Joy Alafia, President & CEO, Western Propane Gas Association

Joy Alafia is the President & CEO of the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA), an organization that values propane as part of California’s clean energy economy. Under her direction, the association is focused on the commercialization renewable propane as well as seeking other innovative propane technology developments.

Joy serves as an advisory member for the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program which supports the accelerated development and deployment of advanced transportation fuels and technologies. Her employment history includes the California Association of REALTORS®, CVI Melles Griot, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Joy also currently serves on the Board for the non-profit Building Diversity in Science, an organization committed to increasing the role of underrepresented groups in STEM careers. Joy has a BS in Physics from Spelman College and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Kevin Best, Chairman and CEO, RealEnergy

Kevin Best is an energy developer and majority shareholder of RealEnergy, founded in 2000 by real estate and energy professionals. RealEnergy has developed, built, owned and operated more clean, onsite power plants than any independent power producer in North America. Its fully developed power plant fleet portfolio (~50 plants) was sold to ArcLight/John Hancock Insurance.

RealEnergy is laser focused on developing a portfolio of low/negative carbon microgrids utilizing gas to electricity, electricity to gas including biogas plants producing onsite low carbon and renewable electricity for distributed electric vehicle charging producing recycled dry ice, liquid CO2 and CO2 products for low carbon LEED concrete construction. Food waste processing, renewable natural gas and EPA Class A organic fertilizers from waste are also specified in several current projects.

A pioneer of private equity investments in energy efficiency, onsite power, biogas and microgrids (local energy networks), Mr. Best has 35 years of experience in energy development to successfully build, own and operate hundreds of clean distributed energy systems including solar PV, combined heat and power systems (CHP), energy efficiency projects and now biogas plants for private, public, and institutional owners. His team has interconnected dozens of discreet power plants to the public electric grid in California, New York and New Jersey.

As a well-known authority on distributed generation, energy efficiency, and competitive electric issues, he has served the U.S. Department of Energy to provide peer review of public investments and microgrids. He is regularly invited to speak to many diverse organizations and has testified as an expert witness on behalf of the California Energy Commission before the Public Utilities Commissions.

Michael Boccadoro, President, West Coast Advisors

Mr. Boccadoro has worked extensively for more than thirty-five years in public affairs and government relations. As President, Mr. Boccadoro is responsible for overseeing the firm’s public affairs, regulatory affairs and governmental relations practices. With expertise in agriculture, energy, water, finance, resource planning, and environmental issues, Michael has extensive working relationships with legislators and other public officials involved in these areas. Before launching West Coast Advisors, he served as Managing Director of a trailblazing public affairs and campaign management firm. He also spent seven years as a senior consultant to the California Legislature.

Mr. Boccadoro has been deeply engaged in California’s climate, energy, and environmental policy debates on behalf of the state’s agriculture industries. He has also been instrumental in the development of California’s distributed-renewable energy programs related to bioenergy. He established and continues to lead California dairy methane reduction efforts and the development of programs and policies designed to incentivize these projects.

Mr. Boccadoro received his B.A. in economics and political science from the University of California, Davis.

Jack Brouwer, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine; Director, National Fuel Cell Research Center

Through Dr. Jack Brouwer’s leadership, the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) and the Advanced Power and Energy Program are focusing research, education, beta testing, and outreach on high-efficiency, environmentally preferred energy conversion and power generation technology advancement with fuel cell and gas turbine systems as the principal targets.  Current research projects address ultra-high efficiency and ultra-low emissions high temperature fuel cell systems, integrated hybrid fuel cell gas turbine systems, renewable power intermittency and integration, battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle evaluation and infrastructure development, advanced fuel cell and gas turbine dynamic operations, hydrogen and electricity infrastructure development, and power electronics and energy conversion devices for the smart grid.  Prior to joining UCI, Dr. Brouwer was on the faculty at the University of Utah, a senior engineer at Reaction Engineering International, and a staff scientist at Sandia National Laboratories.

