RECAP - Stories & Beer: Accelerating the Solar Revolution

Tonight, we hosted our monthly "Stories & Beer" Fireside Chat at the Impact Hub, and online via webcam. 

Solar energy is hotter than ever, but it’s still only a small percentage of our overall electricity production.  What’s being done to speed it along?

We learned from experts in innovation, from both the grassroots and major-scale utility level, about the current state of solar adoption and what various players are doing to advance it.

HERE'S THE RECAP VIDEO FROM THE FIRESIDE CHAT:

 

Monthly Event Schedule

• 6:30 – 7:00 – beers and networking


• 7:00 – 8:00 – fireside chat and Q&A


• 8:00 – 8:30 – networking

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS: 

Andreas Karelas, Executive Director, RE-volv

Andreas is a dedicated renewable energy advocate with over ten years of environmental and renewable energy nonprofit experience. Andreas incorporated RE-volv as a nonprofit organization in February 2011. Prior to founding RE-volv Andreas worked with a number of leading organizations including the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the National Audubon Society, blueEnergy, and the Center for Resource Solutions. Andreas holds Master’s degrees in International Affairs and in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He is a 2013 Audubon Toyota TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Fellow. He also serves on the Steering Committee of the Local Clean Energy Alliance.

Jason Rissman, Managing Director, OpenIDEO

As Managing Director, Jason leads the OpenIDEO team in expanding the impact of IDEO’s Design Thinking methodology by allowing people everywhere to collaborate in addressing pressing global issues. OpenIDEO is an open innovation platform and community that hosts sponsored challenges on topics ranging from Ebola and adoption of renewable energy, to early childhood development and youth employment.

Brian Bishop, Senior Program Manager, PG&E

Brian Bishop is the Senior Program Manager of the California Solar Initiative Thermal Program and Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) at Pacific Gas and Electric utility in San Francisco, CA. These are Statewide incentive programs to promote the adoption of solar water heating, wind, energy storage, fuel cell and other technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Brian has many years of senior business management and renewable energy experience in the solar thermal, photovoltaic, green building, non-profit, government and utility sectors. He’s been responsible for the management of hundreds of PV installations in California and Arizona, has solar on his own roof, and is interested in resolving environmental issues with creative and sustainable business practices. He holds a MA in Environmental Science & Geography, and a MBA in Sustainable Management.

Chime in to the chat on Twitter using #3pChat!