2025 Energy & Environment Conference

CBIA’s 2025 Energy & Environment Conference featured in-depth discussions on energy and environment policy, regulatory reform, the Transfer Act, electric grid modernization, and more.

Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Dan O’Keefe outlined the state’s energy needs from an economic perspective and his thoughts on meeting that demand.

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes discussed the agency’s 20BY26 initiative goals and the impact on the state’s business community.

Leadership from the legislature’s Environment Committee and the Energy and Technology Committee reviewed the 2025 General Assembly session.

Other sessions addressed the next steps towards implementing release-based clean-up regulations, the region’s power generation outlook, and electric grid modernization.

Manufacturers connected with Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, over lunch.

Agenda

7:30 am | Check-In & Networking Breakfast

8:30 am | Opening Remarks

• Pete Myers, Senior Public Policy Associate, CBIA
• Harold Blinderman, Partner, Day Pitney

8:45 am | 2025 Legislative Session Review: What’s Next for Energy Policy?

• Moderator: Lee Hoffman, Chair, Pullman & Comley
• State Senator Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich) 
• State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport)

9:30 am | DEEP’s 20BY26 Initiative: Implications for Business

• Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes talks with Day Pitney’s Kirstin Etela

10:15 am | Networking Break

10:30 am | New England Power Generation Outlook

• Introduction: Susan Adams, State Director of Government Affairs & Economic Development, Dominion Energy
• New England Power Generators Association president Dan Dolan talks with Day Pitney’s Sebastian Lombardi

11 am | Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Release-Based Clean-Up Regulations: Implementation & Compliance 

• Moderator: Emilee Mooney Scott, Partner, Robinson+Cole
• Matthew Pugliese, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
• Brendan Schain, Legal Director, Environmental Quality, DEEP

Breakout B: Electric Grid Modernization: The Future for Transmission

• Moderator: Jonathan Harris, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Eversource
• Vandan Divatia, VP, Transmission Policy & Compliance, Eversource
• William Herchel, Co-Founder & CEO, Verogy
• Zongjie Wang, Associate Director, Eversource Energy Center; Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut

11:45 am | Networking Lunch

11:45 am | Manufacturers Roundtable Lunch

• Featuring Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie

12:45 pm | 2025 Legislative Session Review: Environment & Land Use Policy

• Moderator: Alfredo Fernández, Partner, Shipman & Goodwin
• State Representative Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) 
• State Representative John-Michael Parker (D-Madison) 

1:30 pm | Demand vs Supply: Meeting Connecticut’s Economic Needs

• DECD Commissioner Dan O’Keefe talks with Hydro-Québec’s Kyle Collins

2:15 pm | Adjourn