Thursday, June 12 at 9:45 am
Small group workshops designed to stimulate thought leadership discussions, provide valuable "take home" implementable knowledge as well as forge meaningful industry relationships.
Rate Design for Efficiency & Affordability
Electric bills are increasing throughout the Northeast because of aging infrastructure, grid modernization, and volatile fossil prices. Increasing costs imperil the success of building decarbonization efforts and create even greater energy burden for low-income and communities of color. States in the Northeast are using different strategies to address these challenges, including enabling electrification through the adoption of time-of-use rates and heat pump-only electric rates, and curtailing energy burden by adopting percentage of income payment plans and low-income discount rates. They are also implementing other safeguards for vulnerable customers, such as disconnection protections and arrearage management plans. This session will provide an overview of the varied strategies, how the strategies are tied to energy efficiency program delivery, and what has been learned so far.
Rachel Gold, Senior Principal of Carbon-Free Electricity, RMI
James Van Nostrand, Chair, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Mining Data to Promote Energy Affordability
Energy efficiency helps customers lower bills, but how do we ensure upgrades reach those who need it most? This session will explore how energy efficiency programs can serve as energy affordability programs by leveraging data, engaging with customers most in need, and designing programs that can better serve these customers. This session will feature a discussion of innovative program design and how states are retooling their programs to better identify and serve customers with the highest need.
Bahareh van Boekhold, Senior Managing Consultant, ILLUME Advising
Carmen Best, Chief Policy Officer, Recurve
BPS : Community Progress, State Action
Building performance standards (BPS) are being deployed across the nation to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings. BPS are mostly established at the city level, with just a few states taking action to adopt them (MA, CO, and MD). When cities move ahead without the state, this poses some challenges as multiple BPS policies within a state create a confusing patchwork of different regulations for building owners with properties in multiple jurisdictions. This session will explore the benefits of state-level BPS adoption, examine the consequences of overlapping and sometimes inconsistent state and local BPS policies, and address how local progress can facilitate statewide action.
Mortgage Meets Mission: Financing Multifamily Upgrades
Financing sustainability upgrades in multifamily housing can be complex, with funding often coming from a patchwork of sources, each with its own requirements. But a simpler path exists—one that leverages the traditional affordable housing finance system to support both preservation and decarbonization. This session will break down how developers and property owners can tap into existing capital sources—such as first mortgages and direct-injection funding models like the NYS Clean Energy Initiative—to integrate sustainability measures more seamlessly. By aligning clean energy goals with standard financing tools, the industry can better navigate the financing landscape to more quickly and cost-effectively deliver affordable, energy-efficient housing at scale.
Atalia Howe, Senior VP of Program Management, The Community Preservation Corporation
Esther Toporovsky, Executive Director, Community Sustainability Partners