5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Kick-Off Reception

Attendees connected with peers and progressive industry stakeholders before the Summit to share perspectives, goals, and knowledge while enjoying refreshments.

7:30 AM – 8:20 AM

Breakfast

8:25 AM – 8:34 AM

Opening Remarks

Speakers:

• Alberto Ayala, Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer – Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD
• Katrina Fritz, President and Chief Executive Officer – California Hydrogen Business Council

8:35 AM – 8:49 AM

Legislative Keynote

Speakers:

• Juan Carrillo, Assemblymember, 39th District – California State Assembly

8:50 AM – 9:04 AM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Angelina Galiteva, CEO – ARCHES H2 Hub

9:05 AM – 9:44 AM

Panel: Exploring the Keys to Success for California’s Hydrogen Hub

This panel brought together experts, industry leaders, and community leaders, all key to making the ARCHES project a success. In this exciting and interactive session, attendees:  

• Heard from the leaders of ARCHES and, in concert with these leaders, came to better understand the benefits that the Hydrogen Hub would be able to provide to communities in need.
• Developed an in-depth understanding of the efforts underway to take advantage of the massive investment in the hydrogen industry.
• Understood the state-level policy support required to realize this $1.2 billion investment in California.
• With an ever-expanding network of over 400 affiliated groups, saw how they too could accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry and be a part of this key component for future clean energy.
• Discovered opportunities for collaboration to drive the hydrogen industry towards innovation, efficiency, and overall success.

Speakers:

• Katrina Fritz, President and Chief Executive Officer – California Hydrogen Business Council
• Angelina Galiteva, CEO – ARCHES H2 Hub
• Joy Langford, Chief Community Benefits Officer – ARCHES H2 Hub
• Tyson Eckerle, Senior Advisor for Clean Infrastructure and Mobility – Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
• Joe Sullivan, Director of Energy Solutions & Workforce Engagement – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 (IBEW) & National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

9:45 AM – 9:59 AM

Agency Keynote

Speakers:

• Rajinder Sahota, Deputy Executive Officer, Climate Change & Research – California Air Resources Board

10:00 AM – 10:24 AM

Networking Coffee Break

10:25 AM – 10:34 AM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Dawn Wehr, General Manager, Fuel Cells – Accelera by Cummins

10:35 AM – 11:09 AM

Panel: Hydrogen Decarbonizing Transportation

Dug into the policy changes needed on both the federal and state levels to allow hydrogen fuel to unlock the decarbonization of the transportation industry.

• Explored the technologies offered by leading vehicle manufacturers that could solve difficult-to-decarbonize sectors.
• Uncovered the refueling partnerships that equipment manufacturers were working on to ensure that vehicle refueling was cost-effective and reliable.
• Developed an understanding of the policy, technology, and cost changes needed to allow fleets to deploy hydrogen solutions at scale.
• Dug into the air quality regulations, such as the Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Fleets rule, that would require investment into and expansion of hydrogen transportation technologies.

Speakers:

• Dawn Wehr, General Manager, Fuel Cells – Accelera by Cummins
• Michael J. Galvin, Director of Waterfront & Commercial Real Estate – Port of Los Angeles
• Tim Sasseen, Director, Market Development and Public Affairs North America – Ballard Power Systems, Inc.
• Aaron Katzenstein, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Officer, Technology Advancement Office – South Coast Air Quality Management District
• Bobby Cherian, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs – Hyliion

11:10 AM – 11:19 AM

Legislative Keynote

Speakers:

• Josh Newman, State Senator, 29th District – California State Senate

11:20 AM – 11:29 AM

Legislative Keynote

Speakers:

• Anna M. Caballero, State Senator, 14th District – California State Senate

11:30 AM – 11:39 AM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Austin Hastings, Senior Director of Gas Strategy Execution & System Planning – Pacific Gas & Electric Company

11:40 AM – 12:24 PM

Panel: Building Efficiencies into the Permitting and Approval Processes

In the panel, stakeholders explored important questions and considerations surrounding the permitting and approval process for hydrogen infrastructure development and deployment.

