Developing Regulatory Paths for Safe, Equitable, & Rapid Fusion Energy Deployment
December 5, 2023
11:30 AM – 12:40 PM GST
Middlesex University Dubai, Marrakesh Room
Block 16 Knowledge Park Dubai United Arab Emirates
Part of Climate Law and Governance Day (CLGD) 2023. CLDG2023 builds on a series of special events co-hosted by key partners from the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) during the UNFCCC climate conferences since the 2005 MOP1/COP11 in Montreal, Canada to mobilise the international law and governance community to help implement the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement in the context of the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Chair:
Jane Hotchkiss has spent 30 years working on climate solutions in energy, beginning in the late 80’s in CA working with former regulatory staff and with CEOs focused on building markets for the renewable industry. She became known for green energy in MA and CO, as the first renewables advocate at both the Conservation Law Foundation and the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies. In addition to her pro-renewable advocacy, policy, and regulatory work, Jane worked to highlight the fossil problem, developing a national field of anti-coal campaigns, as co-founder of the Clean Air Task Force (CATF). As a climate consultant to PG&E on the Madison Wind Project and their national energy team, she was the only external consultant to the first utility wind project in the East.
In the mid 2000s, Jane served as Managing Director of the solar company CEI, where she combined market incentives with a growing green municipal electric interest to secure JPMorgan financing and site control for a 30 MW project, only to face the municipal utilities’ preference for short term natural gas in 2012. Looking for a solution supportive of expanding renewable and climate energy solution markets brought Jane to the promise of fusion energy. The need for fusion’s potential steady state, safe, zero carbon energy supply had never been clearer. Its ability to balance renewable grids and disrupt fossil’s hold on electricity, meet industrial needs, and even produce transportation fuels is compelling. Fusion was the natural place to utilize her energy market experience and climate knowledge. With ECG she now dedicates her expertise to building a roadmap for fusion as a regulated, accepted, and welcomed green commercial choice.
As a citizen, Jane served two terms as an elected member of the Concord Select Board in Concord, MA, completing her civic duties in June 2021.
Panelists:
Dr Thomas P Davis is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Oxford Sigma, an advanced materials fusion technology company based in UK and USA. Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy and our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services to the fusion industry. Thomas is the Chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section III Division 4 “Fusion Energy Devices” which sets the construction standard framework for fusion power stations around the world. He holds multiple fusion patents and has published fusion scientific papers. Thomas has a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Oxford.
Jennifer Ganten joined Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) in early 2021 to lead a cross-functional team of government affairs, public affairs, and open innovation building a fusion movement, growing global support for this credible solution to climate change. She brings decades of experience in energy policy, advocacy, partnership building and global market expansion to CFS.
Ganten previously was the Vice President, Federal Affairs & International Market Expansion at bluebird bio, and prior to that spent nearly 20 years with Chevron, leading the development and execution of corporate strategy on critical policy issues including climate change and environmental, social & governance (ESG). While at Chevron, Ganten led large scale community initiatives, implemented social impact programs, and managed U.S. and foreign government relationships. She has experience working in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Ganten received a B.Sc. in International Affairs from Drexel University, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Jim McNiel has spent 35 years as a vanguard of innovation, serving as the architect and visionary behind numerous technology companies focused on digital transformation in an increasingly connected global society. As Global Chief Marketing Officer at TAE Technologies, the world’s leader in hydrogen-boron fusion research, Jim is responsible for TAE’s global brand and positioning as the company develops a commercial fusion solution to deliver carbon-free, non-radioactive baseload energy to the planet.
Jim served on the Board of Directors of TAE Technologies for over a decade prior to being appointed to his role as Chief Marketing Officer. As an early investor in TAE, Jim has witnessed the challenges and achievements experienced by TAE in its pursuit of commercial fusion power.
Jim formally joined the company in 2021 after spending decades at the forefront of several successful technology firms. He most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer and Board Director at ProHawk, which produces the most advanced military- and commercial-grade video enhancement software. Prior to that, he was Global Chief Marketing Officer at NETSCOUT, the leading provider of service assurance and network performance management systems.
In addition to building successful tech firms such as Netegrity and OutlookSoft, Jim has served as CEO of PrimeGen US, CEO of FalconStor Software, General Partner of Pequot Capital, co-founder of Cheyenne Software, Senior Director of Advanced Products for AST Research, and a lead software engineer at LucasFilm Ltd.
He was also the Executive Producer and co-creator of “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World,” a documentary directed by Werner Herzog that explores the promise and pitfalls of our technology-centric world. Jim has attended The Wharton School for business administration and management as well as MIT Sloan School of Management for finance for engineers
Humphrey Mrema is the Chairman of the Youth Survival Organization, urban planner, and sustainability advocate renowned for his dedication to climate action, energy transition, and empowering youth and communities in Tanzania.
Humphrey brings more than five years of experience working with youth-led not-for-profit initiatives, and he has made a profound impact on urban planning, policy advocacy, and climate education in Tanzania and beyond.
Humphrey’s expertise in advocacy, policy negotiations, and capacity development has resulted in influential global policies, like the Doha Program of Action for Least Developed Countries (DPoA) and the Kampala Declaration for Migration, Environment, and Climate Change.
His adept leadership, public speaking, writing, event, and project management skills, have mobilized diverse groups to join the sustainable future movement.
Internationally, he has engaged in initiatives like the Youth4Climate Initiative and Climate Vulnerable Forum ensuring youth voices are heard in global climate discussions.
Humphrey’s story is a testament to the impact of passion, commitment, and shaping the relentless pursuit of a sustainable future.
Andrew Proffitt is a Regulatory Specialist at Helion Energy where he leads regulatory affairs at the state, federal, and international levels. Prior to joining Helion, he worked at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for fourteen years in a wide array of roles, including Acting Branch Chief of Advanced Reactor Licensing and Senior Project Manager for Fusion. Mr. Proffitt led the development of the policy paper providing options to the Commission for licensing and regulating fusion systems and served as the NRC’s external contact for the Fusion Industry Association (FIA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), fusion energy companies, non-governmental organizations, and other interested stakeholders.
He also served as the Agency’s Lead Project Manager for Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) where he developed an agency-wide project plan, coordinated Commission briefings and Senate hearings, conducted a phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT) exercise, and oversaw development of NRC guidance. Mr. Proffitt interfaced with DOE, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), industry leading utilities, and other stakeholders.
Andrew also served as a Technical Assistant in the Japan Lessons-Learned Division implementing safety improvements at domestic nuclear power plants following the Fukushima event and began his career at the NRC as a Reactor Systems Engineer specializing in fuel design and transient analysis of operating reactors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee.