PLENARY I

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Decarbonization through Electrification

Maryland is moving toward electrification to address decarbonization goals. Panelists will share their perspective on the infrastructure demands and industry strategies for electrification, offering a comprehensive picture of where we are now, and what is still needed to meet transition timelines and achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets. Discussion will consider potential impacts to meeting supply demands as electrification increases, as well as cost to utility consumer rate payers - especially to those with heavy energy cost burdens.

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MODERATOR

Ellis_Will

William Ellis

Director, Governmental and External Affairs
Pepco

Director, Governmental and External Affairs,
Pepco, and Exelon Company

William is a nationally recognized leader in energy policy, grid modernization and climate change. William was awarded Modern Day Technology Leader at the 2017 Black Engineer of the Year Awards. As recent as 2021, William was recognized by Environment + Energy as the Nation’s Top 100 Leaders, for his work related to decarbonization and electrification transportation. In his current role as Director of Governmental and External Affairs, William is responsible for engaging in stakeholder relations with state and local officials, community leaders and businesses, consumer and nonprofit organizations within the Pepco Maryland region. Advocating, shaping policy and managing issues to deliver value to our customers and key stakeholders. In 2020, William was appointed to the Prince George’s County Climate Action Commission. He was instrumental in the County’s plan to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. William Ellis is a graduate of The Catholic University, where he attained a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, a master’s degree in Engineering Management and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. William has a Global Executive MBA from Georgetown University. William is currently a Climate Justice Fellow at the University of Maryland, School of Applied Environmental Health.

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SPEAKERS

Josh Greene

Joshua C. Greene, Esq.

Vice President – Government, Regulatory, and Industry Affairs
A. O. Smith Corporation

Vice President, Government, Regulatory, and Industry Affairs,
A.O. Smith

Josh Greene currently serves as corporate vice president of government, regulatory, and industry affairs having served in that role since joining the company in 2016. As a member of the company’s senior leadership, he is responsible for advancing the company’s business goals and objectives in front of international, federal, and state policy makers and regulatory bodies, as well as working the company’s corporate development, ESG, and innovation teams in facilitating new business opportunities and industry relationships. Josh maintains very board relationships within the environmental, municipal, and business communities. Josh joined the company after 14 years with the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, D.C. where he was partner providing regulatory, policy, and business advice to private and public companies in the energy and environmental sector. Earlier in his career, Josh served as legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as a law clerk to the General Counsel of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations. Josh earned his BA with honors from the University of Delaware and JD with honors from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Finally, Josh is also a prior Chairman and member of the MCEC Board of Directors.

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David Lapp

David S. Lapp

People’s Counsel
Maryland Office of People's Counsel

People's Counsel,
Maryland Office of People's Counsel

As a lawyer, policy analyst, and writer, David S. Lapp has focused on public policy and corporate accountability in the energy, tobacco, and health-care industries. Until his appointment as Acting People’s Counsel, Mr. Lapp worked from 2004-2020 as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland (OAG). Mr. Lapp served for seven years as Deputy Counsel for the Maryland Department of Health. Before that, he served as Chief Counsel of the OAG’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit and helped lead state and national efforts to enforce the national tobacco Master Settlement Agreement against the major cigarette manufacturers. For over ten years prior to his work at OAG, Mr. Lapp advocated on behalf of consumer and environmental interests in the field of utility regulation, first as a writer and policy analyst and then as an attorney primarily representing and advising state regulatory commissions and environmental and consumer advocates. Mr. Lapp graduated in 1998 from the University of Maryland School of Law, Order of Coif. Following law school, he served as a law clerk on the Maryland Court of Appeals for Judge Howard Chasanow. Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh appointed David S. Lapp People’s Counsel in 2021.

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Elizabeth McKeever

General Counsel
Solar Landscape

General Counsel,
Solar Landscape

Elizabeth is a senior legal clean energy expert who is responsible for overseeing many of Solar Landscape’s legal affairs and compliance needs as the company expands its national solar development and installation leadership. Elizabeth spearheaded Solar Landscape's registration as a Community Solar subscriber organization in Maryland, where the company is building dozens of projects statewide. Elizabeth also led the company’s successful application for a Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant from the Maryland Energy Administration. With more than 20 years of legal experience with a specialty in solar and battery storage energy, Elizabeth has held roles both at a state-level public utility commission and as a lobbyist. Elizabeth is a strong clean energy advocate and community leader, having served on various local boards and commissions. She holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School and a B.A. from Bucknell University.

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Ruth Ann Norton

President & CEO
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

President and CEO,

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

Ruth Ann Norton is President & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to advancing racial and health equity and opportunity through healthy housing. A national expert and advocate on green and healthy homes, she directs GHHI’s groundbreaking work across the United States where 65 cities, counties and states are using housing as a platform for improved health and social outcomes. Through the implementation of the GHHI comprehensive housing intervention model and its best practices Toolbox that she helped develop, cities are improving the ability of children to arrive in the classroom healthy and ready to learn and to stay in school through reduced asthma related absences.

The architect of the State of Maryland’s 99% reduction in childhood lead poisoning, Ms. Norton has developed over 45 pieces of successful healthy housing legislation that focus on reducing health disparities. Through its current feasibility and development work with healthcare partners and jurisdictions nationally, she heads a GHHI technical assistance team that is creating sustainable models for Medicaid reimbursement for preventive asthma and household injury services.

Ms. Norton serves as a member of the: EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee, National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH), National Council of State Housing Agencies’ National Advisory Group, Ohio Asthma Council, and Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, and was previously a federally appointed liaison to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. A founding member of the NEWHAB Advisory Board, she provides a leading voice to articulate the significant health and social benefits of weatherization investments through her advisory role with Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) and has authored research publications on the non-energy benefits of energy efficiency.

Ms. Norton is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader, a Weinberg Foundation Fellow, a WE ACT Environmental and Social Justice awardee, and received the Tony Woods Award for Excellence from the Building Performance Industry in 2016 for her efforts to integrate energy efficiency upgrades with healthy homes interventions on a national scale. Under her leadership, GHHI has been awarded the HUD Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes and the EPA’s National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management for its innovative programs.

 

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