Michael Colvin, Director, California Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund

Michael Colvin is the Director, California Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund. Based out of EDF’s San Francisco office, Michael focuses on building decarbonization, gas utility business models, wholesale electricity markets and transportation electrification matters. Across each of these issues, Michael’s focuses on minimizing investment risk and aligning utility incentives with affordable, clean and safe energy services.

Prior to joining EDF, Michael spent 10 years at the California Public Utilities Commission working on various energy and utility safety matters. Michael was energy advisor to former Commissioners Mark J. Ferron and Catherine J.K. Sandoval. Michael holds a Masters in Public Policy and a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Economics, both from the University of California, Berkeley.

Rob Del Core, Managing Director, Hydrogenics USA, Inc.

Rob Del Core is a seasoned expert in the hydrogen fuel cell and heavy-duty hybrid electric drive systems industry. He has over 19 years engineering experience in system integration and product development for zero emission transport, with a primary focus on hydrogen fuel cell power systems technology. Rob has successfully led more than 20 zero emission drive system programs for hydrogen electric commercial vehicles. One of his signature integration projects was leading an international team of engineers to design and develop the Fuel Cell Hybrid Buses for Transport for London, UK in 2010 at ISE Corp.

In 2012, Rob rejoined Hydrogenics Corp with a mandate to develop the hydrogen heavy duty vehicles market, electrolysis and hydrogen refueling infrastructure market in US. He designed the latest fuel cell power system, CelerityTM and Celerity PlusTM for Hydrogenics, dedicated for heavy duty transportation with the goal to enable commercialization and mass deployment of heavy duty hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, which led to two CEC awards to develop a fuel cell truck and a fuel cell bus with Celerity Plus. He is currently managing Hydrogenics USA facility in Carlsbad California which is Hydrogenics’ US facility to support hydrogen electrolysis projects and multiple hydrogen vehicles projects with imminent deployment of over 20 medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles using Hydrogenics fuel cell powers systems. He is also the originator of the concept of Bundled Fleet and Fuel solutions that can remove the barrier of hydrogen heavy duty vehicle adoption by delivering perfect union of hydrogen generation and matching fleets.

Sean Ebnet, Lead Business Developer, Orsted Markets and Innovation

Sean Ebnet, serves as Lead Developer for Orsted Markets and Innovation. Osted is a partially State owned Danish utility. Over the past decade the company has transitioned itself from a fossil fuels based utility into a renewable energy business and the world’s preeminent wind power developer. Orsted was recently recognized by Global 100 Index as the most world’s most sustainable utility.

Mr. Ebnet is leading the company’s growth and relationships in renewable energy and renewable gas for the North American market. Prior to joining Orsted, Mr Ebnet worked as a Sr. Executive Vice President of a publicly traded energy development company in California where he led the Company’s entrance in renewable energy development and biofuel exports into Europe and Asia. Mr. Ebnet began his career with the Federal Government before moving into the private sector where he worked as a consultant to power utilities and government agencies.

Sean served as the Executive Director of Alternative Energy Investment Group where he was responsible for the screening, research and development of privately funded renewable power projects. He later joined the British utility Drax Power Ltd. as Commercial Director and spearheaded the company’s transition of the 4,000MW coal plant into what is today the largest sustainably sourced biomass power station in the world, and was responsible for building the global fuel sourcing and logistics functions for the company. He combines his global network and depth of knowledge in emerging energy supply markets coupled with a direct understanding of the economics and market demands of domestic and international energy trading.

Dave Edwards, Director and Advocate for Hydrogen Energy, Air Liquide

Air Liquide is a leader in the global supply of hydrogen to mobility markets. Dave is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal and external partnerships with industry, academia, and government entities as needed to advance the technology and business opportunities in Hydrogen Energy for Air Liquide in the US. For more than 20 years with Air Liquide in R&D and Hydrogen Business roles, Dave has responsibilities for Air Liquide’s investment and project efforts in California and Northeast driving towards the adoption of Hydrogen Energy in the transportation and power sectors.

Dave has established R&D programs and executed development strategies in areas of cryogenic air separation, rotating machinery, syngas production, energy, and process engineering and has led hydrogen technology programs in solid state storage, MOF materials, high pressure carbon fiber vessel designs, steam methane reformer catalysis development, high temperature SMR tube development, and small scale hydrogen production systems.

Katrina Fritz, Executive Director, California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative

Katrina Fritz is the Executive Director of the California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative, leading education and outreach activities with the guidance of state agencies and local air districts. She also works with the National Fuel Cell Research Center on state level clean energy policy and market development.

Katrina currently serves as an expert to the European Commission on Horizon 2020 programs for research and innovation. As Principal of KM Fritz LLC, Katrina has provided advisory and consulting services to global industrial firms related to business and communications strategy in distributed energy generation markets. She has held leadership positions in numerous trade associations and on advisory boards including: the U.S. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association; the Alliance for Clean Energy New York; the Pacific Clean Energy Application Center at University of California, Berkeley; the International Energy Agency’s Fuel Cell Working Group; and the Connecticut Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition. Katrina has held leadership positions at ClearEdge Power (formerly UTC Power), Plug Power and Case Western Reserve University, leading strategic planning, government relations, business development, and corporate communications, and also worked in the software industry in Santa Cruz, California and Watford, United Kingdom.

She has a BA degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Angelina Galiteva, Board of Governors, CAISO Founder and Board Chair, Renewables 100 Policy Institute

Ms. Galiteva works to structure and advance the implementation of cutting edge energy policies that reflect the increasing role of renewable energy, storage, energy efficiency, electric mobility and distributed energy technologies worldwide. Ms. Galiteva is currently serving a third term on the Board of the California Independent System Operator Corporation as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors. She is the founder and Chair of the Board for the Renewables 100 Policy Institute and also serves as a Renewable Energy Expert Speaker for the US Department of State. Angelina been sent on numerous missions around the world in this expert capacity.

Ms. Galiteva’s industry experience spans from serving as a Principal at NEOptions, Inc., a renewable energy and new technology product design firm to the utility sector where she worked as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as well as the New York Power Authority. Ms. Galiteva is an attorney and holds a J.D. and LLM Degrees, specializing in Environmental and Energy Law.

Cliff Gladstein, President, Gladstein Neandross & Associates

Mr. Cliff Gladstein is the founder and president of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA). For over twenty-two years, he has been local, state, and national leader in the effort to develop cost-effective policies, programs, and products to reduce pollution from transportation, relieve the nation’s dependence on petroleum, and create innovative public-private partnerships to pursue market-based solutions for environmental problems.

Mr. Gladstein is the founder of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC), the nation’s first and most successful public-private partnership to accelerate the commercialization of clean alternative fuel vehicles in the interstate movement of goods. He has used his knowledge and experience to develop and implement clean transportation and power generation technology deployment programs and incentive programs.

Mr. Gladstein is on the board of the Bioenergy Association of California, chairs the Education Fund of the California League of Conservation Voters, and teaches air quality policy at the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability. He has been an advisor to the University of Southern California’s Sustainable Cities Program and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. He is a graduate of Duke University and holds three graduate degrees from the University of Texas, Austin, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Erin Grizard, Senior Director of Policy, Bloom Energy

Erin Grizard is the Senior Director of Policy at Bloom Energy. Grizard has more than 16 years of experience designing and shaping environmental and energy policy from a multitude of perspectives.

Grizard is a renewable energy and distributed energy generation policy expert. Her multi-faceted governmental affairs experience includes lobbying the legislature and state administrative agencies, and representation before utilities and Fortune 50 companies.

