2021 Power Up Energy Expo

Workshop 1: Climate Change as a National Security Priority

Mr. Dave Robau
Executive Director, Gulf Coast Energy Network

Dr. Julia Nesheiwat
Distinguished Fellow, The Atlantic Council

As we address the impacts of climate change, we see how extreme weather events impact our national security. Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home & Abroad, established administration policy that climate considerations shall be an essential element of United States foreign policy & national security. For the Department of Defense, energy is an operational imperative and our dependence on traditional energy sources has increased vulnerabilities and poses a threat to military operations.

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2021 Power Up Speakers

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Keynote Speaker – Day 2 – Mr. Richard Kidd IV

Mr. Kidd IV shares insight on national security decisions, strategies, and policies regarding climate change, as well as the services needed to implement climate-based interventions across the DOTMLPF to meet national and Department objectives.

Workshop 5: Resilient Installations and Fortified Construction

Rebuilding an Air Force installation after Category 5 hurricane takes a team of experts from ac from multiple sectors. This panel looks at smart and sustainable design principles, coupled with the latest technologies in fortified construction. This session takes a deep dive into the Installation of the Future at Tyndall Air Force Base.

Georgia Public Service Commission Address – Tim Echols

After building a national non-profit organization, Echols ran for and was elected to statewide office in 2010 serving as Public Service Commissioner. His primary job is energy regulation. When Echols took office, Georgia was 34th in solar power. Now, 7 years later the state is 5th in the nation in approved solar.

Opening Welcome – Day 2

The Department of the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance (OEA) was established in February 2016 by the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff to serve as the aggregator for installation energy and water resilience initiatives. The new OEA Director, Mr. Kirk Phillips, offers a great overview of the Office and its recent accomplishments.

We are so pleased to partner with of friends at the RISE Consortium. The mission of the Resilient Infrastructure + Secure Energy (RISE) Consortium is to address the energy security and climate crises by reimagining how we use, generate, transport, and store energy and how we build efficient, modern, resilient infrastructure. Join more than 300 organizations as a RISE Consortium member.

Closing Remarks – Day 2

Craig Williams is the Director of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Congressional Principal Advisor of Military and Veteran’s Affairs to Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D., representing the largest district (FL-02) in the great State of Florida (19 counties). As Director, Craig is responsible for
maintaining liaison and relationships with installation leaders, members of Congress and their staff, the Senate, the Executive Branch, and local community leaders.