The Georgia Tech Clean Energy Speaker Series welcomes four guest speakers to discuss the best practices for improving regional energy efficiency. The goal of the Series is to provide an objective, factual and comprehensive analysis of the Southeast’s energy and power requirements to 2030 and to examine the extent to which clean energy technologies can meet some of these demands.

Today's speakers will consider requirements for development of successful utility, commercial and residential-scale solar projects in the Southeast. Considerations will include site location, power purchase agreements, project finance and public policy.

Amy Heinemann, Policy Analyst, North Carolina Solar Center 
Amy’s work includes researching state, local and utility incentives and policies for the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). She focuses on policies in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest and also manages DSIRE Solar and the DSIRE Quantitative Database. Amy’s research interests have focused on renewable energy development, climate change policy, industrial ecology, and corporate sustainability.

Amy has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the George Washington University and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Michael Shore, CEO, FLS Energy
FLS Energy has developed, designed, installed, and financed some of the most important solar energy projects in the Southeast. Micahel’s company has grown from three employees in 2006 to over 50 employees today. He has written extensively on sustainability issues, and has served on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Leadership Group and North Carolina’s Global Climate Change Commission.

Michael has a Masters in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a second Masters in Environmental Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kerinia Cusick, Director of Government Affairs, SunEdison
With a background in energy policy and renewable energy financial analysis, Kerinia Cusick works to develop solar friendly policies in states east of the Mississippi. In this role, Kerinia primarily supports legislators, regulators, and energy offices focusing on creating solar markets in their states. Kerinia joined SunEdison from Think Energy, a renewable energy consulting firm. In that role, she worked with clients to evaluate the financial benefit of renewable energy technologies and did preliminary design of a state-wide renewable energy portfolio

Kerinia holds an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. She is a co-chair of Women’s Council on Energy and Environment, and a member of the Board of Directors for Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industry Association.