Prior to Bloom Energy, she held positions at The Dewey Square Group, California Public Utilities Commission and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Grizard received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Political Theory from Willamette University, and her master’s degree in Public Policy from George Washington University.

Greg Huynh, Operating Agent Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Greg Huynh manages the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s 100% Clean Energy Innovation group that is currently engaged in several initiatives to bring clean power into the Southern California. Most notably, Greg is spearheading LADWP’s efforts to conduct a comprehensive study of how the City of Los Angeles can get to 100% Renewable Energy. He and his team are also investigating how new technologies such as green hydrogen, compressed air energy storage, and carbon capture, to see how they would fit into LADWP’s clean energy future. Greg has worked on a wide range of projects in the utility industry from design & construction of electrical infrastructure, power plant operations, and planning.

Chelsea Jenkins, Executive Director of Government Affairs, ROUSH CleanTech

Chelsea Jenkins currently serves as executive director of government affairs for ROUSH CleanTech, the alternative fuels division of ROUSH Enterprises. Prior to this recent role change, Jenkins primarily managed school bus activities for the southeast region of the United States since joining Roush in 2011.

Before transitioning to Roush, Jenkins served as the Virginia Clean Cities executive director and as program coordinator for seven years. Jenkins helped grow the Virginia Clean Cities project portfolio from over $1 million in total petroleum displacement projects primarily focused in Virginia to over $20 million in total alternative fuel and vehicle projects covering the southeast and mid-atlantic regions. Jenkins, a recipient of the 2009 Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year award, was inducted into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame in 2011. Jenkins’ career began after a biodiesel project in Malta that later lead to helping establish Valley AIRNow, the air quality outreach program for Winchester and Frederick counties in Virginia.

Jenkins has also worked in several nondestructive evaluation laboratories, including NASA’s Langley Research Center. Jenkins graduated from James Madison University and received her degree in integrated science and technology with a triple concentration in energy, environment, and transportation.

Dan LeFevers, Director of State and Consumer Programs, Gas Technology Institute

Dan LeFevers is currently GTI’s director of state and consumer programs and was previously the vice president of federal public affairs for Waste Management and director of Washington operations for GTI.  LeFevers has over 20 years’ experience with energy policy and projects including extensive collaboration with scientists and engineers to develop, deploy and demonstrate new energy technologies. LeFevers has been engaged with a variety of renewable energy and RNG projects at GTI and recently led the development of a site-specific engineering design for an RNG production facility fueled by California wood wastes. LeFevers has a Bachelor of Arts in speech communications and a Master’s degree in organizational leadership.

Janice Lin, CEO of Strategen, Founder and President of the Green Hydrogen Coalition, Green Hydrogen Coalition

Janice Lin is Founder and CEO of Strategen. She brings over two decades of experience in clean energy strategy, market development, and corporate strategy to the organization. Lin has advised clients globally on clean energy and energy storage strategy. She is the founder of the California Energy Storage Alliance and the Green Hydrogen Coalition. Lin has won numerous industry awards, including the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year Cleanie® Award and the ESA 2013 Phil Symons Energy Storage Award. Lin holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA/BS from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lawrence Lingbloom, Chief Consultant, California State Assembly Committee on Natural Resources

Lawrence Lingbloom is Chief Consultant to the California Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, the Assembly’s primary environmental committee with a broad jurisdiction including climate change, air quality, renewable energy and the California Environmental Quality Act.

Lawrence has served as an advisor to the California Legislature on energy and environmental issues for over 20 years, with primary responsibility for negotiating, drafting and analyzing environmental and energy legislation. Prior to his current position, Lawrence served as consultant to the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications.

During his tenure in the California Legislature, Lawrence has contributed to the formulation and enactment of landmark laws regarding utility regulation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change and consumer protection.

