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Summary
Gas utilities see potential for low-carbon hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG) to contribute to emission reductions goals. In recent years, US distribution system operators have launched dozens of hydrogen pilot projects. The companies are also embarking on a growing number of RNG endeavors, from investing in production facilities to marketing and transporting the fuel.
S&P Global will convene a panel of experts to explore the emerging role of hydrogen and RNG in gas utility sustainability strategies. Topics will include:
- RNG and hydrogen blending: Opportunities and obstacles
- Projects to date: How gas utilities are preparing to integrate low-carbon fuels
- Regulatory reception: Paths to cost recovery for fuel procurement and investments
- View from Wall Street: How investors are valuing low-carbon fuel endeavors
Moderator
S&P Global Energy
Tom DiChristopher
S&P Global Energy
Senior Reporter
Tom began covering energy during the 2014 oil price downturn.
Tom began covering energy during the 2014 oil price downturn. He reported on U.S. shale producers, oil market geopolitics, OPEC and federal energy policy before focusing on downstream natural gas. He covers corporate earnings, regulation, M&A and decarbonization strategies in the gas utility sector. He is well-versed in building gas bans and electrification mandates, state and local climate policy and renewable natural gas and hydrogen uptake among gas distributors. His pipeline safety coverage encompasses federal and state regulation, incident investigation and critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
Speakers
Neil Navin
Southern California Gas Co.
Chief Clean Fuels Officer
Neil Navin is chief clean fuels officer for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a Sempra regulated California utility.
Neil Navin is chief clean fuels officer for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a Sempra regulated California utility. He oversees SoCalGas’ comprehensive portfolio of clean energy strategies, innovations and projects to support the utility’s role as a long-term leader enabling California’s clean energy future. Navin’s focus is on delivering tangible innovations and projects in new and growing markets, including renewable natural gas, hydrogen and fuel cells, all of which are aligned to SoCalGas’ mission, strategy and sustainability plan.
Previously, Navin was vice president of construction for SoCalGas and SDG&E. Since joining SoCalGas in 2014, Navin has served in a number of increasingly responsible management positions, including director of major projects and director of storage risk management. Prior to this, Navin held project management positions with the Fluor and Parsons companies. His previous experience included work on sulfur recovery, gas compression processing, oil and gas production, refining, pipeline engineering, chemical weapons destruction, biogas treatment, fuel cell power generation, and petrochemical plant projects throughout the United States, Middle East and Europe.
Justin Stankiewicz
Chesapeake Utilities Corp.
Director of RNG Development
Justin Stankiewicz graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University in Northwest Ohio.
Justin Stankiewicz graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University in Northwest Ohio. He started his career in public accounting working as a Lead Auditor for a small CPA Firm where he conducted audits of Florida governments, municipal electric, water and sewer systems, as well as landfills. From there Justin made the leap from public accounting to the government sector and took roles as Chief Financial Officer and Office of Management and Budget Director for small and midsized counties in Florida where he strengthened his accounting knowledge while developing experience in land and economic development planning.
In March of 2019, Justin joined Chesapeake Utilities Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst and quickly got promoted to Supervisor of Business Planning over the Florida Division where his duties included strategic planning, forecasting and financial analysis. From there he was tagged to become Chesapeake’s Business Development Manager responsible for all of the companies renewable natural gas growth initiatives. Today, his duties include commercial negotiations, contract preparation, project management and oversight related to all renewable natural gas investments, pipeline projects and virtual pipeline opportunities.
Jay Rhame
Reaves Asset Management
Co-portfolio manager of Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF and CEO
Jay Rhame joined Reaves Asset Management in 2005 and was named Chief Executive Officer in January 2019.
Jay Rhame joined Reaves Asset Management in 2005 and was named Chief Executive Officer in January 2019. Previously he served as a telecommunications, energy, and utility analyst. Jay also is a co-portfolio manager of the Reaves Utility Income Fund and the Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF. In June 2021, Jay was appointed to serve as President of the Reaves Utility Income Fund. He is a member of the portfolio review and risk management committees. Jay received a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is a CFA Charterholder.
S&P Global Energy
Lillian Federico
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Research Director, Energy
Ms. Federico has been following the U.S. power and gas utility sector for more than 30 years, with an emphasis on state regulatory policy.
She joined Regulatory Research Associates, or RRA, immediately upon her graduation from Drew University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with a minor in Business. She was awarded an MBA in Financial Management from Pace University in 1992.
RRA was acquired by SNL Financial in 2005. Ms. Federico took over as RRA President in 2011. Following the acquisition of SNL by McGraw Hill Financial, now S&P Global, she became a Research Director in the Energy Research team of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
In her current role she spearheads the team's analysis of emerging trends in energy regulation and has primary responsibility for the team's coverage of six regulatory jurisdictions.
Peter Gardett
Executive Director, Climate and Cleantech
Peter is an executive director for S&P Global Energy and is part of a dedicated research team that provides integrated climate and cleantech advisory research to the financial sector.
Peter is an executive director for S&P Global Energy and is part of a dedicated research team that provides integrated climate and cleantech advisory research to the financial sector. Peter has more than 20 years of experience in energy and commodities markets as a journalist, analyst, entrepreneur, and executive. His work at S&P Global Energy focuses on the energy transition and cleantech, including solar, wind, hydrogen, batteries, and storage.
Event Support