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The two-day workshop will feature a conversation between Governor Cox, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, and Emily Domenech, the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, about opportunities to improve permitting regulations for energy projects.

The workshop will also include panel discussions on energy affordability, long and short-duration energy storage, comprehensive permitting reform, critical mineral supply chains, and much more.

View the full agenda below. All times are MDT. 

To watch a FREE livestream of the workshop, register here. 

May 20

12:35 p.m.: Welcome and Introductions

• Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director 

12:40 p.m.: Governors’ Conversation on Permitting 

The Honorable Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah, will provide Opening Remarks before being joined by The Honorable Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming, to engage in a discussion moderated by Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director, on opportunities for improvement, innovation, and collaboration to achieve energy abundance.   

Governors will later be joined by Emily Domenech, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to discuss permitting needs and opportunities.  

1:30 p.m.: A Better Energy Mix

Meeting rapidly growing global energy demand requires immediate, scalable solutions to maintain grid reliability and energy security.  Expanding and bolstering proven, in-place energy options like sources like wind and solar and investing in existing thermal power plants to improve their efficiency and extend their longevity can help meet energy demand.   When paired with energy storage options, these technologies can provide firm, dispatchable power and contribute meaningfully to today’s reliability and capacity needs. 

• Panelists: Adam Dice, Senior Vice President of Renewables, WSP USA; Joseph Hulse, Director of Business Development, Williams; Eric Kang, Senior Manager of Commercial Development, TerraPower; Paul Maguire, Chief Engineer, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

2:40 p.m.: Investing in Long Duration and Grid Scale Storage

Long-duration and grid-scale energy storage present a significant opportunity to strengthen grid reliability, integrate more variable energy resources, and provide firm capacity during periods of extended peak demand or low generation.  Technologies like pumped hydro, thermal storage, and advanced batteries can help smooth variability, defer transmission upgrades, and improve system resilience.  However, scaling up and deploying these technologies faces many challenges, including high upfront capital costs, long development timelines, market uncertainty, and siting and permitting challenges.

• Panelists: Theresa Foxley, Chief of Staff, rPlus Energies; Patrick Reedy, Head of Hardware Products, Torus; Aric Saunders, Executive Vice President of Commercialization, Noon Energy; Mark Thompson, Senior Director of State Affairs, Form Energy.  Moderated by: Rachel Chamberlain, State Energy Strategist, State Support Center, S2 Strategies.  

3:45 p.m.: Innovative Financing for Energy Projects

Innovative financing mechanisms can play a critical role in accelerating energy infrastructure by reducing risk, attracting capital, and lowering the lifetime cost of new generation and transmission projects.  These tools can make large, capital-intensive projects more financially viable and appealing to investors.  This panel will examine how innovative project financing can de-risk investments, encourage more development, and lower the life-time cost of new generation and infrastructure. 

• Panelists: Robert Blake, Executive Director, Native Sun Community Power Development; Michael Johnson, Vice Chair, JP Morgan Chase Security and Resiliency Initiative; Ben Serrurier, Director of Government Affairs and Policy, Fervo Energy.  Moderated by: The Honorable Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming 

May 21  

8:35 a.m.: Welcome and Day 1 Recap

8:40 a.m.: The Mountain West Geothermal Consortium  

Michael O’Connor, Director of the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium will provide updates and insights from the MWGC launch and kick-off workshop.   

8:55 a.m.: Energy Affordability

The cost of energy remains a growing challenge as customers face higher utility bills driven by rising demand, fuel price volatility, infrastructure upgrades, and more frequent extreme weather.  Addressing affordability requires a multifaceted approach.  This panel will examine how strategies like expanding and diversifying energy supply, reducing system costs, improving efficiency, and ensuring that assistance reaches those most vulnerable can improve energy affordability for western residents. 

• Panelists: Jeffrey Ackermann, Senior Policy Advisor, Center for the New Energy Economy; Charles Hua, Founder and Executive Director, Powerlines; William Malcolm, Government Affairs Director, Utilities; AARP; Chris Parker, Director, Utah Division of Public Utilities; Alison Williams, Senior Vice President, Power for Tomorrow.  Moderated by: Evan Jurkovich, Vice President of Government Relations, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association 

10:00 a.m.: Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Critical minerals play an essential role in energy development, underpinning technologies such as batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and other energy systems. However, the domestic production and processing of key minerals and rare earth elements remain limited. This panel will explore how expanding responsible mining, refining, and recycling across the West presents a significant opportunity for strengthening energy security and achieving energy abundance.

• Panelists: Sid Smith, Government Affairs Manager, American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA); Raef Sully, Chief Executive Officer, Lilac Solutions; Andrea Watson, Associate Laboratory Director, Innovation, Partnering, and Outreach, National Laboratory of the Rockies  

11:00 a.m.: Energy Superabundance in the West 

Collaboration between states, whether for transmission planning and development, nuclear energy, or supply chain coordination, can support more predictable pathways for large-scale energy projects.  Strategies like shared studies and timeline coordination, or formal agreements like interstate agreements and memoranda of understanding can help states leverage their unique skills, resources, workforces, and policy frameworks to bring to bear more innovative, cost-effective, efficient energy solutions. 

• Panelists: Caleb Douglas, Principal Project Engineer, Schnabel Engineering; Joseph Gardner, Program Manager, Generation Major Projects; Salt River Project; Connor Nelson, Manager, Regulatory Affairs and Markets, National Hydropower Association; Michael Squires, Managing Director of Government Affairs, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS).  Moderated By: Amanda O’Connor, Western Business Director, Earth & Environment, WSP