Registration Open for the California Energy Commission’s EPIC Symposium
The California Energy Commission will hold its fourth annual Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Symposium Feb. 7, at the Sacramento Convention Center. It will be co-hosted by Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric. The symposium is a forum for industry leaders, innovators, builders, entrepreneurs, students and others to discuss clean energy research, advances, and challenges and to learn more about cutting-edge strategies that are helping to transform California’s electricity system and protect the environment.
The EPIC program was established in 2011 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to support clean energy research. About $160 million is invested annually for projects that improve the energy efficiency of buildings, make the electrical grid more reliable, enhance the integration of renewables, advance the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure, and improve water and energy management. Many of the recent grant recipients will be on hand during the event to discuss their projects.
The symposium will feature panels covering a broad array of topics including: zeroing in on highly efficient buildings, improving power system resilience for disaster recovery, accurately forecasting to support the modern grid, scaling-up energy solutions for low-income customers, increasing uptake of demand response technologies, and energy technology solutions for food production.
Panelists will include representatives from the Energy Commission, CPUC, investor-owned utilities (IOUs), business and industry, environmental organizations, academia and government.
State Sen. Nancy Skinner, who has been heavily involved in legislative actions to increase clean energy, reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency across the state will provide the opening keynote address.
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross will moderate a panel sessions on food production, and CPUC Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves will moderate a panel examining energy solutions for low income customers.
The EPIC program is funded by ratepayers from the state’s three largest IOUs and is administered by the Energy Commission along with the IOUs.
The symposium is free and open to the public. Lunch options are available. For more information or to register, visit the EPIC Symposium web page.
