Speakers, Keynote Panel Announced for 2021 Virtual Montgomery County Energy Summit

Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Green Building Council National Capital Region, co-hosts of the 2021 Montgomery County Energy Summit, have announced the opening plenary speaker lineup and keynote panel for the event. Now in its eighth year, the green building event will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 health crisis from Tuesday, May 4, through Thursday, May 6.

The lineup of opening plenary speakers for Tuesday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 5, will include:

• Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich
• Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker
• Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Earl Stoddard
• U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
• U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen
• Congressman John Sarbanes
• Congressman David Trone
• William Ellis, Pepco’s regional vice president of Government and External Affairs
• Chris Pyke, vice president of product for ArcSkoru
• Dave Hostetler, controls and solutions sales leader for Boland
• Julie Wolfington, energy and sustainability leader for Boland
• Mark Bryan, director of USGBC National Capital Region
• Lindsey Shaw, manager of energy and sustainability programs for Montgomery County DEP

Remarks will center around the Summit’s theme of “Resiliency, from Building to Community.” The focus will include the future of the resiliency of the commercial, multifamily and residential built environment and how our community can adapt to a changing climate.

In addition to opening plenary speakers, the 2021 Energy Summit will feature a keynote panel on “Resilience in the Built Environment” from 9:40-10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5. The panel will discuss what resilience in the built environment looks like in practice and will answer questions.

Topics to addressed during the keynote panel discussion likely will include:

• What are the leaders in building resilience doing now to turn planning into action?
• How can policymakers and building code developers catalyze market transformation?
• How has the pandemic reshaped plans moving forward as we work to create resilient communities?

The keynote panel will include:

• Benjamin H. Grumbles , Maryland Secretary of the Environment
• Mary Beth Tung, Maryland Energy administration director
• Kim Cheslak, director of codes for the New Buildings Institute
• Moderator: Katherine Hammack, director of special projects at Green Business Certification, Inc.

On May 6, County DEP Director Adam Ortiz will give closing remarks prior to the final education session, focused on preparing for Building Energy Performance Standards.

In addition to the keynote panel and opening plenary remarks, the Summit will include breakout education sessions, topical networking salons and interactive brown bag lunches. All education sessions will be submitted for continuing education credits for Green Business Certification, Inc., and the American Institute of Architects.

To review the full agenda and register for the Energy Summit, visit MCEnergySummit.org.

Scholarships are available for students and government professionals. To apply for a scholarship, go to https://usgbc.wufoo.com/forms/qvgu6qc0cptzev/.

Questions about the Summit can be emailed to energy@montgomerycountymd.gov.