2026 MnSEIA Gateway to Solar Conference

The program covers residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale solar and storage, with discussion of tax-credit deadlines, tariff and sourcing rules, permitting reform, interconnection, storage financing, and data-center-driven demand. The keynote “State of the Industry: A Candid Look at Where Solar and Storage Stand” examines policy volatility, tax credits, tariffs, and market consolidation. Another keynote features a live recording of the Energy Empire podcast about forces reshaping America’s clean energy buildout. “Designing Commercial-Scale PV: Three-Phase, the NEC, and Interconnection” addresses service configurations, conductor and overcurrent-protection sizing, and Article 705 interconnection. “The Mid-Market Interconnection Bottleneck” considers delays for mid-sized projects, utility perspectives, and possible reforms. “The New Rules for EPCs, Post-ITC” examines compressed schedules, supply constraints, milestone risks, and the post-safe-harbor landscape for utility-scale and C&I projects. Storage and grid topics include FEOC requirements, OEM and warranty structures, augmentation, and revenue assumptions in project financing; FERC Order 2222 and state virtual power plant mandates; and BESS fire-safety planning under UL 9540A and NFPA 855, including early engagement with authorities having jurisdiction. Other sessions address peak-demand revenue from capacity, ancillary services, demand response, and arbitrage; ERCOT load growth and large-load interconnection; and financing, interconnection, and construction for data-center power projects. Workshops cover commercial PV fundamentals and O&M practices including NFPA 70B, infrared thermography, and PV ground-fault troubleshooting. Roundtables address operational and business challenges involving supply chains, policy, financing, and market access. Conference passes cover sessions, roundtables, keynotes, and Braindate; workshops require separate purchase, while Exhibit Hall Only passes include access to keynotes.

The conference includes sessions, exhibits, plenaries, and keynotes focused on solar, storage, and microgrids across the Southeast. Session proposals are being solicited on microgrid and grid-resilience design, engineering, distributed energy resources, utility collaboration, and disaster recovery; distributed solar and storage for data center and AI demand; commercial and residential financing, post-ITC planning, and business diversification; municipal and utility contracting, permitting, and building officials; residential and commercial solar; workforce development; and business growth, marketing, branding, and customer experience.

The theme is affordability through energy efficiency and demand-side solutions, including near-term consumer cost savings, grid reliability, peak-demand management, equitable access, and community resilience. The program covers passive-house design and construction; energy-efficiency and demand-side program design; grid resilience using distributed energy resources and the ENDURE tool; Iowa's Technical Reference Manual and savings calculations; residential energy assessments and upgrades; the gap between modeled and actual building performance; and data-driven planning for an affordable, accessible EV-charging network. A plenary panel examines three Iowa housing projects—the Ralston Eco Home, Goldfinch Lofts, and CyBear Lair—and how high-performance design, reduced energy waste and peak demand, project financing, and workforce development relate to affordability and reliability. Other sessions address Home Energy Rebates, utility programs and funding strategies; building controls for industrial and commercial energy savings; and agricultural irrigation demand response. The keynote is Abigail Corso, Chief Strategy Officer for Elevate Energy. The program also lists building tours and an IAEE annual meeting.

Plenary and concurrent sessions examine renewable project markets and financing across solar, wind, storage, and clean firm power. Topics include tax-credit policy and compliance, tariffs, domestic-content requirements, power and PPA prices, data-center and other large-load demand, interconnection, procurement, construction, supply chains, and post-subsidy project economics. Financing sessions address tax equity, transferable credits, preferred equity, debt, development capital, lender underwriting, diligence, tax insurance, risk allocation, offtake structures, storage revenue models, sponsor equity, M&A, portfolio and asset valuation, and operating performance. The program also covers community solar and commercial and industrial projects, clean-firm and co-located generation, domestic manufacturing, and the effect of changing policy and market conditions on project execution and investment.

Formerly known as the Midwest Solar Expo, IESNA Midwest features presentations, policy updates, networking, hands-on training, and an exhibition showcasing solar innovations. The event highlights innovative products and solutions, state-level policies and market trends, and clean-energy technologies. Exhibitors include hardware manufacturers, EPC contractors, software and technology providers, project developers, electric cooperatives, and drone and aerial survey services.

The forum examines North American power markets across renewables, conventional generation, utilities, data centers, commercial and industrial offtakers, and government. Topics include energy-policy consistency and consequential legislation; the effects of tariffs, tax-credit regulation, geopolitical conflict, interest rates, and industry consolidation on costs and demand; FERC interconnection reform and transmission investment; and whether domestic solar and storage manufacturing can compete under changing trade and incentive rules. The program also addresses data-center and AI-driven load growth, local opposition and project approvals, equipment and workforce constraints, powered land, gas paired with battery storage, battery operations and project economics, and mergers and acquisitions in power development. Other sessions examine hyperscaler nuclear strategies, clean firm and dispatchable power, long-duration storage, geothermal, small modular reactors, gas with CCS, aging renewable assets, behind-the-meter storage, large-load flexibility, and utility–data center collaboration. Roundtable topics include understanding FEOC and tariffs, overcoming local opposition, operations and maintenance, flexibility programs, EPC partnerships, and behind-the-meter projects.

Conference content centers on issues affecting the Midwest minerals market, including ESG, processing innovation, plant maintenance optimization, safety, technology, market trends, and operational advancements. Technical sessions address mining-sector challenges and opportunities; an exhibit hall features products, services, and integrated solutions for mining operations.

Full Conference programming includes six tracks of panels and presentations, Monday Deep Dives on affordability, data centers, energy storage, and AI, Main Stage programming, and the RE+ Tech & Innovation Forum. Forum focus areas include solar and storage operations and maintenance, grid stability, tandem solar technologies, AI applications, and long-duration energy storage. Its format includes a keynote, deep-dive presentations, and a closing panel. Show Floor Theater topics include grid edge, industry trends, manufacturing and logistics, installation and operations, global markets, electric drive, fuel cells and batteries, and storage. The program also includes an International Pavilion, Spotlight Country, Start-up Pavilion, and poster sessions. The General Session addresses scaling breakthrough technology into commercial deployment, manufacturing and industrial leadership, energy as a strategic advantage, and the connection between transportation and energy infrastructure.

A member-focused policy program combining legislative meetings with panels on state energy and cleantech policy. Possible panel topics include policies supporting large-scale campus decarbonization efforts and workforce development. Panel 1 addresses Big Things on the Move: Policies to Consider for Current and Emerging Energy Projects, with Dave McCormack, CEO, Clean Energy Supplier Alliance; Julianne Mattecheck, Fabrication Salesperson, UMC, Inc.; and Ryan Calkins, Commissioner, Port of Seattle. Panel 2 addresses Carbon Management and Growing Energy Demand, with Steven Schueneman, Manager, Emerging Technologies and Sustainability, Puget Sound Energy; Meghan Gavin, General Counsel and Director, Carbon Containment Lab; and Mike Robinson, Co-Founder, PacClean. Innovation cluster insights and moderation are provided by Mel Clark, President & CEO, CleanTech Alliance, and Cassie Losey, Director of Governmental Affairs, Port of Benton. Reception remarks are provided by Nora Hawkins, Interim Energy Policy Director, Washington State Department of Commerce. The program includes legislator meetings with Sen. Sharon Shewmake, Rep. Alex Ramel, and Rep. Clyde Shavers.