On May 13, the Council of the Great Lakes Region co-hosted a virtual event focusing on the huge opportunity for renewable energy and storage in the Great Lakes Region.
As the world’s transportation, energy and infrastructure systems all embark on a massive electric transformation, the binational Great Lakes region can become the world’s clean energy leader.
This event, jointly convened by CityAge and the binational Council of the Great Lakes Region through its Great Lakes Economic Forum, looked at how to dramatically expand renewable energy production, storage and distribution, and why it’s such a major business opportunity for the region.
Specifically, this event, held in partnership with the Rochester Business Journal and BridgeTower Media Group, explored multiple themes:
- Electrifying transportation and industry across the region will require twice our current energy production, and vast increases in storage capacity. How can this be accomplished?
- The future of hydro-electric power across the Great Lakes region
- Meeting the supply challenge through a smart mix of renewables, storage and smart distribution
- The emerging roles of hydrogen power and offshore wind: a major economic opportunity for the region
- How electrification can be major force for economic development in underserved communities
- Advanced batteries: commercializing energy storage research
- The major business opportunities in recycling electric batteries
- Modernizing the grid: essential investments to connect every region and unlock clean energy
- Cross-national collaboration: advanced manufacturing thrives across the Canada-US border: how to build vibrant cluster that spans both countries
Agenda
11:30 am Welcome and MC introduction
11:35 am Introductory Comments by: Mark Fisher, CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region
11:40 am Presentation
11:55 am Panel 1: How to Meet the Energy Supply and Storage Challenge
Electrifying transportation and industry across the region will require twice our current energy production, and vast increases in storage capacity. How can this be accomplished? The speakers discussed ways to meet the supply challenge through a mix of renewables, storage and smart distribution.
- Sarah Salati, Chief Commercial Officer, New York Power Authority
- Christina Ficicchia, Manager, Smart Grid Programs, AVANGRID
12:20 pm Presentation by: Dr. James S. Cotton, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University
12:35 pm Panel 2: How Regional Economies Can Seize the New Energy Opportunity
Emerging opportunities in electrification offer major economic development opportunities for cities across the Great Lakes region. The panelists examined how leaders in Rochester, New York seized this opportunity, and what lessons they offer for others.
- Jim Senall, President, NextCorps
- Kunal Phalpher, Chief Commercial Officer, Li-Cycle
- Moderator: Ben Jacobs, Associate Publisher & Editor, Rochester Business Journal
Speakers
- Mark Fisher, CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region
- Sarah Salati, Chief Commercial Officer, New York Power Authority
- John Preston, Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University
- Jim Senall, President, NextCorps
- Kunal Phalpher, Chief Commercial Officer, Li-Cycle
- Ben Jacobs, Associate Publisher & Editor, Rochester Business Journal
- Dr. James (Jim) S. Cotton, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University
- Christina Ficicchia, Manager, Smart Grid Programs, AVANGRID
About CityAge and the Council of the Great Lakes Region’s
Joint Campaign on the Future of the Great Lakes Region
The Great Lakes economy is one of the world’s major trans-boundary economic engines. It is home to more than 100 million people and a six-trillion-dollar economy. If it were a country, it would be the world’s third largest economy.
As the world’s transportation, energy and infrastructure systems all embark on a massive electric transformation, the Great Lakes region can build on its hydroelectric, manufacturing and renewable energy assets to be the world’s energy powerhouse.
CityAge and CGLR, together with Rochester Business Journal and BridgeTower Media, presented “Our Electric Future”–focused on the businesses, people and ideas that are leading new business opportunities in the coming electrification of everything across the Great Lakes region and beyond.
