISO’s collaborative efforts to design and evolve its markets.
Prior to joining CAISO, she was a Senior Director of Market Policy at Vistra Corp., where she covered PJM regulatory policy from 2019 to 2022 and was elected as the Vice Chair of the PJM Members Committee. From 2010 to 2019, she was an Economist at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including advising Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur from 2015-2018. She began her career in 2008 in economic consulting at LECG. She holds an MA in Economics from Cambridge University and a BA from Williams College where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Mathematics and Philosophy.
CC Song, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Clean Power Alliance
CC serves as Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs at Clean Power Alliance. CC joins CPA with over a decade of experience in environmental and energy policy in New York and California, with four years at MCE, California’s first community choice aggregator, where she managed regulatory and legislative matters related to resource planning and procurement, and emission calculation and disclosure. Prior to MCE, CC was a program manager for electric vehicle research projects at the Luskin Center for Innovation at UCLA. She was also a fellow at the Greenlining Institute from 2010 to 2011. CC has a BA from University of Michigan, and an MPP from UCLA.
Kathleen Staks, Executive Director, Western Freedom
Kathleen Staks is the Executive Director at Western Freedom, an organization that is working to enable the delivery of low-cost electricity and energy freedom to the West through an efficient and integrated grid system. Kathleen has extensive experience in policy and strategic engagement on a broad spectrum of bipartisan energy issues in the public and private sectors. She has worked in house and as a consultant on government and public affairs for a variety of energy and natural resources companies. Kathleen served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office under Governor Hickenlooper where she worked to broaden the influence and impact of the office by developing and securing bipartisan support for long-term funding while expanding wide-reaching relationships across the energy spectrum. Prior to that, Kathleen was the assistant director for energy and minerals at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, where she developed and implemented oil and gas and mining policy across Colorado in coordination with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, and the Governor’s Office.
Renae Steichen, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, REV Renewables
Renae is the Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for REV Renewables, where for the last 5 years she has been leading
California state policy and ISO/RTO markets policy activities across the U.S. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the clean energy industry with public and private organizations, including regulatory affairs for Southern California Gas Company, policy strategy for the advanced transmission technology company Smart Wires, local and state clean energy economic development consulting, and federal government sustainability policy. Renae has a Master’s of Public Policy from George Washington University and Bachelor’s in Politics and Environmental Science from Drake University.
Nuo Tang, Director of Asset Management, Middle River Power
Nuo Tang is the Director of Asset Management at Middle River Power, where he is responsible for origination and regulatory policy for the company’s California fleet. Nuo has a deep background of resource adequacy in California in managing compliance and optimizing assets. His career spans over two decades at SDG&E and Exelon prior to joining MRP. A key part of his work involves assisting in the energy transition by hybridizing thermal peakers with short-duration storage to maintain reliability while reducing emissions.
Mark Thompson, Senior Director, State Affairs, Form Energy
Mark Thompson is the Senior Director, State Affairs at Form Energy. At Form Energy, Mark engages with state policymakers and regulators to help move forward beneficial markets to unlock the value of multi-day energy storage for customers.
Prior to joining Form, Mark was a Commissioner at the Oregon Public Utility Commission between 2019 and 2023. During his tenure, Mark helped the Oregon PUC reach milestone decisions on early implementation questions around Oregon’s energy decarbonization laws, the state’s involvement in resource adequacy, and reworking the rules and customer protections for lowincome customers. Previous to that, Mark was a legal practitioner on energy regulatory matters. Mark has experience working in the industry for over 20 years, including as the Director of Rates and Regulatory Affairs at NW Natural, and as Staff Counsel for the Public Power Council, focusing on federal energy supply matters.
