Power Shift: A DER Showcase
On Saturday, March 21, 8am-1pm at Catholic University, learn about community power + see the tech + hash out policies and next steps.
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How to find us
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What it is
Electricity demand is rising. Building expensive new gas power plants take years, costs billions and drives electric bills up. Communities have existing resources such as solar panels, batteries, and smart devices in homes and businesses across the country that can meet demand right now. When utilities tap existing resources instead of building new power plants, everyone saves money and families can earn extra income selling power back to the grid.
A companion event to the consumer-focused Healthy Homes Fair, this policy-focused event hosted by Electrify DC is designed to accelerate the shift towards community power (distributed energy resources/DERs) as a cheaper, faster and more efficient solution and a tool to increase energy-affordability, stabilize the grid and allow participation in the energy market.
Program
8:00 Registration + Coffee and pastries
9:00 Kickoff + Keynote with Romita Biswas and 804 Advisory Principal and former FERC Commissioner Allison Clements
Showcases
9:20 Smart Panels and Breakers Showcase by Stepwise - enabling affordable community power by avoiding costly panel upgrades
9:40 Battery-integrated Appliance Showcase by Copper - from heat pumps to ovens
10:00 Bidirectional Charging Showcase by VGIC - EVs as batteries to power homes and grid
10:20 DER Aggregators Showcase by Elastic Energy - connecting consumers and communicating with utilities
10:40 Networking + More coffee
11:00 Panel discussion: Energy Affordability through Community Power for the People
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Moderator: Washington Post energy reporter Nicolas Rivero.
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Maryland People's Counsel David Lapp
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Grid modernization expert Jonathan Mele
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Energy policy advocate and attorney, Arlington County Commissioner Elizabeth Whitney
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CARECEN Housing Director Anabell Martinez
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DER/residential V2G early adopter Brian Foreman
12:00 Walking lunch + Exclusive tour of Healthy Homes Fair Expo innovative products and technologies
12:45 Closing by Electrify DC Executive Director Vanessa Bertelli + Healthy Homes Fair Ribbon Cutting with DC Public Service Commission Chair Emile Thompson
Who should attend
This event is designed for anyone who wants to increase energy affordability, independence, and security and
leverage community-based power for the people:
- Elected officials whose constituents are concerned with the rising price of electricity
- Policymakers from the 24 jurisdictions of the DC-region representing 2.4 million households
- Regulators from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia
- Utilities across the DC region and beyond
- Home renovations professionals, contractors and installers
- DER tech folks
- Early-adopters renters and homeowners interested in cutting-edge home energy tech
Why attend
Residents are no longer just consumers of electricity. Each home can now act as a flexible asset on the grid: unlocking capacity, shifting loads, and even generating power. With DERs like solar panels, batteries, and smart controls, homes can stabilize the grid while helping reduce rising electricity rates. Harnessing local DERs has never been more urgent. Learn:
- How cutting-edge home energy technologies can support energy affordability
- How DER aggregation can support grid stability and households’ resilience
- How other jurisdictions are approaching policy hurdles
Why we came up with the DER Showcase
Frequently Asked Questions
