Keynote Presentations
Get a sneak peek at the marquee sessions on Tuesday, June 16. Ready to register? Click here.
Rewiring the Midwest: How Utilities Are Adapting to a New Energy Reality
Presented by: Bria Shea (Xcel Energy), Brice Sheriff (Ameren Illinois), and Andy Plenge (ComEd)
Surging demand from data centers, accelerating electrification, and extreme weather are forcing utilities to rethink how power is planned, built, and delivered. In this keynote conversation, executives will share how they are navigating this inflection point, integrating unprecedented levels of solar, storage, and DERs while keeping costs in check and reliability intact. The discussion will tackle how to redesign a system built for one-way power delivery into one that accommodates dynamic two-way flows, how Illinois’ hosting capacity opportunity can accelerate DER deployment, and what efficient interconnection at scale looks like across MISO territory.
From Backlog to Energization: How Top Developers and EPCs Are Delivering at Scale
Presented by: Yann Brandt, (FTC Solar), Helena Kimball
(SOLV Energy)
Utility-scale solar is entering a new phase, and success is no longer defined by pipeline: it’s defined by execution. Developers and EPCs are navigating a more complex environment shaped by interconnection bottlenecks, supply chain constraints, labor challenges, and the rapid shift toward solar-plus-storage. Hear how industry leaders are adjusting project design, procurement, and construction strategies to deliver at scale in a more demanding market. The discussion will explore how technology and standardization are improving outcomes and where the biggest risks and opportunities lie in the years ahead.
Conference Session Previews
Hover over the IESNA Midwest 2026 conference program sessions below to preview each one.
Hands-On Technical Training
Workshops from NABCEP, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), and more take place on Monday, June 15—and are included in your conference pass!* Come away with valuable CEUs and insights to apply directly to your work.
Boosting PV Reliability: Top 10 Common Challenges and Proven Prevention Strategies
Presented by: Nick Matthes, Creator & CEO of Illumination Solar and NABCEP Instructor
Dive into real-world insights on common PV challenges—and discover prevention tactics to ensure system success.
Eligible for 1 hour NABCEP CEU.
Cybersecurity: Securing Energy Systems
Presented by: Nick Matthes, Creator & CEO of Illumination Solar and
MREA Instructor
This one-hour online course explores the wide range of challenges to secure electrical generation operating systems, with a focus on photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems. From natural disasters to human threats like cyber attacks, participants will learn how to secure energy management systems, monitoring equipment, and network access.
Eligible for 1 hour NABCEP CEU.
Rethinking Residential Solar: Stop Selling Systems. Start Designing Energy
Presented by: Emmitt Muckles, Founder of S.E. Power Consulting and NABCEP Instructor
In this session, Emmitt Muckles challenges the status quo and introduces a new framework for engaging homeowners: the Residential Energy Ladder™. Instead of pushing one-size-fits-all solutions, this approach meets customers where they are—starting with energy efficiency, portable solar, and partial offset systems, and building toward full solar and storage adoption over time. Attendees will learn how to expand their addressable market, reduce sales friction, and create long-term customer relationships by offering a broader, more flexible energy strategy.
Eligible for 1 hour NABCEP CEU.
PV System O&M Fundamentals
Presented by: Emmitt Muckles, Founder of S.E. Power Consulting and
MREA Instructor
Preventive maintenance is vital for maximum energy production, financial investment security, and overall customer satisfaction. This session will concentrate on some of the common causes of PV system failures and underperformance issues, their remedies, and how to avoid unscheduled downtime with regular O&M inspections and tasks.
Eligible for 1 hour NABCEP CEU.
*Additional registration required.
Focus Areas
The strategies and challenges in developing a skilled workforce that supports the clean energy transition, including labor agreements, local hiring, and union–clean energy partnerships that enable large-scale solar, storage, and data center-related builds.
How to engage communities, partners, and local governments in ways that speed project approval, reduce opposition, and meet evolving state-level equity requirements. This theme explores CEJA’s Minimum Equity Standards (MES), contractor hubs, incentives for local hiring, and coalition-building tools that improve siting outcomes and strengthen project acceptance.
The rapidly evolving landscape of community solar programs and business models, with a focus on leading Midwestern markets such as Illinois and Minnesota. Topics include program design, subscriber acquisition, pairing community solar with storage, and ensuring meaningful participation for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Financing models, tax credit structures, and investment approaches for scaling solar, storage, and clean energy businesses in a fast-changing economic and policy landscape. Sessions will address capital market trends, risk mitigation, and innovative deal structures that are shaping the future of clean energy finance in the post-OBBBA market.
Manufacturing processes and supply chain dynamics critical to renewable energy systems production. Discussions will explore onshoring solar and storage manufacturing, the impact of geopolitical factors and trade policies in flux, and the cost and bankability pressures reshaping sourcing strategies, including the evolving role of FEOC compliance.
How explosive growth in data centers and large new loads is reshaping grid planning and clean energy procurement across the Midwest. Sessions will explore on-site and hybrid solar+storage solutions, creative interconnection strategies, and the role of DERs in meeting massive new capacity needs.
The expanding role of distributed energy resources in transforming energy systems, including solar PV, local storage, and virtual power plants. Topics include integration strategies and the challenges of supporting stable energy distribution amid rising demand and capacity constraints in MISO and PJM markets.
Recent and upcoming legislative developments at the federal, state, and local level; the impact of current policies on project development; navigating the One Big Beautiful Bill, FEOC, Illinois’ CRGA Act, compliance requirements, and emerging regulatory trends influencing growth and innovation in renewable energy.
A utility-scale deep dive into the MISO/PJM interconnection queues, upgrade costs, and the rise of state-led resource planning under the CRGA Act. Sessions focus on actionable guidance for developers and investors to improve timelines, reduce uncertainty, and strengthen project economics in a congested grid environment.
The policy and permitting processes that shape solar and storage deployment at the commercial and community scales. This track covers DER interconnection standards, community engagement strategies, and state and local reforms that reduce soft costs and shorten timelines.
How artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics are reshaping clean energy procurement, grid optimization, and autonomous energy management. Sessions will explore the growing role of AI in managing data center-driven load growth and supporting virtual power plants as the Midwest grid adapts to surging demand.
The evolving world of energy storage, including large-scale storage solutions and hybrid systems designed to enhance grid reliability while supporting high penetrations of renewables. Sessions will explore storage as a capacity resource in MISO/PJM, the business model realities of merchant exposure, and new procurement pathways created by Illinois’ CRGA Act and its 3 GW storage goal.
The synergy between solar energy and storage technologies, highlighting integrated systems that optimize power generation, storage capacity, and dispatch. Topics include the role of solar-plus-storage in enhancing resilience, reducing peak demand, and serving as a core tool in state grid affordability strategies.
The evolving business models and grid integration strategies across commercial and utility-scale solar deployment. Sessions will examine what separates successful projects from stalled ones, how C&I developers are stacking value beyond net metering, and what large-scale execution looks like in today’s interconnection and supply chain environment.
Ready to Register?
IESNA Midwest features three days of cutting-edge presentations, policy updates, networking opportunities, hands-on training, and exhibition showcasing the latest solar innovations. Join industry leaders, innovators, and clean energy enthusiasts June 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Education Committee
The IESNA Midwest Education Committee provides expertise and thought leadership to help develop a conference program that informs, connects, and inspires.
