IESNA Midwest Regional Event

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 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 covers solar and storage alongside energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, and heat pumps, with a broader focus on decarbonization in the Mountain West. Programming is described as expert panels and thought-leadership sessions addressing policy, market trends, technology innovation, market development, emerging technologies, and business realities across the clean energy ecosystem.

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.

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.

The conference and reception offers an opportunity to learn about innovations in advanced energy and recent policy developments. The program includes main-stage panels, breakout panels with expert panelists, and presentations from energy experts. It brings together leaders in Michigan’s advanced energy industry, utility executives, policymakers, and regulators.

Jointly hosted by the American Nuclear Society and the Nuclear Energy Institute, NECX brings together utilities, advanced reactor developers, suppliers, regulators, policymakers, investors, engineers, researchers, project leaders, and innovators. Programming includes executive plenaries, technical sessions, and expert-led discussions focused on nuclear deployment, commercialization, investment, and industry growth. Focus areas include advanced nuclear deployment; manufacturing and AI innovation; regulatory affairs; project integration; supply-chain sourcing; workforce development; plant reliability and engineering; and emergency preparedness. The expo-hall Spotlight Stage features presentations on emerging technologies, practical insights, and solutions related to nuclear deployment, operations, innovation, and commercialization.

The conference brings together public power leaders, policymakers, vendors, and partners to exchange strategies and discover solutions for long-term utility success. Its program addresses how changing policy, technology, and lifestyles are reshaping the energy industry and communities, with multiple tracks and sessions. The Industry Innovations Expo focuses on solutions and tools for utility decision-makers, and the conference also includes a public-power community service component.

The conference combines superintendent and engineer meetings for presentations on new technology, standards, and industry regulations, alongside a joint product show featuring solutions from digital tools to bucket trucks. Agenda topics include automation, leadership, field testing for metering accuracy and hidden losses, AI tools for engineering and operations, advanced distribution operations and faster restoration, and relay testing. A group-led roundtable covers artificial intelligence in electric cooperatives, contractor requirements, dispatching, employee retention, right-of-way and line-extension policies, pole loading and guying, BESS, data center loads, electronic breakers, safety, equipment, and automation. Additional listed issues include ODOT projects, ground-grid and relay advancements, vegetation and asset management using LiDAR and drone mapping, protection engineering, utility construction coordination and constructability, and independent construction oversight and QA/QC. The business meeting includes the election of 2027 officers and new business.