Harris Beach attorney Michelle K. Piasecki, a member of the firm’s Energy Industry Team, is a featured speaker at two upcoming energy events.

On Oct. 11, she’ll moderate a panel, “Growth Pathways for Accelerating U.S. Community Solar,” at the New Project Media Distributed Generation Development & Finance Forum. With a coalition of businesses and nonprofits (Coalition for Community Solar Access) setting a national goal of 30 gigawatts of community solar by 2030, Michelle and other panelists will discuss the roadmap to achieving that goal. Among the expected topics:

• Lessons learned from the New York Value of Distributed Energy Resources and the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program
• Promising state-level programs and the federal government’s role in oversight and implementation of these programs
• Next steps in implementing AB2316 in California, which requires utility regulators to prioritize lower-income households when assessing new community solar proposals
• How program capacity is awarded in these states

The NPM DG Development and Finance Forum takes place in Midtown East and Michelle’s panel kicks off at 9:15 a.m.

ECM20 Conference Covers New Energy Broker Regulation

The following week, on Oct. 17, Michelle will discuss “The Rationale Behind the Recent New York State Energy Legislation” at Energy Marketing Conferences’ EMC20 conference in Midtown Manhattan.

The New York State Public Service Commission recently implemented regulations requiring energy brokers and consultants (which terms are construed broadly) to register with the Department of Public Services and disclose certain fees to customers, including commissions, bonuses, and non-financial compensation, such as prizes, tickets, etc. Failure to adhere to the registration and other rules can lead to fines, loss of commissions, invalidation of customer contracts, and forfeiture of the ability to operate in New York.

Michelle will be joined by Richard Berkley, Consumer Advocate & Director, Office of Consumer Services at New York State Department of Public Service in the discussion, which kicks off at 2:20 p.m.

Harris Beach’s experienced Energy Industry Team helps clients keep up with the complex and ever-changing New York and national energy landscapes. The firm regularly works with clients in all aspects of energy law, from generation and transmission owners to utilities and energy service companies.