The past twenty years have seen many changes in the permitting of clean energy projects. Never has it been more important to enlist the aid of "Experts" to assist the developers in garnering community acceptance and the permitting of projects. This panel will provide insights from leading experts, each with over 15 years of experience, on some of the toughest challenges facing the industry. Topics for discussion will include project economic analysis and benefits, environmental, energy and the grid, property rights and balancing stakeholder interests, public health and safety. The panel will share their insights on strategies that have been successfully employed to assist developers in receiving a positive project outcome.
Hilary Clark, MA (Moderator)
Senior Director, Social Licensing
American Clean Power Association
Hilary Clark is the Senior Director, Social Licensing at the American Clean Power Association (ACP) where she leads association and industry advocacy efforts on social licensing issues impacting the ability to develop, construct, and operate clean energy facilities at the state and local levels. Hilary brings over 20 years of government affairs, land use planning and permitting, public policy, and stakeholder engagement experience. Before joining ACP, Hilary worked for engineering consulting firms where she led land use and environmental planning efforts for siting and permitting various development projects, including utility-scale wind and solar energy projects.
She began her career in 2004 with a small consulting firm where she quickly advanced her position to begin driving overall project planning and management, maintaining effective coordination with technical consultants, developers, permitting agencies, and community stakeholder groups. As a project lead, she advised clients and stakeholders on project development issues, policy changes and regulatory framework, tracked changes in the permitting landscape, and helped drive projects forward.
Hilary earned her B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego and her M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Alan Anderson, Juris Doctorate
Chair, Energy Practice Group; Professor, University of Kansas School of Law
Polsinelli PC, University of Kansas School of Law
Alan Claus Anderson is a Shareholder and Chair of Polsinelli's national Energy Practice Group. Mr. Anderson represents renewable energy developers in project development and permitting on projects throughout the country, representing clients in more than 7,000 MW in operating wind, solar and battery storage projects.
Mr. Anderson is an active speaker and teaches renewable energy law as an adjunct law school professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. Mr. Anderson is also actively involved in numerous committees, organizations and trade groups supporting the renewable energy industry. Mr. Anderson serves as a member of the American Clean Power Association’s Land Use Planning and Local Affairs Committees, Chair of the Government Team for the United States Department of Energy Electrify the Heartland Project, Solar Finance Lead for the Department of Energy’s Solar Ready KC SunShot initiative and Chair of the Kansas City Area Development Council's Advanced Energy and Manufacturing Advisory Council.
Ayelet Hines
Vice President of Community Engagement
Tigercomm
Over the course of a 25-year career, Ayelet Hines has directed community organizing, engagement and public acceptance campaigns in more than thirty states and internationally, covering the clean energy, food, education, labor, health and manufacturing sectors.
In addition to her work for Tigercomm, she teaches community engagement strategies and mentors mid-career professionals at Johns Hopkins University.
David Loomis, PhD Economics
President
Strategic Economic Research, LLC
Dr. David G. Loomis is Emeritus Professor of Economics at Illinois State University and Co- Founder of the Center for Renewable Energy. He has over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy field. He has served as a consultant for 43 renewable energy development companies. He has testified on the economic impacts of energy projects before the Illinois Commerce Commission, Iowa Utilities Board, Missouri Public Service Commission, Illinois Senate Energy and Environment Committee, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, Kentucky Public Service Commission, Ohio Public Siting Board, and numerous county boards.
Dr. Loomis has published over 38 peer-reviewed articles in leading energy policy and economics journals. He has raised and managed over $7 million in grants and contracts from government, corporate and foundation sources. He received the 2011 Department of Energy’s Midwestern Regional Wind Advocacy Award and the 2006 Best Wind Working Group Award. Dr. Loomis received his Ph.D. in economics from Temple University in 1995.
Christopher Ollson, PhD
Environmental Health Scientist
Ollson Environmental Health Management
Dr. Christopher Ollson, Ph.D. of Ollson Environmental Health Management (OEHM) has 25 years of international consulting experience. He is North America's foremost expert in public health & safety issues related to the renewable energy sector. Dr. Ollson has aided in permitting >20 GW of installed wind, solar and BESS projects in over 25 states. Chris has testified at numerous county commissions, state hearings and court proceedings with respect to potential health concerns in living in proximity to renewable energy projects. Dr. Ollson is a firm believer that effectively communicating health research in public forms helps to reduce community concerns and provide regulators (local and state) with the basis to set appropriate permit siting conditions. In addition to working with the development community, he was the consultant of record for the Vermont Public Services Department in developing wind turbine sound standards and has appeared before the Kansas, North Dakota and Indiana Senate Committees on proper siting of wind projects. Dr. Ollson maintains an active research program through his Adjunct Professor appointment at the University of Toronto. He was also on the ANSI/ACP 111-1 Sound Model Standard for Wind Projects and IEC 61400-31 Wind Turbine Risk Assessment technical committees.
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