2026 Energy Conference
About the Event
Thursday, June 11, 2026
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Boston Bar Association
16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
As the energy landscape continues to evolve, this conference will explore the legal, regulatory, and policy challenges shaping the future of energy in Massachusetts. Sessions will examine siting and permitting regulations, environmental justice and stakeholder engagement requirements, affordability concerns, the push toward greater energy independence amid shifting federal and state priorities, and managing the power load of the future.
Agenda
Agenda
12:00PM – 12:30PM
Commissioner Anderson Keynote
Commissioner Anderson will speak about the factors and challenges contributing to rising energy costs in the Commonwealth. She will also discuss efforts by the Department of Public Utilities to improve energy affordability and bill transparency, including the Department’s investigation into utility company distribution charges and reconciling mechanisms
- Liz Anderson, Commissioner, MA Department of Public Utilities
12:30PM – 12:45PM
Break
12:45PM – 1:45PM
Siting Update
- Rick Collins, Director, Division of Clean Energy Siting and Permitting, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
- Mike Judge, Undersecretary of Energy, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- Joan Foster Evans, Esq., General Counsel, Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board
- Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Environmental Justice and Public Participation, Department of Public Utilities
- Moderator: Marissa Grenon Gutierrez, Associate, Anderson & Kreiger LLP
- Moderator: Anxhela Mile, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation
1:45PM – 2:00PM
Break
2:00PM – 3:00PM
Energy Independence: How Massachusetts and New England can stand on its own for its energy needs
- Jackie Bihrle, Managing Attorney, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Division of Energy and Ratepayer Advocacy
- Marissa Ribeiro Dahan, Senior State Policy Advisor, ISO New England Inc.
- Liam J. Paskvan, Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP
- Moderator: Joseph Dorfler, Shareholder, Rich May, P.C.
3:00PM – 3:15PM
Break
3:15PM – 4:15PM
A Balanced Energy Future
- Shane P. Early, Special Counsel, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
- Zeyneb Magavi, Executive Director, The Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)
- Michael Porcaro, Director of the Distributed Energy Resource Management System, National Grid
- Moderator: Joshua Williams, Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
4:15PM – 6:00PM
Networking Reception
Advisory Committee
 Co-Chair: Joseph Dorfler Rich May, P.C. |  Co-Chair: Anxhela Mile Conservation Law Foundation | ||
 Laura C. Bickel National Grid |  Mary Gardner Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General |  Marissa Grenon Gutierrez Anderson & Kreiger LLP |  Joshua Williams Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources |
Sponsorship
Thank you to our Networking Sponsor
For information on sponsoring this event, contact Lucy Battle.
