Wednesday, May 6

W1: Financial Models and Incentives
Moderated by Gerald Susman, Smeal College of Business
Room 106
The affordability of solar energy has improved due to state and federal programs. This session will explain existing policies and key aspects of obtaining funding for solar systems.

Pennsylvania Incentives Overview—David Shimmel, Pennsylvania DEP, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment
Understanding Renewable Energy Credits—Gary Lakritz, Knollwood Energy, LLC
Lessons Learned in Residential Solar Financing—Charles Thurston, CA Solar Consultant
Pooling Solar Incentive Resources—Robb Jetty, Recurrent Energy

W2: Building a Solar Business
Moderated by Lisa Brown, Penn State Center for Sustainability
Room 107
Early market participants have laid the groundwork for building new businesses in the solar energy market. This session will present case studies of solar business development.

Solar Entrepreneurship—Steve Buerkle, SunGlow Energy
Pennsylvania Solar Portfolio Requirements: Costs and Benefits—Sonny Popowsky, Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate
Networks for Solar Businesses—Maureen Mulligan, Maureen Mulligan Communications Consulting
A Technology Company in a Project Finance World—C. Baird Brown, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP

W3: Solar 101
Moderated by Nancy Franklin, Penn State Outreach
Room 104
Misconceptions about solar energy are a prime barrier to market growth. This session will explain the basic attributes and limitations of both solar PV and solar thermal energy systems on buildings.

Solar Energy Conversion—Jeffrey Brownson, Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State 
PV Systems—Jeff Gilbert, groSolar
Solar Thermal Systems and Applications—Chris Lehmann, Envinity  
Barriers to Solar Advancements—Darrell Brubaker, PASolar.org

W4: Solar Technology Pipeline
Moderated by Ken Jenkins, Penn State Department of Electrical Engineering 
Room 109
This session will provide an opportunity for participants to see and touch solar PV and solar thermal systems. An overview of trends in new technologies will also be provided.

PV Technology Development—Steve Costantino, Maiella Enterprises, Inc.
Energy Efficiency Systems—Dan Desmond, Peregrine Partners
PV Roofing Integration—Dick Gillenwater, Carlisle-Syntec 
(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)

Improvement in Modules and CSP Systems—Jim McCamy, PPG Industries, Inc.  

Thursday, May 7

Breakout sessions

A1: Selecting Financing Strategies and Policies
Moderated by Tom Hughes, Penn State Applied Research Lab
Room 106
A myriad of financing options are surfacing as solar energy becomes affordable. This session will focus on the variable types of solar financing and their relationships to energy policy development.

Implementation of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act with Regards to Financing Solar—Eric Matheson, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Solar Incentives and Possible Future Financial Tools—Roger Clark, The Reinvestment Fund
Commercial Financial Sources for Solar—Gary Kleiman, Gemstone Group

A2: Business Development—Lessons Learned 
Moderated by Lisa Brown, Penn State Center for Sustainability
Room 107
Many contractors and businesses will be needed to respond to the growing demand for solar energy systems. This session will discuss keys to success in the development of new solar businesses.

Electrical Contractor Case—Timothy Ehmann, O'Connel Electric Company 
Roofing Contractor Case—Ted Middleton, Tecta America
Home Builder Case—Don Bradley, Solar Strategies, Inc.
Urban Solar Case—Andrew Kleeman, Eos Energy Solutions

A3: Workforce Development 
Moderated by Maria Kirby, Penn State Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Room 108
Rapid growth of solar energy systems will require significant efforts to train and certify a qualified solar energy workforce. Issues of certification, training, and impacts on new "green collar jobs" will be discussed.

Responding to the Training Demand—Bernie Kotlier, California LMCC
Training Options and Strategies—Tyler Breiner, Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Developing a Green Workforce—David Passmore and Rose Baker, Penn State
Green Collar Job Growth—Hillary Bright, Bluegreen Alliance
Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board's Energy Initiative—Steven Wolf, Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board

A4: Getting Connected—Navigating Interconnection Rules 
Moderated by Jeffrey Brownson, Penn State Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering
Room 109
This session will focus upon the requirements of interconnection rules, protocols, building codes, and zoning approvals that govern grid-connected solar energy systems.

Renewable Energy Market Overview—Brent Beerley, Iberdrola 
The Four Steps to Interconnection—Ron Celentano, Celentano Energy Services
Green Energy and Interconnection Lessons Learned—Steve Gabrielle, PPL  

Plenary speakers  
Moderated by Tom Richard, Director, Penn State Institutes for Energy and Environment
President's Hall III and IV

Preview of PV America—John Stanton, Executive Vice President, Solar Energy Industry of America
Solar Policy Innovation—Chris Ross, Pennsylvania State Representative 158 District
Portfolio Standards: Driving Solar Forward—James Cawley, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Breakout sessions

B1: Policy Directions   
Moderated by Eleanor Schiff, Penn State Office of Workforce and Economic Development
Room 106
New and existing utility rate programs and environmental policy will continue to improve the business case for solar energy. This session will examine the impacts of pending programs that are being implemented across the United States.

Lessons Learned: The Past, and other Regions—Mike Love, Pennsylvania Energy Trade Association
Energy and Policy—Brandi Colander, Natural Resources Defense Council
Solar Policy Development—Craig Silvertooth, Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing
Growth of Renewable Energy Credits—Adam Stern, Gemstone Group

B2: Building Integration—Solar and Energy Efficiency    
Moderated by Lisa Lulo, Penn State Department of Architecture
Room 107
The solar market is evolving quickly. One trend is the integration of financial and service markets as well as the inclusion of energy efficiency improvements with solar energy financing.  These trends will be examined in this session.

Public Facilities and Solar—Maureen Guttman, AIA, Governor's Green Gov. Council, DEP
Energy Management Basics for Buildings Including Renewable Energy—Steve Gabrielle, PPL
Energy Efficiency Design Integration—Rich Madeira, Vice President of Enginuity Energy LLC
Green Building Solar Integration—Dan Orzech, President, Earth Rising Homes

B3: Education Programs and Challenges     
Moderated by Andy Lau, Penn State Center for Sustainability
Room 108
The cost-effective deployment of solar energy will require informed consumers, local governments, and the design and construction professionals. This session will focus on the educational challenges faced in the broad implementation of solar energy.

Solar Engineering Education—Mike Barnes, Ineedsolar.com
Conveying the Solar Resource and Designing Solar Conversion Systems—Jeffrey Brownson, Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State (Part 1) (Part 2)
Graduate Education in Science and Materials: Preparing Students for the Revolution in Solar Technology—Tom Mallouk, DuPont Professor of Chemistry, Penn State
Solar and Energy Efficiency Initiatives at Penn State—Roland Le Roux and Sarah Klinetob, Penn State

B4: Grid/Utility Impacts     
Moderated by Sarma Pisupati, Penn State Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering
Room 109
Changes in utility rate structures and connectivity will continue to improve the business case for solar energy. This session will examine the issues and impacts of grid connectivity, smart meters and smart grid initiatives, and the impact of electric vehicles on the solar market.

Advancing the Smart Grid—Yvette Brown, Viridity Energy
Grid Connectivity—Ken Huber, PJM
Plug-in Car-Home Economics—Joel Anstrom, Larson Transportation Institute, Penn State
Solar and Utility Grid Connectivity—Seth Blumsack, Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State