2020 SPEAKER SERIES

Return to Speaker Series

Optimal Solar Siting for Maryland

MCEC Speaker Series Session06 Slides 10.08.2020 Title

Maryland is making moves to meet its RPS mandate, but land-use priorities and regulations create challenges about where best to site new solar energy projects. What are the optimal solutions? How can the state incentivize development of distributed generation in desirable locations and ensure that projects in those locations have a smooth path to permits?

View the Recording

View Slide Deck

Final Report - Governor's Task Force on Renewable Energy Development and Siting

Blue image of a power outlet

MODERATOR

Murray_David_10-08

David Murray

Executive Director
MDV-SEIA

David Murray

Executive Director
MDV-SEIA

David Murray serves as Executive Director for MDV-SEIA, the official trade association for the Maryland, Virginia and DC solar industry. In the last two years, the association's 160 member companies successfully implemented legislation that created a market for over 21 gigawatts of solar power in the region by 2035. Before joining MDV-SEIA in 2017, David provided business engagement and research for nonprofit organizations. He has a Bachelors in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in Energy and Development Studies from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

View Bio
Blue image of a power outlet

PANELISTS

Beugelmans_David_10-08

David Beugelmans

Member
Gordon Feinblatt LLC

David Beugelmans

Member
Gordon Feinblatt LLC

David is a member in Gordon Feinblatt's Energy & Environmental Law Practice. He focuses his practice on providing counsel on energy, environmental, and public utility regulatory and policy matters. In this capacity, he works closely with power plant developers to successfully navigate Maryland's Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process before the Maryland Public Service Commission to gain approval for energy projects of all sizes, with a particular focus on utility-scale solar. To date, David has permitted more than 500MW of utility-scale solar projects in Maryland ranging from 2.5MW to more than 200MW.

Recently, David has placed significant focus on Maryland Community Solar Pilot Program regulatory compliance issues, including review and drafting of Subscriber Agreements, waiver petitions, and eligibility issues. More generally, David provides counsel on legal issues associated with distributed generation, including traditional and aggregate net metering rules.

A native of Silicon Valley, David graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz (home of the Banana Slugs), magna cum laude, before attending the University of Maryland School of Law, where he also graduated magna cum laude. David serves on the board of the non-profit Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), the local chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

View Bio
Cassilly_Andrew_10-08

Andrew Cassilly

Senior Advisor to the Governor
Office of the Governor - Maryland

Andrew Cassily

Senior Advisor to the Governor
Office of the Governor

Andrew Cassilly currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Office of the Governor. Andrews roles include advising the governor on legislative issues and serving as a liaison to the Maryland General Assembly members. Andrew works closely with several departments including MDOT, MEA, DNR, MDA and others to address legislative issues and recommendations. Prior to his role serving the governor, Andrew served five years as a State Delegate for Harford County. During his term in the House of Delegates, Andrew served on the Environment and Transportation Committee as well as:

  • Housing and Real Property subcommittee
  • Land Use and Ethics subcommittee
  • Joint committee for Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation
  • Regional Revitalization Workgroup
  • Veterans and Waterman Caucus

Andrew served for 28 years with the Harford County public Schools in many roles such as Coach, Teacher, School Administrator, Assistant Supervisor, Manager of Operations and Assistant Supervisor for Innovative Partnerships. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Millersville University in Pennsylvania and his master's degree in Administrative Management from Loyola College in Baltimore. Andrew serves as a member of the following advisory Boards:

  • Rural Maryland Council
  • Harford County Economic Advisory
  • Maryland Recycling Network
  • The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
View Bio
Corradi_Rob_10-08

Rob Corradi

Senior Advisor, Public Affairs
Sun Tribe

Rob Corradi

Senior Advisor, Public Affairs
Sun Tribe

An experienced strategist and consultant, Rob has spent his career advising leaders in every level of government and in the private sector. He currently serves as Senior Advisor, Public Affairs for Sun Tribe – an Inc. 500 company and the fastest growing clean energy company in the Mid-Atlantic – where he oversees the company’s work in public policy, communications, media relations, and legislative affairs. He currently also sits on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance.

Prior to his time at Sun Tribe, Rob founded Pen Public Affairs in Charlottesville, and worked at CLS Strategies (Omnicom), where he represented Fortune 500 companies facing significant crises and provided media training for clients engaged in high-stakes litigation. Previously, he served in the Obama Administration as the speechwriter for U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Assistant Secretary for Health Karen DeSalvo; as the speechwriting consultant to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s transition team; the Chief Speechwriter and Deputy Press Secretary for Maryland Lieutenant Governor (now Congressman) Anthony Brown; Chief of Staff to Baltimore City Councilman Jim Kraft; and for a variety of campaigns and elected officials in Illinois, New York, and Maryland.

View Bio
Minnemeyer_Susan_10-08

Susan Minnemeyer

Vice President for Technology
Chesapeake Conservancy

Susan Minnemeyer

Vice President for Technology
Chesapeake Conservancy

As Vice President for Technology, Susan Minnemeyer leads Chesapeake Conservancy’s Conservation Innovation Center (CIC), which empowers conservation with applications for data-driven decision making. She works to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed using high resolution datasets, geospatial analysis, and data science to advance conservation practice. The CIC team supports the Chesapeake Bay Program and conservation partners by providing data and insights to prioritize restoration practices, evaluate alternatives, and identify solutions for effective implementation.

Previously, Susan was the Senior Geospatial Manager for Global Forest Watch, an initiative of the World Resources Institute that provides data and tools for monitoring forests.

She earned a Master’s of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School at Duke University, concentrating on Resource and Landscape Ecology and a BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time outdoors with her family.

View Bio
Blue image of a power outlet

SPONSORED BY

MDV-SEIA 2020 cropped