Jenny Lester Moffitt, Undersecretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Jenny Lester Moffitt is a 5th generation California farmer and Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where she was Deputy Secretary from January 2015 – February 2018. Her original appointment by Governor Jerry Brown was confirmed by Governor Gavin Newsom in early 2019. Jenny engages stakeholders on issues that affect ranchers and farmers, including climate change, biodiversity, land use, water policy, and food security.

Prior to joining CDFA, Jenny spent 10 years as Managing Director at Dixon Ridge Farms, her family’s organic walnut farm and processing operation. Growing up on the farm she would later help manage, Jenny learned firsthand the importance of taking care of the land and the people who farm it – and the value of fostering economic growth and well-being. As a farmer and policymaker, Jenny believes that agriculture is critically important to sustaining our environment, rural communities and economy.

While working at the farm, Jenny also served on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. She has been a board member for California Certified Organic Farmers and served on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, the Food Safety Committee of the Walnut Marketing Board and the Farmers Advisory Council for the Organic Trade Association. Previously, Jenny worked for American Farmland Trust.

A proud former 4-H and FFA member, Jenny grew up raising animals and learning about the value of hard work and working together. She is a graduate of Brown University with a degree in Economics, and a graduate of the California Ag Leadership program.

Emily O’Connell, Director, Energy Markets Policy, American Gas Association

Emily O’Connell is the Director of Energy Markets Policy at the American Gas Association, where she also serves as the staff executive of the Sustainable Growth Committee, a member committee focused on advancing opportunities to expand the gas utility model and the direct and distributed use of natural gas. Her work with this committee has heavily focused on the role that renewable gas can play in lowering the carbon intensity of the natural gas pipeline and maximizing the value proposition of gas utilities in a lower carbon future.

Larry Osgood, Consultant, Advisor, Project Development & Optimization, Propane Education & Research Council

Larry Osgood is President of Consulting Solutions, LLC in Monument, Colorado. Consulting Solutions is a business optimization and technology consulting firm focused on the propane industry. The company provides technical and project optimization services to the US Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), focusing on the Research & Development Program including distributed power generation, fuel composition issues and autogas/engine development. Larry provides Autogas coordination & technical assistance for state propane associations. Larry also provides technical & business expertise to companies providing propane engines & propane power generation equipment improving the availability, efficiency & performance of LPG.

Larry is a long-time member of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Engine Power Committee, Research & Development Committee, Services Section, and multiple Sub-Committees and Task Forces of the Technology, Standards & Safety Committee. He also serves on the Governmental Affairs and Supply & Logistics Committees, and is a founding member of the World LP Gas Association, Global Technology Committee.

Larry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance & Economics from California State University, and has completed several advanced business executive and technical management programs.

Lorraine Paskett, Board Member & Chair, Renewable Hydrogen Initiative, California Hydrogen Business Council Discussant

Lorraine Paskett has more than 25 years in the energy, water and environmental sectors with 15 years of focused experience in the energy sector.

Paskett graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1995 and has been a member of the California State Bar since December 1995. She began her legal career as an assistant public defender in Sacramento County, focusing on the juvenile justice and dependency systems. Paskett also worked in state government, serving as senior staff advisor to the Assembly Speaker and Assembly Majority Leader.

In the past 15 years,  Paskett served as a director for a California investor-owned utility leading a team through the California energy crisis, sponsoring a suite of initiatives including energy market reform, climate change policy, renewable energy market development, and corporate tax reforms. She later served as a vice president for a large international solar corporation developing the business, market, environmental and energy regulatory compliance plans for California and the West Coast. She supported strategic growth initiatives for the company through policy and market development efforts.

Paskett served more recently as a senior executive for the largest U.S municipal utility – Los Angeles Department of Water and Power — leading a comprehensive approach for sustainable utility practices and overseeing many divisions and initiatives.

