Our opening session will examine capital flows to renewable projects in an era of ongoing transitions in the power sector. A panel of senior officials with leading financial institutions will share their observations on the continued attractiveness of renewable energy and offer insights on how to successfully manage the next few years as tax credits begin to phase out.

• How quickly will other sources of capital replace tax equity in capital stacks and how will this affect project returns?
• Lowering the overall cost of capital
• The role of new investors entering U.S. markets

Tax equity remains an important source of project finance in 2019. Prominent providers will offer commentary on the market’s trajectory as the sector increases reliance on alternative sources of capital.

• Securing tax equity prior to the phasedown of tax credits
• Bonus depreciation with lowered tax rates
• Continued effects of the BEAT provision

Grounded in a survey of financial institutions, ACORE has launched a campaign to secure $1 trillion in additional U.S. renewable energy and enabling grid technology investment between 2018 and 2030. However, policy, regulatory and market barriers may continue to pose challenges for this ambitious target. A fireside chat with strategic players will consider solutions to these hurdles, reflecting on the following questions:

• How important are mandates and policies for continued market momentum?
• What should we look for in climate policy?
• How are states pushing past barriers?
• How can we leverage market incentives to increase demand?

Corporate and industrial buyers, financial institutions and other publicly traded companies are seeking methods to better align Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scoring with their decarbonization strategies. Panelists will examine new efforts to promote standardized and transparent metrics for climate disclosure and renewable energy use, and identify how improved ESG scoring metrics can help grow demand for renewables.

Senior executives from companies driving renewable energy’s expansion will share their evolving strategies in response to market shifts, regulatory dynamics and policy changes.

• The impacts of tax reform, tariffs and other federal policy shifts on development
• How the movement away from traditional 15-20 year offtake agreements is affecting business
• How dynamic regulatory climates across the country are creating unique environments for renewable development, with new opportunities and risks

Analysts will discuss how public and private markets are working together to support the growth of the renewable energy economy.

• M&A activity
• Permanent private capital vehicles and 20-30 year investment strategies
• Stock performance
• Public vehicles

Speakers will identify renewable industry priorities to build the infrastructure required that can support higher levels of renewable energy in the nation’s power grid. The discussion will navigate both private and public solutions at the federal and state levels.

• Market structure reforms and other ways to support development of the sector
• Who should build it?
• The role of EV charging infrastructure
• Public/private partnership arrangements

Speakers will discuss evolving strategies amongst equity providers, the entrance of new infrastructure investors and projections about the future of public and private equity markets.