Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2019

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Advanced energy industry, policy

“We need a market-based process where new technology is phased in according to the price.” Ted Thomas, Chairman Arkansas Public Service Commission

makers convene for annual conference Katie Niebaum , Executive Director Arkansas Advanced Energy Association Little Rock – The level of activity at the Arkansas Public Service Commission is “exciting, bordering on chaos,” the Commission’s Chairman Ted J. Thomas jokingly told attendees of emPOWERing Arkansas 2019 , the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association’s 8th annual meeting and policy conference held October 8 th at Heifer International. The Commission is currently overseeing multiple regulatory proceedings with significant market implications for Arkansas’s advanced energy industry. In his remarks before the crowd of nearly 200 industry stakeholders – business leaders, utility executives and other government officials and staff members – Thomas described his vision of the “rules of the road of a new competitive market.” “We need a market-based process where new technology is phased in according to the price,” Thomas said. He also noted, “Entrepreneurs won’t play in a blind spot. We need visibility into the distribution system.” In addition to Thomas, AAEA’s annual conference featured several speakers addressing timely policy topics.

Karl R. Rábago, a former Texas Public Utilities Commissioner and regulatory consultant for AAEA, served as the keynote luncheon speaker. He called on Arkansas energy stakeholders to help “modernize the grid because we can get more out of it.” In separate remarks, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Becky W. Keogh noted that 32 projects have been executed or are under development through the Arkansas Energy Performance Contracting program, managed by the department. The total contract value of $350 million will save $20 million in taxpayer funds this year alone, Keogh said. Additionally, attendees heard from a panel of speakers examining the “game- changing” impact of the Solar Access Act, a top legislative priority for AAEA that earned strong bipartisan in the 2019 legislative session. Bill sponsor Senator Dave Wallace, Walmart Senior Manager of Energy Services Lisa Perry and Searcy Water Utilities General Manager Daniel Dawson participated in a panel discussion led by Gary Moody,