SEPA panel targets clean energy goals
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) said the organization has formed a new panel of industry leaders to aid the transition to a clean electric future by 2050.
The Research Advisory Council, which will also lend focus to a carbon-free energy system, represents SEPA’s diverse membership and is charged with providing strategic insight into industry changes and developments, in addition to guidance on research priorities.
“Clean Power Research has been a proud member of SEPA for over 20 years, and we consider SEPA to be one of the most forward-thinking and influential organizations in the clean energy space,” Jeff Ressler, Clean Power Research CEO, said. “I’m honored to be named as the first chairperson of the SEPA Research Advisory Council and look forward to working with the council to provide strategic insight into the evolving clean energy market and to help identify opportunities for SEPA and the organization’s increasingly diverse set of constituents.”
The panel is expected to meet throughout the year to review and provide feedback on SEPA’s progress towards its goals, officials said, noting the insights will be utilized to support SEPA’s Working Group programs and provide input to SEPA meetings and events structure, focus, and programming.
“Having industry luminaries representing various stakeholders and viewpoints is critical as we work to help the industry navigate changes,” Sharon Allan, SEPA’s chief strategy and innovation officer, said. “The Research Advisory Council’s diverse perspectives will make SEPA’s programs more robust and help us bring together the necessary stakeholders to accelerate progress.”
Gary Brinkworth, director of enterprise research and technology innovation at TVA, will serve as vice chair of the advisory council. Other council members include Gregg Kresge, manager of renewable energy projects at Maui Electric; Ahmed Mousa, manager, utility of the future at PSEG; Christopher Irwin, program manager at the Office of Electricity at the U.S. Department of Energy; Lola Infante, senior director of clean energy technology and policy at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI); and Jan Ahlen, director of energy solutions at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA); among others.
