The Illinois Renewable Energy Conference will feature plenary session speakers of interest to all areas of renewable energy, plus breakout sessions in tracks on policy, technical information, and case studies for:
REGISTER NOW at the Early Bird Rate $50 per person.
Click here to register online and pay with your CREDIT CARD. (If you prefer to pay by CHECK, click here for the registration form to complete and return with your payment.) Regular registration rate $70 begins June 1st, late registration rate $90 begins July 1st. No refunds will be provided after July 9th, though name badge changes will be accepted through July 14th.
EXHIBIT SPONSOR Apply to be an exhibit sponsor at the conference, the cost is $1,000 and includes an exhibit table space with a 6' skirted and covered table, two chairs, and two complementary attendees. Space is limited, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the EXHIBIT SPONSOR link above to apply.
(A Reception or Meal Sponsorship is also available for $2,500, contact Janet at jniezgoda@ilstu.edu for more information.)
HOST HOTEL Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 201 Broadway Avenue in Normal, IL, has offered a special rate on their hotel rooms for this conference. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first served basis, and must be made before June 24, 2015. Click the Host Hotel link to reserve your room online.
SPEAKERS SCHEDULED INCLUDE*
LISA ALBRECHT is a volunteer board member for the ISEA, serving from 2007 - 2010 and then from 2012 to present. She is the co-chair for the Policy Committee working to advance state and local legislation regarding incentives programs, permitting, net metering and interconnection. She has worked at Solar Service, a premier design/installation company in the Chicago area, as a Renewable Energy Specialist since 2007 where she assists homeowners and businesses analyze their opportunities to implement solar hot water and photovoltaic technology.
Lisa’s knowledge of solar, along with her long experience in solar sales, training and speaking, has made her a recognized leader in solar energy. She was named a “Solar Hero” by the American Solar Energy Society for her work on the National Solar Tour. From her first science fair project in the 7th grade, to lobbying in the halls of the U.S. Congress and Illinois State Senate, Lisa’s passion for the environment is only superseded by her commitment to providing families and companies, large and small, with the best the sun has to offer.
KEVIN BORGIA is an experienced advocate for clean energy at the state and federal levels. He co-founded the Illinois Wind Energy Association, a non-profit trade group that represented many of largest companies in the windpower business in one of the nation’s most important markets. IWEA merged with regional advocacy group Wind on the Wires in late 2011, and he continues promoting wind and solar power as part of the WOW staff. He has secured significant policy victories for clean power in Illinois, including new tax incentives and stable tax structures for wind development, improved markets for renewables under the Illinois Power Agency, better permitting regulations for wind farms, and new support for the federal wind energy production tax credit.
JOHN FREITAG is executive director of the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois, the statewide trade group for the geothermal heat pump industry. He was instrumental in forming the GAOI in 2008, served on the initial board of directors as secretary/treasurer, and has been executive director since 2010. He also works as VP-Operations for the Assn. of IL Electric Cooperatives, where he’s been since 1985. Freitag has been involved in the geothermal heat pump industry for 20-plus years and has had a geo system in his home since 1999. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), as recognized by the American Society of Association Executives, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is an expert on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
FRED IUTZI manages programs in agriculture, energy, sustainability, and cooperatives for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University (WIU). He is chair of the Illinois Biomass Working Group, vice chair of the Agricultural Watershed Institute, a gubernatorial appointee to the Illinois Ethanol Research Advisory Board, and a steering committee member of Heating the Midwest with Renewable Biomass and of the Illinois Wind Working Group. Iutzi received an MS in sustainable agriculture and agronomy from Iowa State University and a BA in geography from the University of Missouri, and is a Certified Crop Adviser and a Professional Community and Economic Developer. He resides in rural Hancock County, IL, where he assists with his family's cash grain farm. Founded in 1989, the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs is the state's designated academic clearinghouse for rural development research and initiatives. Information on IIRA programs is available at IIRA.org.
