NYISO Announces Final Speaker for 2014 Energy Conference

RENSSELAER, NY (06/16/2014)(readMedia)-- The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) today announced that Joe Shields, president of Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC will speak at its upcoming 2014 Energy Conference, "Grid Modernization & Competitive Markets: Shaping the Future Electric System," on June 24 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.

"We are very pleased that Joe Shields will provide his perspective on the importance of strengthening our natural gas infrastructure and the critical nexus between the electric and natural gas industries," said NYISO President and CEO Stephen G. Whitley. "The connection between the power grid and our nation's network of gas pipelines is an increasingly important issue for regulators, industry stakeholders and consumers."

As president of Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC, Mr. Shields leads the optimization efforts for the pipeline-highlighting its strategic location, delivery points and status as a low variable-cost pipeline for both Marcellus Shale producers and local distribution companies throughout the Northeast.

Shields returned to Millennium after serving in senior leadership roles at Columbia Pipeline Group (CPG)-with responsibilities in business development, customer service, operations, regulatory and marketing areas. He most recently served as chief operating officer in charge of regulated operations and commercial activities for Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission and Crossroads Pipeline. In this role, he worked closely with customers and team members to improve customer service, modernize its pipeline and storage infrastructure and pursue organic, market-driven growth in its regulated assets.

The NYISO conference also will feature a keynote address from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Administrator Adam Sieminski and two panel discussions.

The first panel, "Aging Infrastructure and Grid Modernization," will focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by aging electricity infrastructure and the role of competitive markets in providing incentives for timely, well-targeted investment.

Panelists include: Christopher Crane, president and CEO, Exelon Corporation; William Ball, executive vice president and chief transmission officer, Southern Company; and William Hogan, professor of global energy policy, Harvard University, and Rudolph Wynter, president of National Grid's FERC related businesses. The panel moderator will be Gavin Donohue, president and CEO of the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY).

The second panel, "Competitive Markets: Distributed Resources and Fuel Diversity," will address the significant expansion of natural gas resources and how the growing role of natural gas in generating power has significantly influenced the landscape of electric system fuel diversity. Concurrently, renewable power resources have been the focus of public policies designed to enhance environmental quality and promote increased reliance on sustainable energy resources. Technological advances also have contributed to invigorating green power and energy efficiency products and services, prompting vigorous growth of distributed energy resources.

Panelists include: Judith Lagano, vice president, asset management, NRG Energy-East Region; Patricia Hoffman, assistant secretary for electricity delivery and energy reliability at the Energy Department; Brian Horton, director, Utility of the Future Team, Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc.; and Mark McGranaghan, vice president, power delivery and utilization, Electric Power Research Institute. The panel moderator will be Mark S. Lynch, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E.

Please go to www.nyisoenergyconference.com for additional information about the conference and to register for the event.