Reflecting on gridCONNEXT® 2024: Grid Evolution: From Pilot to Scale

This year’s gridCONNEXT® 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together visionary leaders, members of Congress, officials from federal and state and state agencies, and innovators to shape the future of America’s energy grid. Held in Washington, D.C., the event focused on the theme of “Grid Evolution: Pilot to Scale” and spanned two days of thought-provoking sessions, networking opportunities, and actionable insights into the challenges and opportunities of modernizing the grid.

Highlights from the Sessions
The conference kicked off with a warm welcome from Karen Wayland, CEO of GridWise Alliance, and Mark Gabriel, Board Chair and CEO of United Power, setting an optimistic tone for the event.

Day 1 sessions included an opening discussion on the impact of the 2024 election results on energy policy, a panel on strategic enablers for the modern grid focusing on AI and optimization tools, and an engaging session on addressing the challenges of load growth. Additional sessions explored grid edge resources to accelerate decarbonization and strategies for integrating distributed energy technologies.

The day concluded with a standout Hot Seat session, where Lee Krevat of Krevat Energy Innovations interviewed Maria Robinson, director of the US Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office. Their dynamic dialogue, spiced up a “friendly” hot sauce competition, tackled innovation, regulation, and actionable steps to drive grid modernization initiatives forward in the face of changing political headwinds.

Day 2 highlights included special presentations from members of Congress Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA 10th District), co-chair of the bipartisan Grid Innovations Caucus. These distinguished guests shared their insights on the next steps for grid modernization initiatives, including finding common ground to move shared priorities forward under the new administration. Discussions emphasized the bipartisan nature of grid modernization and its critical role in addressing both political and technical challenges.

Additional Day 2 sessions focused on infrastructure investments and the regulatory frameworks necessary for enabling long-term grid resilience and decarbonization goals, as well as a presentation from the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service for the USDA, Andrew Berke, who described the game-changing investments rural cooperatives are making by leveraging nearly $10 billion in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The day ended with a robust policy workshop. Technology showcase sponsor, NYPA, presented their Advanced Grid Innovation Lab for Energy to attendees, designed to accelerate the adoption of new technologies.

Key Takeaways
This year’s discussions underscored the urgent need for robust investment in grid infrastructure, and the pivotal role of public-private collaboration. AI-driven technologies, grid-edge innovations, and proactive policy frameworks emerged as central themes in achieving a sustainable and resilient energy future.

As we look ahead, the energy community must continue to build on the momentum generated at gridCONNEXT® 2024. Together, we can lead the charge toward a cleaner, smarter, and more equitable grid.

Thank You for Joining Us! To learn more about our gridCONNEXT® 2024 sessions, click here.

The event was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors:

Premier Sponsors: Anterix, CenterPoint Energy, and GE Grid Solutions.
Supporting Sponsors: Aveva, Black & Veatch, Dell Technologies, EPRI, Guidehouse, Landis+Gyr, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Schneider Electric.
Contributing Partners: Electric Power Engineers, Grid Forward, Latitude Media, Public Utilities Fortnightly, and Utility 2030 Collaborative.
Technology Showcase Exhibitor: New York Power Authority.

THANK YOU! Your contributions have been instrumental in fostering critical conversations and advancing innovative solutions to modern energy challenges.

To everyone who attended and participated, thank you for making gridCONNEXT® 2024 an unforgettable experience. Your enthusiasm and expertise are the driving forces behind our shared vision. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference!