Head to the high seas with us, as we take a look at a new wave of potential energy. Hear from the women who are charting new waters in energy generation and storage. We’ll learn about projects in research and development on both coasts. Life jackets not required.
We’re excited to welcome Jennifer Garson, Acting Director of the Water Power Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, who will discuss the role of her office in advancing research, development, and demonstration of hydropower and marine renewable energy.
Dr. Kimberly Peters is a Senior Biologist and Biological Services Team Leader at DNV where she provides environmental and wildlife technical and permitting support for renewable energy developers in North America and globally. Dr. Peters will share her expertise on the ecological impacts of offshore energy development.
Finally, Grecia RO, Director of Engineering at Climate Donor, Inc., will share her research into how existing oil and gas infrastructure can be leveraged to support offshore energy storage while mitigating the disturbance of marine wildlife.
Speaker Bios
Jennifer Garson, Acting Director of the Water Power Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy
Jennifer is the Acting Director of the Water Power Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she leads the office’s strategy, management and execution of the $150M office. The Water Power Technologies office advances research, development and demonstration of hydropower and marine renewable energy. For the last three years, she has led some of the office’s key activities and initiatives – like the Powering the Blue Economy initiative – and a portfolio of prizes, interagency grants, among other programs. She has focused on increasing the impact of federal funding for supporting innovation, including leveraging nontraditional financial mechanisms.
Prior to the Water Office, she was the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She was previously a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions, served as a policy and market analyst in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and as a research assistant for a private consulting company.
Jennifer earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies Concentration at Kenyon College and her Master of Public Policy at George Washington University.
Kimberly Peters PhD, Team Lead, Biological Services at DNV Energy
Dr. Peters is an avian and bat ecologist with over 25 years of experience in wildlife study design, analysis, and risk assessment, including over 10 years of due diligence and permitting support for renewable energy projects. Kim currently serves as Principal Biologist and Team Lead for the Biological Services Team within DNV’s Environmental & Permitting Services, where she provides support to wind developers in the U.S., Canada, and globally. She conducts exposure assessments, develops wildlife mitigation strategies, and evaluates detection and deterrent technologies relevant to offshore wind, and has conducted extensive research on shorebirds and seabirds. Kim also has established relationships with several agency, NGO, and academic stakeholders and is involved in various regional spatial and technology planning efforts, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Atlantic Marine Bird Conservation Collaborative and Offshore Wind Automated Radio Telemetry Guidance advisory group. Kim received her B.A. from Boston College, M.Sc. from North Carolina State University, and Ph.D. from Clemson University. Before joining DNV, Kim served as a Senior Scientist at New Jersey Audubon, and as Chief Scientist and Director of Bird Conservation Programs at Mass Audubon.
Grecia RO, Director of Engineering at Climate Donor Inc.
Grecia is the director of engineering if Climate Donor Inc., a non-profit organization that is focused on mitigation and reversal of global climate change and species extinction. She got her masters and engineering degree at Stanford University School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences where her research was focused on the use of seawater to remove petroleum adhered to rock surfaces and the repurpose of offshore Oil&Gas platforms during the energy transition.
Before joining Stanford in 2016, Grecia served as advisor to the minister of energy in Mexico and she was the youngest hydrocarbons commissioner nominee presented by the president to the senate to elect commissioners.
Registration
This event is free for AWWEE members and up to two additional guests. Non-member registration is $20