Jeffrey Reed, Advanced Power and Energy Program Chief Scientist, Renewable Fuels and Energy Storage, UCI

Jeffrey Reed is the Chief Scientist – Renewable Fuels and Energy Storage for the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine. In this role, Dr. Reed is focused on advancing the deployment of renewable gaseous fuels and related storage technologies that support the integration of high quantities of renewables on the electric grid, reduce toxic emissions and reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy and transportation sectors.

Jeffrey is board president for the California Hydrogen Business Council and has served on the boards of numerous clean technology organizations. Prior to joining UCI, Jeff was the Director of Business Strategy and Advanced Technology for Southern California Gas Company. In earlier roles, Dr. Reed was a senior strategy consultant, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development with ABB Power Generation and held various positions in product design, development and research in the defense industry. He holds a doctorate in engineering from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in management from Stanford University.

Philip Sheehy, Technical Director, ICF

Bio: Philip Sheehy is a consultant at ICF where he leads work related to decarbonization of the transportation sector, focused on renewable natural gas, liquid biofuels, and electrification. He works with a mix of commercial and public clients to develop strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. Philip earned his PhD in Physical Chemistry from MIT and his Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Chemistry from Kalamazoo College.

Senator Nancy Skinner, , Senate District 9

A social justice advocate and sustainability trailblazer, State Senator Nancy Skinner coauthored last year’s SB 100 to get California to 100% renewable electricity by 2045. In the State Assembly and Senate she’s also authored bills to accelerate the uptake of electric & zero-emission vehicles, expand solar net metering, mandate energy storage so renewable electricity can be deployed when needed, and increase the energy efficiency of buildings built pre-Title 24. In 1990, Skinner co-founded ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and directed ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection program, the first effort to engage local governments in climate awareness and carbon reduction efforts.

Sharon Tomkins, Vice President, Strategy and Engagement, and Chief Environmental Officer, Southern California Gas Company

Sharon Tomkins is vice president of strategy and engagement, and Chief Environmental Officer for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a Sempra Energy regulated California utility. She is responsible for environmental services and developing and delivering the information that meets customers’ energy needs and supports state environmental and social policy objectives.

Tomkins leads the company’s energy policy and strategy, which includes issues management for balanced energy, energy choice, affordability and reliability. Previously, she was SoCalGas’ general counsel.

Tomkins joined SoCalGas in 2010 as regulatory assistant general counsel. Prior to this, she was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where she was a founding member of the firm’s Energy, Natural Resources & Environmental Practice and represented clients in a variety of litigation, regulatory and appellate proceedings. Tomkins’s energy focus began during her representation of various clients, including Sempra Energy, during the California energy crisis. She also developed and taught the law school class, Energy Law, Policy & Climate Change, at UCLA law school. After graduating from law school, Tomkins clerked in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, for the Honorable Danny J. Boggs.

Tomkins is chair of the board of directors of the California Minority Counsel Program. She also serves on the board of directors of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and Constitutional Rights Foundation, as well as the advisory board of the U.C. Davis Energy Efficiency Institute. She is a member of the University of California, Irvine Chief Executive Roundtable and the Los Angeles County Fair Association.

Tomkins graduated Order of the Coif from the USC Gould School of Law and received her undergraduate degree in English, with High Distinction, from Pennsylvania State University.

Hector De La Torre, Gubernatorial Appointee, California Air Resources Board

Mr. Hector De La Torre serves on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a gubernatorial appointee, where he focuses on goods movement, mitigation in impacted communities, and bringing the benefits of new technologies to these communities.

Mr. De La Torre is the Executive Director of the Transamerica Center for Health Studies, a nonprofit focused on empowering consumers and employers to achieve the best value and protection from their health coverage, as well as the best outcomes in their personal health and wellness.

De La Torre is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Occidental College (his alma mater) in Los Angeles and the Board of L.A. Care, the largest public health plan in the United States. De La Torre served as a State Assemblymember for California’s 50th District from 2004-2010. Prior to that, he was Mayor and Councilmember in his hometown of South Gate.