Advocating for Energy-Impacted Communities and Sound Policies
Communicating the Benefits of an All-the-Above Energy Economy
Educating the Public on Energy Diversity
Past Agendas
2025
​​Thursday – June 26, 2025
7:30 – 8:15
Registration and Networking – Continental Breakfast
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8:15 – 8:30
JOLT Introductions & Recognition of Sponsors and Speakers
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8:30 – 9:15
Mining and Colorado’s Energy Sector – Adam Eckman, President, Colorado Mining Association
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9:15 – 10:00
Energy Poverty – Anne Hyre, Liberty Energy, Bettering Human Lives Foundation Energy Affordability – Jennifer Gremmert, CEO, Energy Outreach Colorado
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10:00 – 10:15 Break (Thanks to Tammie Vines & her staff)
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10:15 – 11:00 Solar Panel – Brian S. McCurdy Alluvial Power; Austin Kinzer, Agrivoltaics Specialist, American Farmland
Trust; Jordan House, COO, Vanguard Solar Services | Moderator: Matt Shuler
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11:00 – 11:45 Battery Storage Technology – CEO-Glen Justis, Acclaim Strategies, LLC
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11:50 – 12:50 Lunch – Featuring a short video of Moffat County: https://vimeo.com/481818957
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12:50 – 1:45 Keynote Address – The Honorable Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
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1:45 – 2:30 Geothermal Power Generation – Dr. John H. Held (Marketing, Law, and Finance)
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2:30 – 2:45 Break (Thanks to all our sponsors)
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2:45 – 3:30 Training and Education of Workers Panel – Kathern Regjo (CMC), Jeremy Ross (IBEW), Meghan Davis (CNCC Academic Dean) | Moderators: Dr. Lisa Jones & Dr. Matt Gianneschi
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3:30 – 4:15 Local and State Economic Impacts of Energy – Dr. Nathan Perry/CMU
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4:15 – 5:00 NCEI Communities LEAP Modeling Project – Matt Solomon, Project Manager & Jamie Cutlip-Gorman, Senior Regional Planner & Community Engagement with NREL
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5:00 – 7:00 Reception & Social Hour – Announcements and Networking
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Friday – June 27, 2025
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7:30 – 8:15 Hot Breakfast & Social Time – Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
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8:15 – 9:00 Adding Nuclear to the Mix – Emily Nichols, program coordinator for the Department of Energy's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN)
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9:00 – 9:45 Electrification Panel – Travis Sondrol (Tri-State G&T Operations), Nick Wagner-VP of Regulatory, Black Hills Energy), Tyler Smith, Director of Reginal Government Affairs at Xcel Energy & Moderator: Brad McCloud, Xcel Energy
9:45 – 10:15 Natural Gas – Briston Jones, Public Affairs Manager, Atmos Energy
10:15 –Noon Onsite tour with the presentation at the Holy Cross Solar Arrays at Rifle Garfield County Airport – Lisa Reed, Energy Programs Manager, Holy Cross Energy! The first 25 to sign up and a shuttle bus will be available
For those not on the solar tour:
10:30 – 11:15 The Electrical Grid & Wholesale Energy Markets-Colorado’s Unique Position – CEO-Glen Justis, Acclaim Strategies LLC
11:15 – 11:50 Unconventional Coal Mine Methane Capture – Chris Caskey, Scientist in Greenhouse Gas Management
11:50 – 12:00 Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks – Announcing 2026 Energy Summit
12:00 Lunch on Your Own – Safe travels home! See you next year!!!
All-of-the-Above Energy Solutions
JOLT Goals
· Advocate for energy-impacted communities and sound policies.
· Communicate the benefits of an “All-of-the-Above” energy economy.
· Educate the public about energy diversity.
2023
Friday, June 2, 2023
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Ray Beck, Chair, JOLT Committee
8:45 AM – 8:55 AM
Phil Weiser
Colorado Attorney General
“Innovation Through Transition”
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Matt Shuler
Editor, The Jackson County Star
“Where Does Energy Come From Anyway?”
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Christine King
Director, GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear)
“Current Happenings in Energy Innovation”
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Chris Colclasure
Air Quality & Environmental Attorney, Beatty & Wozniak, P.C.
