Special Keynote Address:
The Ignored Crisis within the Crisis: Why Pumped Storage Hydro Is Critical to Meeting Net-Zero Carbon Goals
Malcolm Turnbull
29th Prime Minister, Australia (2015-2018) and Co-Chair of the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower
Australia’s 29th Prime Minister (2015-2018), the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull AC, had international careers in law, business and the media before entering politics at the age of 50.
Since leaving politics, Mr Turnbull has resumed his business career. He is a senior adviser to KKR and an investor in, and adviser to, many Australian technology businesses. He is a Board member of the International Hydropower Association and Co-Chair of the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower. Mr. Turnbull speaks and writes on a range of issues including cyber security, geopolitics and renewable energy.
Session 1: Plenary Session:
Growth in Waterpower – What’s Happening to Meet Clean Energy Net-Zero Goals?
David Palumbo
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Bureau of Reclamation
David Palumbo is the Bureau of Reclamation’s Deputy Commissioner of Operations. He oversees operations in Reclamation’s five regions, the Native American and International Affairs Office, and Technical Resources, which includes the Technical Service Center, Hydropower Office, Dam Safety Officer/Design, Estimating, Construction, and Research & Development.
Session 1: Plenary Session:
Growth in Waterpower – What’s Happening to Meet Clean Energy Net-Zero Goals?
Special Invited Guest:
Congressman Don Young (Alaska)
Congressman Don Young (Alaska) is the longest serving member of the United States House of Representatives. He was first sworn in as a freshman to the 93rd Congress as Alaska’s sole congressperson and was re-elected to the 117th Congress in 2020 to serve his 25th term. He currently serves as the Dean of the House and is a member of the House Natural Resources and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. He is a longtime supporter of hydropower initiatives.
Session 5: Plenary Session:
Licensing Reform through the Uncommon Dialogue: Changing the Federal Power Act
Special Invited Guest:
Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (New Hampshire)
Congresswoman Annie Kuster (New Hampshire) was first elected to Congress in 2012. She is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she serves on the Health Subcommittee, Energy Subcommittee, and the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee. She is also a member of the House Agriculture Committee, where she serves on the Nutrition, Oversight, & Department Operations Subcommittee, Commodity Exchanges, Energy, & Credit Subcommittee, and Conservation & Forestry Subcommittee. She is a longtime supporter of pursuing smart energy policies, including hydropower.
Women in Waterpower Breakfast (ticket required)
All are welcome to celebrate women in the waterpower industry.
Special Invited Guest:
Congresswoman Kim Schrier (Washington State)
Congresswoman Kim Schrier represents Washington’s 8th Congressional District, which includes much of King, Pierce, Kittitas, and Chelan Counties, and portions of Douglas County.
Prior to being elected to Congress on November 6, 2018, Kim spent her career as a pediatrician in Issaquah, working with children across the Puget Sound region and helping families navigate the health care system. In Congress, Kim uses this expertise to inform her work on issues that improve the lives, health, and wellbeing of children.
Session 9: Plenary Session:
Opportunities and Challenges for Waterpower Globally. What Can We Learn from Successes around the World?
Dr Demetrios Papathanasiou
Global Director Energy & Extractives, The World Bank
Dr. Papathanasiou leads more than 100 professionals at the Global Units of the Energy and Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank. He coordinates the overall strategic direction of the Practice, advances the knowledge and learning agenda for the Bank’s energy and extractives professionals, and oversees corporate reporting, trust funds, and partnerships for the Practice.
A professional Electrical Engineer, Dr. Papathanasiou holds an MSc in Environmental Technology and a PhD in Energy and the Environment from Imperial College in London, UK.
Session 5: Plenary Session Part 1:
Richard Glick
Federal Regulatory Commission Chairman
Named FERC chairman by President Biden in January of 2021, Glick has an extensive background in electricity and renewable energy policy.
Glick will be the featured keynote speaker on Wednesday morning, April 6, at the conference’s general session.