• Built their understanding of the current permitting and project approval processes in California and left with a framework for understanding the roles of members of the community, legislators, public officials, and industry in bringing hydrogen projects to completion.
• Explored policies that could direct or allow jurisdictions to permit hydrogen projects more efficiently and improve deployment timelines without sacrificing safety.
• Gained insights into necessary enforcement mechanisms to facilitate a more streamlined and faster permitting process.
• Understood the importance of public-private partnerships and their role in accelerating hydrogen infrastructure development, with the allocation of resources being put towards a network of hydrogen fueling stations being crucial for the industry’s success.

Speakers:

• Julia Levin, Executive Director – Bioenergy Association of California
• Don Boyajian, Director, Government Affairs & Counsel – Plug Power
• Jason Caudle, City Manager – City of Lancaster
• Jason Rizzi, Deputy Fire Marshal – UC Davis Health
• Dan McGill, Founder & CEO – Fastech

12:25 – 12:30 PM

Lunch Kick-Off Remarks

Speakers:

• William A. Zobel, Director, Alternative Fuel Strategy and Sales – Pilot

12:25 PM – 1:34 PM

Lunch

1:35 PM – 1:39 PM

California Hydrogen Business Council Board Welcome Remarks

Speakers:

• Tanya Peacock, Managing Director / Chair of the Board – EcoEngineers / CHBC

1:40 PM – 1:49 PM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Seth Harris, Director of Sustainability, Americas – Emerson

1:50 PM – 1:59 PM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Mike Hart, CEO – Sierra Railroad Company

2:00 PM – 2:14 PM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Erica Schenk, Chairwoman – Cahuilla Band of Indians

2:15 PM – 2:49 PM

Networking Coffee Break

2:50 PM – 3:04 PM

Agency Keynote

Speakers:

• Siva Gunda, Vice Chair – California Energy Commission

3:05 PM – 3:14 PM

Legislative Keynote

Speakers:

• Cottie Petrie-Norris, Assemblywoman, 73rd District – California State Assembly

3:15 PM – 3:59 PM

Valuing Environmental Attributes of Hydrogen

This myth-busting panel examined the important details of the definitions of clean hydrogen and its environmental benefits. Industry experts tackled some of the most important and most frequently misunderstood aspects of clean hydrogen and suggested strategies that would promote and not hinder the development of a hydrogen economy in California.

• Gained clarification and established a clear definition of clean hydrogen, understanding the criteria that distinguish it from conventional and/or non-clean hydrogen sources.
• Identified evidence-based insights to counter misinformation and promote a more accurate understanding of clean hydrogen by focusing on the environmental benefits of hydrogen development.
• Heard experts challenge established narratives surrounding hydrogen production and delivery – providing attendees with a stronger understanding of what regulations are needed to ensure energy and environmental benefits are accrued.
• Developed an understanding of the business and environmental reasons that narrow definitions of clean hydrogen harm the efforts to bring about California’s low-emission future.

Speakers:

• Heather Rangel, Global Lead Client Services Partner – Deloitte
• Frank Wolak, President & CEO – Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
• Oleksiy Tatarenko, Senior Principal, Climate-Aligned Industries Program – RMI
• Alejandra Hormaza, Ph.D., Assistant Professor – California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Patrick Harris, Director of Corporate Development, Carbon TerraVault (CTV) – California Resources Corporation (CRC)

4:00 PM – 4:14 PM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Nuray Elci, D.M., Vice President of Renewables – Chevron

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Industry Keynote

Speakers:

• Neil Navin, Senior Vice President, Engineering & Major Projects and Chief Clean Fuels Officer – Southern California Gas Company

4:30 PM – 4:40 PM

Closing Remarks

Speakers:

• Katrina Fritz, President and Chief Executive Officer – California Hydrogen Business Council

4:40 PM – 4:45 PM

Final Thoughts

Speakers:

• Bob Archuleta, State Senator, 30th District – California State Senate

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Post-Summit Reception

Attendees connected with peers and progressive industry stakeholders after the Summit to share perspectives, goals, and knowledge while enjoying refreshments.