The EcoCom SIG Presents…
Microgrids provide an opportunity to enhance the way consumers and utilities use energy.  In the right applications microgrids can increase the use of renewable energy, reduce costs, and improve reliability. Microgrids use is beginning to increase across the United States to achieve these benefits. Examples include installations by the military, businesses, universities, and utilities.  The challenges and opportunities are plentiful and will be discussed on this panel.
This panel will bring experts representing San Diego Gas & Electric, the U.S. military, and General Electric.
PANELISTS:
Tom Bialek
Chief Engineer – Smart Grid, SDG&E
Tom received a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1982 and 1986 respectively. He also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 2005. He is currently employed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (“SDG&E”) as a Chief Engineer on the Smart Grid Team. His present responsibilities involve smart grid strategy and policy for transmission and distribution issues including equipment, operations, planning, distributed generation and development of new technologies. He is also the Principal Investigator on DOE and CEC funded Micro Grid projects. He has held various positions with other North American utilities and equipment manufacturers since graduating in 1982. His experience includes electric utility design, planning and operation and equipment design, development and manufacturing. Tom is an IEEE Power Engineering and Dielectric and Electrical Insulation Society member. Tom was also the former Failure Mechanism Technical Committee Chair and Secretary of the Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society and Working Group Member for Surge Arresters. Tom is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. He is also a registered Professional Engineer, Electrical Engineering, in the State of California. He has authored several papers on surge protection of equipment and testing of cables.
Bernie Lindsey
Regional Energy Program Manager, NAVFAC SW
Mr Lindsey works for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest, and serves as the Regional Energy Program Manager for Navy Region Southwest. He is responsible for developing and executing shore energy programs and informing Installations under the command of the Region on energy management policies. Â He is the technical advisor to the Regional Commander on shore energy program issues related to shore infrastructure energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy system strategy development. He is a key player on the management team that tracks and reports progress towards the many Federal Government, DoD and Department of Navy goals and requirements associated with energy efficiency, renewable energy development and water conservation. Mr. Lindsey previously served as the Regional Utilities & Energy Program Manager for Navy Region Japan and NAVFAC Far East during the period 2003-2005. During the period 1996-2003 he served in various NAVFAC Southwest project management positions associated with facilities design & construction, utilities, energy, and environmental characterization and cleanup initiatives in support of Marine Corps facilities in the Southwest.
Steven Rowe
Digital Energy Projects Commercial Leader, General Electric
Steven joined GE upon graduation in 1974 and completed the Transmission & Distribution Application Engineering Program in 1978. From 1978 to 1998, he held various application engineering roles within GE’s Utility Sales organization. During this period, he was intimately involved with utility equipment specifications, equipment applications, and systems solutions. This includes: circuit breakers, transformers, shunt capacitors, static var systems, high voltage DC, series capacitors, protective relaying and communication systems, excitation system and sub-synchronous resonance studies and mitigation. Steven left GE in 2000 to work in his own business. He rejoined GE in 2008. From  May, 2008 through April, 2010, Steven was a protection and control engineer and lead engineer on substation retrofit projects with GE’s Substation Projects Team in Chicago, Il. In May 2010, he became a Projects Commercial Leader for Substation Projects – Southern Region with responsibility for utility customer substation projects and market development. In addition, he was responsible for leadership of GE’s Integrated Energy Management Solutions for industrial & commercial projects. In November 2010, responsibility for Microgrid Control Solutions and Fast Load Shedding Projects was added to his IEMS responsibilities. Steven has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan and a Master’s of Science Engineering from Union College, Schenectady, New York.
MODERATOR:
Vic Romero
Director – Asset Mgmt & Smart Grid Projects, SDG&E
Vic Romero is the Director of Asset Management and Smart Grid Projects for San Diego Gas & Electric. Vic is responsible for SDG&E’s Distribution Planning, T&D Asset Management Technical Analysis, R&D Projects and implementing key SDG&E Smart Grid Projects, including OMS/DMS, Condition Based Maintenance for Substations, and the Borrego Springs Microgrid Project. He has 35 years of utility experience, primarily working in Distribution, Transmission, and Substation construction, maintenance, and operations. He has also worked in Distribution Planning and Distribution Engineering. He is a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in the State of California. He is a 1977 graduate in Electrical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
SIG CO-CHAIRS:
Maria Sendra, Partner, Jones Day
Joel Garcia, Founder & Partner, CM Tech Partners
Thomas Hartman, Founder & President of Leaders/BoardsAssociates
Vic Romero, Director, Asset Mgmt & Smart Grid Projects, SDG&E
Mark Bowles, Chief Marketing Officer & Founder, EcoATM
Steve Alexander, President, STA & Associates
DATE:
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
TIME:
5:30PM Registration/Networking/Refreshments
6:00PM Program Begins
7:30PM Program Ends
LOCATION:
3580 Carmel Mountain Road Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92130
COST:
Pre-Registration: (Please pre-register by noon on 3/18/13)
$10.00 – CommNexus Sponsor
$20.00 – Non-Sponsor
FREE –Â Mentor Sponsor
At the Door:
$20.00 – CommNexus Sponsor
$30.00 – Non-Sponsor
FREE –Â Mentor Sponsor
Students, Military & Press: FREE
SIG EVENT SPONSORED BY:
