ESE Seminar 7, April 22, 2024, CROSHAL & SANDFORD: "Voluntary Renewable Electricity Procurement"

TOPIC: “Voluntary Renewable Electricity Procurement: How Corporate Electricity Buyers offset Their Consumption and Bring Renewables Online”
SPEAKERS:
Matt Croshal, Senior Advisor, Clean Energy Advisory Group, Edison Energy, M.Eng in ESE, Lehigh University, 2011
Mike Sandford, Associate Director, Global Real Estate Energy & Sustainability, Verizon, M.Eng. in ESE, Lehigh University, 2011
ABSTRACT:
Customer demand, investor pressure, peer competition, and company values are pushing corporations to set ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets for 2025, 2030, and beyond. Unfortunately, Corporate demand for renewables rarely align with utility renewable supply. This mismatch in supply and demand has led to the creation of markets and products, often guided by NGOs (as opposed to PUCs and legislation), that companies have used to meet their voluntary goals and drive renewable growth. Some of these approaches are unique to corporates (vPPAs), some piggyback existing markets or systems (unbundled RECs), and some are more ubiquitous (on-site renewables). Despite the competition and relative cost of renewables rising over the last few years, corporates continue to pursue renewable energy and sustainability goals via PPAs, unbundled certificates, and onsite solutions. Each product has a unique financial, risk, and environmental impact profile and requires careful consideration for companies pursuing renewable energy. This seminar will focus on challenges and benefits of how corporations support and procure renewable electricity in the United States.
BIO - MATT CROSHAL:
Matt Croshal is a Senior Advisor for Edison Energy’s Clean Energy Advisory Group. He is responsible for guiding C&I companies through renewable energy procurement, including developing procurement strategies, educating key stakeholders and signatories, and leading procurement and contract negotiations.
Matt has 14 years of experience in energy consumption and procurement, with a focus on sustainability and renewable energy. In his role as a consultant and advisor, he has advised on and negotiated 300 MW of renewable contracts and provided guidance on renewable energy to a wide range of fortune 500 companies. Prior to his experience in Corporate renewable procurement, Matt spent 11 years supporting Federal entities with renewable energy and energy management strategy and implementation, actively supporting over $100M in energy-focused capital projects.
Matt has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master in Energy Systems Engineering from Lehigh University, and a MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
BIO - MIKE SANDFORD:
Mike Sandford is an Associate Director in Verizon's Global Real Estate organization. His responsibilities include energy procurement, risk management, and sustainability strategy.
Mike spent four years as a nuclear field engineer with GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy where he led teams performing inspections and modifications of nuclear reactors around the world. In seven years with Verizon, he has helped the company set corporate sustainability goals including 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality targets. Mike has managed the installation of 24MW of on-site solar, installed EV charging infrastructure at more than thirty locations, and led deep energy retrofits of 7 million+ square feet of real estate.
Mike has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master in Energy Systems Engineering from Lehigh, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from MIT.