Yes in My Backyard: A Regional Leadership Summit on Solar and Battery Energy Storage
Presented by the New York League of Conservation Voters, The New York Climate Exchange, Renewable Energy Long Island, Sustainable Hudson Valley, and Sustainable Westchester
New York’s energy future is being built in communities across the state. We invite you to join local leaders, policymakers, fire safety professionals, labor representatives, public health and environmental justice advocates, clean energy experts, and community stakeholders for a regional summit on the future of solar energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in New York.
Yes in My Backyard will bring together leaders from across sectors to explore how solar and battery storage can help New York meet its growing energy needs while strengthening reliability, affordability, public health, community resilience, and environmental justice.
The afternoon will conclude with a keynote address from Chris Wheat, Executive Director of America Is All In, who brings more than two decades of experience in environmental policy and politics, the private sector, and academia. Wheat has led climate and sustainability efforts at the local and national levels, including serving as Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Policy Advisor for the City of Chicago, where he led the city’s environmental agenda and helped advance its commitment to reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Through expert panels and conversations, the Summit will highlight successful projects, emerging best practices, and the policies, partnerships, and investments needed to expand clean energy responsibly and affordably across New York.
Featured Conversations
Fire Safety & Design
Where a battery energy storage project is located and how it is designed are important parts of developing a safe facility. This panel will discuss why BESS projects are sited where they are, and take a closer look at the fire safety measures built into modern facilities. Fire safety and industry experts will discuss how BESS facilities are designed to prevent, detect, and respond to potential hazards, as well as the safety standards and testing requirements these systems must meet.
Panelists:
William Acker, Executive Director, New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST)
Greg Galluccio, Retired Electrical Engineer, Town of Warwick
Chief Wayne Melton, Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG)
Environmental Justice & Public Health
The clean energy transition presents an opportunity to build healthier, more resilient communities while addressing longstanding environmental inequities. Panelists will examine how battery storage and solar energy can improve public health, support cleaner air, and strengthen community resilience. The discussion will explore the role of BESS in enabling more renewable energy, supporting critical facilities, and ensuring that communities that have historically experienced the greatest environmental burdens can share in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
Panelists:
Jenna Agins, Energy & Sustainability Assistant Director, NYU Langone Health
Noah Ginsburg, Executive Director, New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA)
Yuwa Vosper, Senior Policy Advisor, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Lydia Wiener, Policy Advisor, Clean Energy, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ)
Jobs & Career Pathways
The growth of battery energy storage is creating new opportunities for workers across New York, from construction and electrical trades to engineering, operations, and other skilled professions. Labor leaders, workforce experts, and industry representatives will highlight the career pathways and workforce investments needed to support the industry’s growth, including union apprenticeships and training programs. The conversation will explore opportunities for students and workers to build family-sustaining careers while strengthening local economies and preparing New York’s next generation of clean energy professionals.
Panelists:
Daniel Mulligan, Advisor, Labor Relations and Engagement, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Erland Castillo, Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Trust Fund, The Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry
Mario Ferone, Long Island Organizer, Climate Jobs NY
Innovations for Scale
Solar and battery energy storage are transforming New York’s energy landscape and creating new opportunities to build a more reliable and resilient grid. Hear from leaders involved in the energy transition at scales from community to industry. Panelists will share key strategies for modernizing the grid to scale up renewables and storage, building public support with a narrative of choice and responsibility, and enacting local codes to guide BESS development.
Panelists:
Navneet Trivedi, Chief Operating Officer, Vrinda
Rebekah Pierce, Freelance Writer and Farmer
Jeff Seidman, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Vassar University
Keynote Address
Chris Wheat, Executive Director, America is All In
Chris Wheat brings more than two decades of experience in environmental policy and politics, the private sector, and academia. As Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Policy Advisor for the City of Chicago, Wheat led the city’s environmental agenda and secured a Mayoral Executive Order committing Chicago to reduce its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. He has also served as Executive Director of the Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, advised mayors and city officials on climate strategies at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and served as Managing Director of Policy & Government Affairs at Sustainable Cities Fund.
RSVP
Space is limited, so we encourage you to RSVP early to reserve your spot.
We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of conversation, collaboration, and practical solutions for building a safer, more reliable, and more equitable clean energy future in New York.
Accessibility & Transportation
The event venue is approximately a one minute walk from the Governors Island ferry landing. If you have a mobility limitation or otherwise need assistance traveling from the ferry to the event venue, it will be available upon request.
If you need transportation assistance, please make note in your registration so we can coordinate accommodations.