Executive Energy Forum 2024 – Responding to the New Era of Load Growth
On November 14th, Constellation hosted its 2024 Executive Energy Forum (EEF), where Constellation and industry thought leaders discussed the evolving energy landscape, strategies for managing record load growth, customer energy consumption strategies and the impact of the 2024 election on the energy industry.
Rising to Challenges in the Energy Sector
Greg Kosier, Director of the Commodities Management Group at Constellation, moderated a discussion with industry leaders on how markets, grid planners and operators are adjusting to significant changes in the energy industry over the past 15 years and in the future. Panelists included Gene Alessandrini, Senior Vice President of Energy at CyrusOne; Robert Joyce, former NSA Cybersecurity Director; and Bill Berg, Vice President of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Constellation. The discussion focused on the major transformations that the energy industry has seen over the past few years, such as the shale revolution, the growth of renewable energy and the rise of LNG development. Factors influencing the future of the industry were also covered, including the rapid growth of data centers, the AI boom, EV demand and reliability and affordability concerns.
The panel highlighted the specific challenges the electric grid faces in meeting this new demand, particularly the need for more dispatchable resources and managing peak demand. They emphasized the importance of flexibility in energy management and the role of AI in energy forecasting and optimization. Additionally, constraints to building new generation resources were addressed, including an electric grid in need of upgrades, slow approvals for new clean electricity projects and finding suitable locations for additional clean energy infrastructure. The importance of data centers in the U.S. from a national security standpoint including overseas data centers and the role of AI for future economic and military advantages was also highlighted.
Powering the Future: Customer-Focused Energy Solutions
Looking at a customer focus, Shoun Sinha, Managing Director at Venture and R&D at Constellation, moderated a panel featuring Samuel Bordenave, CFO at SWITCH; Sean McEvoy, head of Sales & Chief Product Officer at Grid Beyond; Levi Love, Energy Procurement & Analytics at Sheetz; and Abhinav Krishna, VP of Commercialization & Development at Constellation. The discussion was focused on the evolving energy landscape for energy managers, innovative solutions and consumer adaptation strategies that businesses can leverage to meet their energy goals. The panel shared insights on the biggest opportunities for energy consumers, technological advancements and sustainability strategies.
The importance of flexibility in adaptive energy management strategies was emphasized, highlighting how it allows businesses to better respond to dynamic changes in electricity prices and grid conditions. Flexibility in energy management can help reduce total energy consumption, improve energy quality and enhance peak load management capabilities. Additionally, customer panelists offered their experiences with understanding their energy usage and managing their costs effectively.
2024 Election Analysis and Policy Outlooks
The program was concluded with a location-relevant discussion on the 2024 election. This panel featured Amy Harder, Executive Editor at Cipher News; Ron Brownstein, Senior Editor at The Atlantic and Senior Political Analyst at CNN; and was moderated by Bill Loveless, Co-host of the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast and Director of the Columbia Energy Journalism Initiative. The panelists discussed the second Trump administration’s likely impact on energy and climate issues. Focus was primarily held on the energy transition, especially in red states which have been resistant to clean energy initiatives.
Panelists also touched on the potential for increased oil and natural gas drilling, the impact of Elon Musk on the energy landscape and the overall uncertainties facing the industry. They emphasized that these challenges, coupled with the transformative role of AI in energy forecasting and optimization, have the potential to significantly enhance how energy demand and supply are managed.
Constellation’s Commitment to Your Energy Goals
Constellation can help you create and implement a procurement plan to achieve your emissions-free objectives, connecting you with the solutions, strategic relationships and technology you need. To help you develop a plan tailored specifically to your company, we provide you with the expertise and resources you need for success.
Watch our full Executive Energy Forum recording on demand for access to further insights on the future of energy.
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