“Permitting in the Modern World”
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch & Featured Speaker
Tim Osborn, Tri-State Generation & Transmission
“Resilience in Regional Energy Systems”
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Don Day
Meteorologist, DayWeather
“The State of Climate: A Realistic Perspective”
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Legislative & Policy Panel
Bryan Hanson, Chris Colclasure, Don Day, David Ramsden-Wood
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Moderator: Rep. Rose Pugliese, Colorado House District 14 “Legislative Updates & Energy Policy Trends”
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Panel Discussion: Coal is Not Dead
“Alternative Uses of Carbon”
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Davin Bagdonas, University of Wyoming
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Rick Parkins, SME (Industry Expert)
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Moderator: Matt Shuler, The Jackson County Star
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Gregory Clough
Director, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines
“Global Energy Futures & Emerging Research”
4:15 PM – 4:55 PM
David Bernhardt
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior
“Making Sense of the Current Energy Policy Landscape”
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Evening Social Hour
Hosted at the Quality Inn
Networking and refreshments
Saturday, June 3
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast & Networking Social
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Stan Dempsey
President, Colorado Mining Association
“Hard Rock Mining & Battery Storage Integration”
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Kara Choquette
Director of Communications, Power Company of Wyoming & TransWest Express
“Overview of the West’s Largest Renewable Energy Projects”
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Robin Lunt
Chief Commercial Officer, Guzman Energy
“Industrial Solar: Challenges and Opportunities in the Renewable Sector”
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
Note: Tri-State Power Plant Tours Depart (Pre-Registration Required)
Limited availability: 30 total spots, 10 participants per group
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Energy Café & Industry Networking
Hosted by:
Trapper Mine, Xcel Energy, Tri-State G&T, Black Hills Energy,
Colorado Mining Association, DMEA, Guzman Energy,
Power Company of Wyoming, McKinstry, and others (TBD)
12:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Ray Beck, Chair, JOLT Committee
2024
Thursday, June 27, 2024
7:30 – 8:15 AM
Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30 AM
Welcome Remarks & Introductions
Sue Hansen, JOLT | Sponsor & Speaker Recognition
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Powering the West
Kara Choquette, Director of Communications – Power Company of Wyoming & TransWest Express
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Keynote Presentation: Inconvenient Energy Realities & Climate Policy Debates
Dr. Roger Pielke Jr., University of Colorado
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Nuclear Energy Panel: Innovation, Investment & Infrastructure
Moderator: Christine King, GAIN
Panelists:
• Matt Solomon, NCEI
• Matt Wright, Startup Executive
• Stephanie Weir, Idaho National Laboratory
11:15 – 12:00 PM
Engineering Renewable Solutions
Mateusz Pena, Chief Engineering Officer – DMEA
Focus: Hydro and Solar Integration
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Featured Speaker
Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
Speaking on Grant Opportunities (12:30–12:50 PM)
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Keynote: Storage Synergy – Pumped Hydro, Electric & Natural Gas
Greg Walcher, Natural Resources Policy Expert
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Geothermal & Hydrocarbon Synergies
Doug Sandridge, Senior VP – Fulcrum Energy Capital
2:30 – 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 – 3:30 PM
Geothermal Panel: From Campus to Grid
Moderator: Matt Shuler
Panelists:
• Kent Marsh, VP Capital Planning – CMU
• Travis Sondrol, Tri-State G&T
• Bryce Carter, CEO & Program Manager
3:30 – 4:15 PM
Weather Trends & Energy Forecasting
Don Day, Meteorologist – El Niño & La Niña Impacts
4:15 – 5:00 PM
Navigating Regulatory Hurdles in Emerging Markets
Robin Lunt, Chief Commercial Officer – Guzman Energy
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Reception & Networking Social
Join us for drinks, appetizers, and continued conversation
Friday, June 28, 2024
7:45 – 8:30 AM
Continental Breakfast & Informal Networking
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Federal Funding & Local Initiatives
Lisa Pool & Eric Lowe – Build Back Better Strategy
9:00 – 9:40 AM
Innovative Uses for Carbon
Davin Bagdonas, University of Wyoming
9:40 – 10:15 AM
Alternative Economies for Energy Transition
Lee Wheeler-Berliner
10:15 – 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 – 11:15 AM
The Origin of Electricity
Matt Shuler
11:15 – 11:50 AM
Understanding the Modern Grid
John Gavan
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Ray Beck
