Forum 2017: Visionary Futures—What Would a Renewable City Look Like?

Aase Nyegaard, Deputy Mayor of the City of Sønderborg, Denmark

With its aim for carbon neutrality by 2029, Sønderborg, Denmark is one of the most ambitious municipalities in the world when it comes to climate and energy planning. Aase Nyegaard, who began her career at Danfoss, has an extensive experience public and private sector board experience, and sits on Sønderborg’s ProjectZERO committee.

Session: TRANSFORMATIVE ACTIONS ON THE ROAD TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY IN CITIES

Tzeporah Berman, Adjunct Professor at York University and Co-Chair of Alberta’s Oilsands Advisory Working Group

As one of Canada’s most prominent environmentalists, Tzeporah Berman works as a strategic advisor to a number of First Nations, environmental organizations, and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues, including to the Governments of Alberta and British Columbia.

Session: VISIONARY FUTURES: WHAT WOULD A RENEWABLE CITY LOOK LIKE?

Gil Kelley, General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability at the City of Vancouver

Now with the City of Vancouver, Gil Kelly is an internationally recognized urban strategist and visionary, having served as Chief Planner for several West Coast cities, including San Francisco, CA, Portland, OR, and Berkeley, CA and as an independent advisor to cities and governments across the globe.

Session: VISIONARY FUTURES: WHAT WOULD A RENEWABLE CITY LOOK LIKE?

Ken Church, Team Leader of the Communities Group at Natural Resources Canada

Ken Church is one of Canada’s leading thinkers on district energy and community energy planning and has been part of Natural Resources Canada for nearly two decades. Representing Canada to the IEA, he also works closely with utilities, city networks, and industry.

Session: INTEGRATING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING WITH THE DESIGN OF URBAN FABRIC: LESSONS FROM IEA’S ANNEX 63 PROJECT

Janet Fraser, Senior Vice-President at BC Hydro

Janet Fraser is part of the Executive Team for BC Hydro, one of Canada’s largest utilities, which has been mandated by the Government of British Columbia to deliver 100% clean or renewable energy. She leads the utility’s team that is responsible for integrated resource planning, economic and business development, and conservation and energy management.

Session: PRIVATE SECTOR ALLIES AND PARTNERS FOR CITIES

Colleen Giroux-Schmidt, Senior Director at Innergex

Colleen Giroux-Schmidt undertakes government relations, relationship building, regulatory and policy development, and project management at Innergex, an international renewable energy company with hydro, wind, and solar energy interests. To learn more about her background, see her interview from our Front Line of Energy series.

Session: VISIONARY FUTURES: WHAT WOULD A RENEWABLE CITY LOOK LIKE?

Rob Harmon, Director at the MEETS Accelerator Coalition

Rob Harmon is a serial environmental entrepreneur and policy expert. Serving as the Chief Innovation Officer for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Rob Harmon closed the world’s first renewable energy certificate (REC) transaction. As a Director at the MEETS Coalition, he now works to advance the Metered Energy Efficiency Transaction Structure in Washington State.

Session: OPTIONS FOR FINANCING ENERGY EFFICIENT RETROFITS IN BUILDINGS

Peter Moser, Head of Sustainable Development at the Institute Decentralised Energy Technologies (IdE)

Peter Moser is a pioneering 100% renewable energy thinker and has worked to advance energy transition science and policies in Germany and internationally. Notably, he helped to organize a network of 153 regions and municipalities towards 100% RE in Germany.

Session: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A 100% RE TRANSFORMATION: LEARNINGS FROM GERMANY AND CANADA