2026 Schedule of Events

Independent Energy Producers Association's 2026 Annual Meeting

Three days of policy, market insight, and member connection in the Lake Tahoe basin.

September 21, 2026 – September 23, 2026Dates
Stanford Sierra Conference CenterFallen Leaf Lake
Open nowRegistration

Day 01

Day 1 - Monday, September 21, 2026

Mon · Sep 21, 2026

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

IEPA GOLF TOURNAMENT AT LAKE TAHOE GOLF COURSE

Advance Sign-Up Required

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN

Check-in at Stanford Office Window for Room/Parking.

Check-in at IEP Conference Table in Lobby for Meeting Packet & Badge.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

WELCOME RECEPTION

Downstairs in Cathedral Room

Reception

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

WELCOME DINNER

Stanford Dining Room

Dinner

8:00 PM - 8:40 PM

KEYNOTE DINNER SPEAKER

Patti Poppe, CEO
Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation
Stanford Dining Room

Dinner

Day 02

Day 2 - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Tue · Sep 22, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

BREAKFAST

Stanford Dining Room

Breakfast

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Virinder Singh, Board Chair
Independent Energy Producers Association

Jan Smutny-Jones, Chief Executive Officer
Independent Energy Producers Association

Downstairs in Cathedral Room

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

ARE WE THERE YET? WHERE TO NEXT?

Arne Olson, Principal
Energy & Environmental Economics, Inc.

Cathedral Room

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

MEETING CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE, RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY GOALS

Leuwam Tesfai, Executive Director
California Public Utilities Commission

10:00 AM - 10:20 AM

BREAK

Break

10:20 AM - 11:20 SAM

UTILITY PROCUREMENT- 2026-2035

William Walsh, Vice President, Energy Procurement & Management
Southern California Edson

Miguel Romero, Senior VP, Chief Commercial Officer
San Diego Gas & Electric

Mark Muranish, Director - Structured Energy Transactions
Pacific Gas and Electric Company

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM

BEYOND OBBB; MARKET SURVIVAL AND REBOUND

Keith Martin, Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

11:50 AM - Noon

MORNING WRAP

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

LUNCH

Stanford Dining Room

Lunch

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

TRANSMISSION AND GROWING MARKETS

Mark Rothleder, Chief Operating Officer
CAISO

Cathedral Room

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

REGIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN ENERGY

Kathleen Staks, Executive Director
Western Freedom

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

TOPIC

Siva Gunda, Vice Chair
California Energy Commission

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

REGULATORY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Sara Fitzsimon, Policy Director
Independent Energy Producers Association

Brian Cragg, Partner
Downey Brand LLP

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

IEPA MEMBER MEETING

IEPA Members Only Meeting
Cathedral Room

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FREE TIME

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

RECEPTION

Downstairs in Cathedral Room

Reception

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

DINNER

Stanford Dining Room

Dinner

8:00 PM - 8:40 PM

DINNER SPEAKER: Big Challenges Affordability, Fire and Electrification

Matt Baker, Commissioner
California Public Utilities Commission

Dinner

Day 03

Day 3 - Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Wed · Sep 23, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

BREAKFAST

Stanford Dining Room

Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

TOPIC

Speaker, Title
Company

Cathedral Room

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

RESOURCE ADEQUACY + RCPPP = ALMOST THERE?

Sara Fitzsimon, Policy Director
Independent Energy Producers Association

Lauren Carr, Deputy Director of Regulatory Affairs
California Community Choice Association

Carrie Bentley, CEO
Gridwell Consulting

Hilary Hebert, Principal Consultant
HMH Energy

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

CCA PROCUREMENT PANEL

Eric Little, Director of Market Design
California Community Choice Association

Mark Burgunder, Senior Originator
California Community Power

Dan Peckham
Clean Energy Alliance

Kris Van Vactor, Director of Power Resources
Silicon Valley Clean Energy

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

TOPIC

Speaker, Title
Company

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM

FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSION

Jan Smutny-Jones, CEO
Independent Energy Producers Association

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

LUNCH

Stanford Dining Room

Lunch

1:00 PM

DEPARTURE

Check-out and safe travels

Important Notes

Check out of your room by 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 23rd. Please store your luggage in your car or in the Lodge Lobby.
Casual attire and comfortable shoes are recommended.
Speakers and events are subject to change.
Attorney MCLE credits will be provided for 2nd & 3rd days only.

Ready to Join Us?

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with environmental professionals, learn about the latest developments, and contribute to the future of environmental protection in a stunning mountain setting.

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Day 02

Day 2 - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Tue · Sep 22, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

BREAKFAST

Stanford Dining Room

Breakfast

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Virinder Singh, Board Chair
Independent Energy Producers Association

Jan Smutny-Jones, Chief Executive Officer
Independent Energy Producers Association

Downstairs in Cathedral Room

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

ARE WE THERE YET? WHERE TO NEXT?

Arne Olson, Principal
Energy & Environmental Economics, Inc.

Cathedral Room

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

MEETING CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE, RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY GOALS

Leuwam Tesfai, Executive Director
California Public Utilities Commission

10:00 AM - 10:20 AM

BREAK

Break

10:20 AM - 11:20 SAM

UTILITY PROCUREMENT- 2026-2035

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM

BEYOND OBBB; MARKET SURVIVAL AND REBOUND

Keith Martin, Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

11:50 AM - Noon

MORNING WRAP

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

LUNCH

Stanford Dining Room

Lunch

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

TRANSMISSION AND GROWING MARKETS

Mark Rothleder, Chief Operating Officer
CAISO

Cathedral Room

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

REGIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN ENERGY

Kathleen Staks, Executive Director
Western Freedom

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

TOPIC

Siva Gunda, Vice Chair
California Energy Commission

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

REGULATORY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Sara Fitzsimon, Policy Director
Independent Energy Producers Association

Brian Cragg, Partner
Downey Brand LLP

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

IEPA MEMBER MEETING

IEPA Members Only Meeting
Cathedral Room

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FREE TIME

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

RECEPTION

Downstairs in Cathedral Room

Reception

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

DINNER

Stanford Dining Room

Dinner

8:00 PM - 8:40 PM

DINNER SPEAKER: Big Challenges Affordability, Fire and Electrification

Matt Baker, Commissioner
California Public Utilities Commission

Dinner