Mid-Term Challenges
The panelists, whoseÌýfull bios are below, representing each of the session topics include:ÌýÌý
Moderator: Bonnie Ram, Director, Ram Consultancy; Associate Director, University of Delaware
Plenary speaker: Jocelyn Brown-Saracino, Offshore Wind Energy Lead, Wind Energy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Atmosphere: Larry Berg, Earth & Biological Sciences Research Line Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
The Turbine: Tim McCoy, Principal Engineer, DNV
Plant and Grid: Brandon Diegel, Director of Wind Operations, Xcel Energy
Environmental: Christian Newman, Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute
Social Science: Bo Downen, Director of Western State Affairs, American Clean Power
Workforce: Chloe Constant, Senior Project Leader National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
ÌýBonnie Ram, Director, Ram Consultancy; Associate Director, University of Delaware, USA: Bonnie RamÌýis the director of Ram Consultancy and a senior researcher and associate director of theÌýCenter for Research in WindÌýat the University of Delaware. For 10 years, she was a strategic advisor on national environmental compliance and stakeholder engagement initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy Wind TechnologiesÌýOffice and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For 2Ìýyears, she was a guest senior researcher at the Danish Technical University's Wind Engineering Department, creating a new division on social sciences and spearheading research collaborations with engineers on siting challenges. Ram's action research focuses on wind energy siting strategies and decision science and building local citizen capacities related to community benefits and environmental risk management.
ÌýJocelyn Brown-Saracino, Offshore Wind Energy Lead, Wind Energy Techologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy: Jocelyn is the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Offshore Wind Lead and has been with the Department for over 13 years.ÌýJocelyn contributed to the establishment of the joint agency 30 GW by 2030 goal and is leading DOE’s subsequent contributions to implementation.ÌýThis includes leading the Department’s offshore wind strategic planning efforts, leading the establishment of new Floating Offshore Wind Shot, leading the initiation of the DOE and BOEM offshore wind transmission efforts, and contributing to the establishment and management of the White House-led Federal and State Offshore Wind Partnership. Prior to assuming her current role, Jocelyn served as program manager for DOE’s Wind Energy Environmental, Siting, Workforce Development and Grid portfolio, and managed the department’s Wind, Ocean Energy, and Hydropower environmental research portfolios. She came to DOEÌýthrough the NOAA Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program.Ìý She holds a master’s degree in marine science from the University of New England and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Smith College. Ìý
Larry Berg, Earth & Biological Sciences Research Line Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): Larry Berg is the Division Director (DD) for Atmospheric, Climate, and Earth Sciences (ACES) Division at PNNL. In this role, he provides overall leadership for the capability stewardship and programmatic execution functions within ACES to support and achieve the PNNL mission and address key science questions for the Department of Energy and other clients.ÌýHe is the Director of a U.S. Departmetn of Energy (DOE) Energy Earthshot focused on floating wind energy, Addressing Challenges in Energy: Floating Wind in a Changing Climate, which is a partnership of both government laboratories and academia. Berg has over 20 years of progressive leadership, research, and management experience in ASGC. He’s worked in projects supported by DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), and DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Wind Energy Technology Office (WETO) and Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO). His work has focused on land-atmosphere interactions, boundary-layer turbulence, clouds, and cloud-aerosol interactions. He has served as PI or Co-PI of several deployments of the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mobile and Airborne Facilities as well as field studies supported by WETO.
Tim McCoy, Principal Engineer, DNV: TimÌýMcCoy is a wind industry veteran with over 35 years of experience. Areas of expertise range from analysis of inflow conditions to structural reliability and include performance analysis and testing, aeroelastic modeling and loads testing, controls development and testing, probability and uncertainty, and evaluation of novel technologies. Much of Mr. McCoy’s career has bridged the research and commercial domains of the wind industry. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering.
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Brandon Diegel, Director of Wind Operations, Xcel Energy:ÌýBrandon Diegel is the director of wind operations for Xcel Energy, responsible for leadership, strategic direction, and operational excellence of the 4.4-gigawatt wind generation fleet across seven states.ÌýOver the last 13 years, he has held multiple operations and engineering leadership roles in various areas of power generation, particularly focused on equipment reliability excellence, asset strategy optimization, machinery diagnostics, and predictive maintenance. Brandon holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. He has held ISO Category IV vibration analyst certification, is a registered professional engineer in the state of Colorado, and is a member of the RMEL Generation committee.
ÌýChristian Newman, Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Christian NewmanÌýhas over 25 years of experience working in the environmental and energy sector. He holds master’s degrees in both qildlife ecology and business. His educational training and professional expertise are as a wildlife biologist focusing on endangered and protected species for the electric power industry. He manages EPRI’s Endangered & At-Risk Species program. He supports the Environmental Aspects of Solar and Wind research programs, where he has also secured over $10 millionÌýin federal (U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory) funding to develop and evaluate wildlife monitoring and fatality reduction technologies for solar and wind. He has applied the ESA, BGEPA, and other protected species regulations and guidelines for the electric power industry, ranging from basic research, negotiating incidental take permits with USFWS, and developing technologies to reduce potential impacts from energy development. He has worked throughout the US and internationally, writing winning proposals and leading teams of universities, NGOs, energy companies, consultants, and government to research or develop innovative solutions for the electric power industry.
Bo Downen, Director of Western State Affairs, American Clean Power (ACP): Bo Downen is the Director of Western State Affairs. In this capacity he oversees ACP’s legislative, regulatory and political affairs in the intermountain west and pacific northwest. Prior to ACP, Bo spent 15 years consensus-building among western electric utilities, tribal sovereigns, and state and federal agencies to advance the long-term sustainability of the Northwest’s power supply. He served as a cabinet member to Montana Governor Steve Bullock advising on regional power and energy efficiency needs and on environmental mitigation matters. Downen serves as a board member to Tainable Regenerative Agriculture, an Oregon nonprofit working to address climate change through carbon sequestration. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Downen lives in the Flathead Valley of his home state of Montana.
ÌýChloe Constant, Senior Project Leader National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): As a senior project leader, Chloe leads NREL’s wind energy workforce development and stakeholder engagement and outreach activities. Prior to joining NREL at the end of 2019, she spent 10 years at E.ON where she worked in various positions in their renewables business, most recently as a director in mergers and acquisitions with a focus on renewables and green energy.
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Learn more about other plenary sessions and the full conference program.