Expect Chair Glick to provide:
- An update on his view of hydropower regulations (including financial assurance, dam safety, and licensing reform)
- His perspective on hydro’s role in a clean energy transition
- The importance of properly valuing flexible and reliable generation in wholesale markets
- His thoughts on how resources who contribute to grid resilience will be compensated in the future
- Answers to questions and opportunities to dialogue with attendees.
Session 4: Plenary Session Part 2:
Amplifying Waterpower’s Messages to Policy Makers – Why It Matters
Chrissy Camacho Borskey
Executive Director, Global Government Affairs and Policy
GE Renewable Energy
Chrissy C. Borskey is the Executive Director for global government affairs and policy for GE Renewable Energy. In this role, Chrissy leads efforts to develop and shape policies impacting the business, to build relationships with foreign and domestic government decision-makers, to support commercial transactions involving governments and to engage in thought leadership. Chrissy works closely with the business to determine ways to drive growth across the renewable energy portfolio, including onshore wind, offshore wind, grid solutions, digital, hybrid (batteries and solar), and hydro. She is actively involved with GE’s Hispanic Forum.
Chrissy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Check Out the Waterpower Week Presenter Lineup
- Tuesday, April 5 2022
Session 1: Opening Plenary Session: Growth in Waterpower – What’s Happening to Meet Clean Energy Net-Zero Goals?
- 8:00 AM
- - 9:30 AM
Session 2A: Legislative ‘Hot Takes:’ Tax Credits for Investment and Production, Climate-Related Bills, and More!
- 9:45 AM
- - 10:45 AM
Session 2B: Finding Financing for Development: Innovative Financing Options for Small Hydro and Marine Energy
- 9:45 AM
- - 10:45 AM
Session 3B: Corporate Buyers of Green Energy — What Do They Need in Order to Consider Buying Electricity Powered by Water?
- 11:00 AM
- - 12:00 PM
Session 3C: A Conversation with Federal Resource Agencies — What’s New? How about New Technology?
- 11:00 AM
- - 12:00 PM
Session 4: Plenary Session: Part 1: Wholesale Electricity Markets; Part 2: Amplifying Waterpower’s Messages to Policy Makers
- 12:45 PM
- - 2:00 PM
- Wednesday, April 6 2022
Session 5: Plenary Session: Part 1: Featured Speaker: Richard Glick, Chair, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Part 2: Licensing Reform through the Uncommon Dialogue: Changing the Federal Power Act
- 9:00 AM
- - 10:30 AM
Session 6A: Hot Legal and Regulatory Topics – Clean Water Act, Financial Assurance, Environmental and Energy Justice, and More
- 11:00 AM
- - 12:00 PM
Session 6C: Conversation with FERC’s Hydro Administration and Compliance Division Director
- 11:00 AM
- - 12:00 PM
Session 7A: DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office: What’s on the Horizon?
- 1:30 PM
- - 2:30 PM
Session 7B: Electricity Markets in the West: Evolving Changes and What They Mean for Hydropower
- 1:30 PM
- - 2:30 PM
Session 7C: Relicensing: Good Practices for Working with Agencies and Stakeholders
- 1:30 PM
- - 2:30 PM
Session 8B: Words That Work – Communicating the Value and Role of Pumped Storage
- 2:45 PM
- - 3:45 PM
Special Keynote Address: The Honorable Malcolm Turnbull, Former Prime Minister of Australia The Ignored Crisis within the Crisis: Why Pumped Storage Hydro Is Critical to Meeting Net-Zero Carbon Goals
- 3:45 PM
- - 4:15 PM
Session 9: Plenary Session: Opportunities and Challenges for Waterpower Globally: What Can We Learn from Successes around the World?
- 4:15 PM
- - 5:30 PM
- Thursday, April 7 2022
Workshop 10A: Project Financing from the U.S. Department of Energy – Working with the Loan Program Office
- 8:00 AM
- - 10:00 AM
Workshop 10B: Communication and Engagement Techniques with Media and with Project Stakeholders
- 8:00 AM
- - 10:00 AM