DAVID LOOMIS, PH.D. , is Professor of Economics at Illinois State University where he teaches in the Master’s Degree program in electricity, natural gas and telecommunications economics. Dr. Loomis is Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Executive Director of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies. As part of his duties, he leads the Illinois Wind Working Group under the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Loomis is part of a team of faculty that has designed a new undergraduate curriculum in renewable energy at Illinois State University. Dr. Loomis earned his Ph.D. in economics at Temple University. Prior to joining the faculty at Illinois State University, Dr. Loomis worked at Bell Atlantic (Verizon) for 11 years. He has published articles in the Energy Policy, Electricity Journal, Review of Industrial Organization, Utilities Policy, Information Economics and Policy, International Journal of Forecasting, International Journal of Business Research, Business Economics and the Journal of Economics Education.
LESLEY McCAIN has been the Illinois Solar Energy Association’s (ISEA) Executive Director since April 2012, and served on the ISEA Board of Directors from September 2009 until April 2012. As ISEA’s Treasurer she sat on the Executive Board from 2009 to 2010. Previously, Lesley was the Midwest Director of Business Development for Community Energy Inc.,(CEI) where she worked since June 2005. She began with CEI as the Residential Program Manager for the award winning City of Naperville Renewable Energy Program, and in January, 2006 added corporate and industrial sales to her responsibilities. Lesley is passionate about renewable energy and is excited to have the opportunity to help transition Illinois to our clean energy future. Lesley holds a BA from Northern Illinois University in Communication Studies and a Yoga Alliance certified instructor.
STACEY PARADIS is the Executive Director of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and is responsible for overseeing the operations of MEEA’s 25 person staff and $6 million budget. MEEA is a membership-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting sustainable economic development and environmental preservation through a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest. Stacey has been with MEEA since 2008. Most recently serving as Deputy Director where she was responsible for MEEA’s public policy, membership, corporate and foundation fundraising, marketing, organizational conferences and events, and PR. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the government relations, public affairs and non-profit management. Prior to MEEA, Ms. Paradis was a Government Relations and Policy Consultant for the YMCA of the USA managing the state and local advocacy programs for states in the Midwest and South. Earlier in her career, Ms. Paradis was the Director of Public Affairs for Orbitz LLC leading the issues management team as the organization underwent reviews by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Transportation. She started her career in Chicago working with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as a Government Relations Manager managing the organization’s work in environment, transportation and economic development. Ms. Paradis has a Masters’ degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree (BA) in political science from Loyola University Chicago. She lives in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood with her husband, Brock, and two sons, Maxwell and Emmit and serves as the Chair of the Hamilton Elementary Local School Council and as Vice President of West Lakeview Neighbors.
ANTHONY STAR was appointed Director of the Illinois Power Agency by the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission in March, 2013. His responsibilities include overseeing the development and implementation of plans to procure electricity and renewable energy resources for residential and small commercial customers who take supply service from Ameren or ComEd. Prior to his appointment he served as a Policy Advisor to two Chairmen of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Before entering government service Anthony spent thirteen years at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in a variety of roles working on energy policy and environmental sustainability, culminating in the position of Director of Policy and Evaluation for CNT Energy. He helped develop and implement the nation’s first residential real-time pricing program as well as community-based energy efficiency and demand response programs. Anthony holds a BA in History and an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, serves as the Treasurer of the Chicago Recycling Coalition, and is a past Board Member and Treasurer of the Illinois Environmental Council. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.
SARAH WOCHOS is the Midwest Co-Legislative Director at the Environmental Law and Policy Center. She works to encourage clean energy development, energy efficiency, and global warming solutions throughout Illinois and the Midwest. She previously worked on energy policy at the Council of State Governments – Midwest and health policy at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.
*More conference program details and speakers will soon be provided. Schedule subject to change.
The Center for Renewable Energy, Illinois State University, Illinois Wind Working Group, Illinois Solar Energy Association, Geothermal Alliance of Illinois, Illinois Biomass Working Group, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, their members, board members, directors, agents, and other representatives expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information posted on this site, directly or via a link, authored by others. Any person that relies on any such information does so at his or her own risk, and shall not attempt to hold the representatives liable or responsible in any way.
No audio or video taping is allowed at The Illinois Renewable Energy Conference without expressed written consent by the host organizations and the speakers.
© Illinois Science and Technology Coalition
Illustration by Dieter Braun
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