Energy Summit 2024

Overview

The APAICS Energy & Sustainability Summit brings together industry and community leaders alongside Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander members of Congress to discuss top-line energy concerns that are affecting the nation and AA & NH/PI community at-large.

Panel topics can range from AA & NH/PI representation in the energy sector, challenges and opportunities with the energy transition, the future of mobility and transportation, as well as the potential effects of new energy infrastructure legislation, and what our partners are doing to adapt to these changing conditions.

The 2024 Energy & Sustainability Summit will take place VIRTUALLY on July 24, airing on YouTube and Facebook Live. Read below for an overview of featured speakers, panelists, and panelists who will be featured at this year's summit.

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Featured Speakers

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The Hon. Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Env

Christine Harada, Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Panels

Thinking Outside the Box: the Future of Renewable Energy and Infrastructure

The maturation of clean energy policy, technology, and finance has paved the way for a sustainable future. But how does it impact our energy infrastructure plans in this transition? A "grid equity" lens can help to understand disparities in distribution grid reliability, involuntary disconnection from service, and hosting capacity for distributed energy resources, among other factors. To ensure a just transition, equity metrics need to inform how energy infrastructure is planned, how resources are deployed, and how utilities and developers are incentivized to deploy capital. Additionally by leveraging investments and policy frameworks, there is an opportunity to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster the growth of clean energy sources. This session will highlight the feasibility and economic viability in transitioning to renewables and within the infrastructure of our grid.

Panelists:

Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Anna Nguyen, NOLA Office of Resilience & Sustainability
Jason Shyung, Southwest Airlines
Lynda Tran, Lincoln Room Strategies
Jean Lee, A&O Shearman (Moderator)

Climate Resilience and Energy Equity

In the face of escalating weather events that are placing our energy infrastructure at risk, we all have an important role to play in advancing decarbonization efforts. As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, there's a growing emphasis on building resilience and adapting to changing environmental conditions.This session will discuss grid resilience efforts by sharing insights of climate change’s effect on energy stability, and exploring the role of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). During this session, panelists will discuss what’s in store as we work towards a resilient future. This discussion will cover the role of renewable energy sources and storage in enhancing resilience, the effect ‘new’ technologies have on traditional planning and operations, and explore the significance of environmental justice and underserved communities.

Panelists:

Rep. Elle Cochran, Hawai’i House of Representatives
Tammy Tran, Southern California Edison
Violet Wulf-Saena, Climate Resilient Communities
Em Nguyen, ABC News (Moderator)

Energy Diversification in Transportation

The transition to sustainable transportation is a significant topic in energy and sustainability. As we drive toward a carbon free future, there is a pressing need to coordinate transportation planning and development in a way that supports companies and consumers to make the transition to cleaner sources of energy. This panel will explore how coordinated planning and investment can support innovation, maximize project budgets, yield grid solutions that build value beyond just transportation, and improve our communities.

Panelists:

Rep. Trish La Chica, Hawai’i House of Representatives
Sarah Chou, Southwest Airlines
Prateek Joshi, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Jumana Master, Delta Airlines
Dr. Jenny Liu, Portland State (Moderator)

Innovation in Energy Policy and Production

This panel will evaluate the effectiveness of policy frameworks, regulatory incentives, and legislative initiatives in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy, fostering innovation, and overcoming barriers to renewable energy adoption.The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provide many opportunities for the AA & NH/PI and other communities to participate in the energy transition.The IIJA authorizes $1.2 trillion in spending for transportation and infrastructure, which will help increase resilience to climate impacts. More than $7.5 billion of these funds will support the buildout of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, while an additional $43 billion in flexible spending could be used for battery manufacturing, Under the IRA, approximately $47 billion is eligible to support the widespread adoption of EVs and there is a $7 billion plus investment in hydrogen to create seven regional hydrogen hubs. This session will provide insights into the implementation, challenges, and transformative potential of leveraging the IRA and IIJA to foster economic stability and growth in local communities.