Brien Sheahan, chairman and CEO of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), will deliver the Microgrid 2018 keynote address, Tuesday, May 8 in Chicago.
Sheahan is known for the promotion of innovation and forward-looking regulatory policy in a variety of different industries in Illinois and nationally.
In addition to leading the Illinois commission, he chairs the Presidential Task Force on Innovation for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
Sheahan also serves on the NARUC Board of Directors, and speaks and publishes often on the role of state utility commissioners in modernizing the nation’s utility infrastructure and regulatory structure.
Register here for Microgrid 2018, to be held in Chicago, May 7-9.
“It will be exciting for the audience of Microgrid 2018 to hear from Chairman Sheahan, particularly now, following the commission’s recent approval of the ground-breaking Bronzeville microgrid. We are honored that he has accepted our invitation to keynote what’s turning out to be the most exciting microgrid event yet,” said Elisa Wood, editor-in-chief of Microgrid Knowledge, which is hosting the three-day conference.
Appointed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner on Jan. 20, 2015 for a five-year term, Sheahan led the commission through the approval of the $25 million Bronzeville microgrid — the first utility-scale microgrid cluster in the nation. The decision was issued February 28.
Bronzeville will be Illinois’ second major utility microgrid. Ameren last year began operating a 1.475-MW microgrid in Champaign — which will be available for Microgrid 2018 attendees to tour.
“Illinois has emerged as a leader in microgrid development. Given the state’s forward-thinking stance on distributed energy resources and clustering of microgrids, it is an ideal setting for Microgrid 2018,” said Kevin Normandeau, publisher of Microgrid Knowledge.
Illinois Chief Energy Regulator Brien Sheahan to Deliver Microgrid 2018 Keynote
In further moves from Sheahan to support alternative energy resources, he led the states’ exploration of the “utility of the future” with a study called NextGrid. Sheahan has also headed up an agency that established a first-of-its kind Office of Cybersecurity and Risk Management and Office of Diversity and Community Affairs.
His background in government includes serving three Illinois Governors in senior leadership roles, and as general counsel of the Illinois Republican Party.
Microgrid 2018 attendees will gain insight into evolving industry models through expert speakers, interactive panel discussions, in-depth knowledge workshops, technology forums, tours of active microgrids, vendor booths and extensive networking opportunities.
Topics to be covered at Microgrid 2018 include the evolution of the microgrid business model, the future of the decentralized grid, microgrids and utilities, putting a value on energy resilience and much more.
The conference is hosted by Microgrid Knowledge, the largest microgrid news site on the web.
Microgrid 2017 sold out. Learn more, and register here for Microgrid 2018.
