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Insuring Our Energy Future Conference
Renewable Energy & Risk Management

 

Friday, September 18, 2009, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center, Illinois State University



Hosted by:

 

Renewable energy has grown rapidly in the last several years. In 2008, the United States added 8,558 MW of new wind generation representing $16.4 billion of new investment. The growth rate for renewables is expected to accelerate as new federal incentives and environmental legislation takes effect in the marketplace. This growth is expected on both large wind and solar installations as well as smaller residential units.

Because of the new emphasis placed on renewable energy, insurance companies are viewing new opportunities in this area to keep pace with residential and commercial products for wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies. This conference will provide insight into the growth patterns for renewable energy and risk management treatment of this energy sector.

Our presenters are going to speak on commercial property and liability risks for renewable energy sources, especially wind and biofuels, and how these risks can be managed through insurance and other means. Members of the insurance industry, renewable energy industry, students and faculty are encouraged to attend.

 

 

CONFERENCE AGENDA:

Friday, September 18, 2009


8:00 a.m. - Registration & Continental Breakfastt

8:30 a.m. - Welcome
Al Bowman, President, Illinois State University
Scott Johnson, Dean, College of Business, Illinois State University
Jim Jones, Center for Insurance and Financial Services, Illinois State University
Dave Loomis, Center for Renewable Energy, Illinois State University

9:00 a.m. - Keynote - Overview of Renewable Energy
Thomas Weirich, American Council On Renewable Energy (PDF)

9:45 a.m. - Break - Exhibits & Networking

10:15 a.m. - Economic Impact of Renewable Energy
George Sterzinger, Renewable Energy Policy Project (PDF)

10:45 a.m. - Environmental Policy Driving Growth in Renewable Energy
Barry Matchett, Environmental Law and Policy Center (PDF)

11:15 a.m. - Q&A - Panel Discussion
Thomas Weirich, American Council On Renewable Energy
George Sterzinger, Renewable Energy Policy Project
Barry Matchett, Environmental Law and Policy Center

11:45 - Lunch (provided)
Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, IL-11 (invited)

1:00 PM - Risk Exposure Identification and Loss Control Methods
Darren Small, Chubb (PDF)

1:45 PM - Risk Transfer Insurance Products and Gaps Between what Insurance Companies Offer and Loss Exposures
Ross Norstrom, Mesirow Finanical (PDF)

2:30 PM - New Areas of Risk and What Developers of Renewable Energy Can Do
Rob Collecott, Miller Insurance in London (PDF)

3:15 PM - Q&A - Panel Discussion
Darren Small, Chubb
Ross Norstrom, Mesirow Finanical
Rob Collecott, Miller Insurance in London

4:00 PM - Adjourn

 

SPEAKERS INCLUDED:

Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) is serving her first term in Congress.  She is a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Small Business.  Halvorson also serves on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Communications from Governors State University, and first entered public service in 1993 when she was elected Crete Township Clerk. Prior to entering Congress, Halvorson served as an Illinois State Senator from 1997 until 2009, and was the first woman ever to serve as Majority Leader.  While in the State Senate, Halvorson focused on health care, labor, women’s and veterans’ issues.  Halvorson is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and currently serves as a co-chair on the coalition’s Energy Task Force.

Thomas Weirich isVice President of Corporate Relations at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), where he develops and manages corporate advertising and marketing, membership services, recruitment and engagement programs, as well as corporate fundraising.  Mr. Weirich also coordinates corporate visibility and engagement at ACORE’s national events. Through ACORE, he also works closely with the North American Secretariat of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), started by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as with many foreign Embassies, Trade Commissions and Trade Associations, promoting international import and export of  U.S. renewable energy technologies.

George Sterzinger, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Policy Project, has more than 20 years experience in energy policy and regulation and clean technology commercialization. In the late 1980’s as Commissioner of the Vermont Dept. of Public Service he initiated state efforts to secure an advanced gasifier that could use waste wood to power an advanced turbine generator. Mr. Sterzinger also worked extensively with the Corporation for Solar Technologies and Renewable Resources to establish a solar development zone in Nevada. Mr. Sterzinger’s experience convinces him that renewable development must have more than strong research and technology development.

Barry Matchett is the Environmental Law and Policy Center's (ELPC) Co-Legislative Director and a Policy Advocate working on ELPC’s Energy Project to develop renewable energy resources and policies, implement the new clean energy development programs of the Federal Farm Bill, and advocate state-based global warming solutions policies and programs. Mr. Matchett previously worked as Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. He has also worked on several national and local political campaigns. M.P.P., University of Chicago, 2001; B.A., Political Science, Grinnell College, 1994.

Darren Small is the Assistant Vice President, Energy Resources Specialty and Biofuels Segment Leader, and member of the Green Team at Chubb. He has more than 20 years experience underwriting property and casualty coverage for energy and renewable fuels risks around the world. Having worked in both the Canadian and U.S. insurance marketplaces, he holds a Canadian Risk Management designation, and has a B.A. in finance and economics from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Having developed Chubb's underwriting guidelines for biofuels risks, he currently leads Chubb's Biofuels Segment worldwide.

Ross Nordstrom is Managing Director of Insurance Services at Mesirow Financial. Ross has more than 20 years of experience inthe insurance industry, and specializes in large, complex domestic and global property accounts, marine and energy exposures, international coverages, captive applications Prior to joining Mesirow Financial, served as team leader in the Property Syndication department for AON Risk Services, central U.S. property manager for AIG WorldSource and home office director for property and DIC lines at RLI. He holds Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.B.S., Michigan Technological University, RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society), associate member, CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) Society, society member and international section member.

Rob Collecott is the Director of Energy at Miller Insurance in London. He has more than 20 years of industry experience; specializing in the strategy and planning of downstream energy placements and programs for a wide range of entities including major integrated oil companies, public utilities and IPP's.  Within Miller he is responsible for the development, production and marketing of the downstream energy portfolio with particular emphasis on utility business.

 

LOCATION & PARKING:

The Bone Student Center is located at the corner of North University Street and West College Avenue at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. The Visitor's Parking Lot is located just south of the Bone Student Center, with an entrance off of West Locust, with a cost of $.80 an hour for visitors.
- Area map with directions to Illinois State University
- ISU Campus Map

 

COST TO ATTEND:

$150 per Person.

$100 Founding Members of the Center for Renewable Energy (click here for a list) or Corporate Sponsors of the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services (click here for a list). Early Bird Rate. For online registration, use PROMO CODE: MEMBER2.

$30 College or University faculty or students (valid ID required at registration). Early Bird Rate. For online registration, use PROMO CODE: COLLEGE.

$10 Illinois State University faculty or students (valid ID required at registration) Early Bird Rate. As of September 4th, the rate will change to $10. For online registration, use PROMO CODE: ISU2.

 


Questions? Please email RenewableEnergy@ilstu.edu.


NOTE: Only presenting speakers and official exhibitors will be allowed to distribute informational materials at the conference. For more information on exhibiting at this event, please contact jniezgoda@ilstu.edu.


The Center for Renewable Energy, Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services, Illinois Wind Working Group, its members, board members, Director, staff, agents and other representatives expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information posted on this site, directly or via a link, authored by others. Any person that relies on any such information does so at his or her own risk, and shall not attempt to hold the Center for Renewable Energy, Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services, IWWG or its representatives liable or responsible in any way.


Illinois State University

RenewableEnergy@IllinoisState.edu

Center for Renewable Energy
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5020
Normal, IL 61790-5020 Phone: (309) 438-7919