June 15, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Zolaikha Strong to highlight Copper’s Role in Grid Technology at Key Industry Event
NEW YORK, NY— The Copper Development Association’s (CDA) Director of Sustainable Energy, Zolaikha Strong, will chair the Platts Transmission Planning and Development Conference, taking place June 21-22 in Arlington, Virginia.
The event brings together influential leaders, including energy, utility and regulatory experts from the North American electric transmission industry to discuss key growth drivers impacting the U.S. electric transmission grid.
“I am excited and honored to chair this important industry event to discuss best practices in creating a sustainable grid through renewable integration,” said Strong, who will be making the opening remarks at the conference. “During a time where key investments are being made in upgrading the nation’s energy infrastructure, copper remains the material of choice when building a sustainable and secure energy grid.”
Copper is an essential material used to increase the efficiency, reliability and performance of numerous electrical technologies, helping to power everything from motors, transformers and renewable energy systems to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner Neil Chatterjee will provide the keynote address, “Grid Optimization – A Different Perspective,” along with 22 other distinguished industry stakeholders who will discuss everything from the competitive interregional planning process, sustainable grid design and engineering through renewable integration to the implications of storage on transmission needs and utilization.
Notable speakers from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the Energy Storage Association (ESA), the National Grid, the Edison Electric Institute as well as the power and utility companies will make up the panels over the two-day conference.
To read more about the event, click here.
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About Zolaikha Strong
Zolaikha Strong serves as the energy expert on sustainable energy markets for the copper industry. She supports policy makers in the development of energy policies and regulations, collaborates with manufacturers on the development of new technologies, promotes the value of copper related solutions in energy efficient systems, and builds partnerships with sustainable energy advocates.
Strong is a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC) and a co-chair of the Outreach and Education Sub-Committee. She is also a member of the Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation Technology Roundtable, and an active participant and contributor to policy initiatives for the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Wind Energy Association, Energy Storage Association, American Copper Policy Council and the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition. Strong commissioned the industry’s seminal study on the global energy storage market: “Market Evaluation for Energy Storage in the United States,” and a five-year market analysis on growth of energy storage in the U.S. for the Energy Storage Association.
Prior to her work at the Copper Development Association, Strong was the Manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs at the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C. She also has served as an Energy Analyst with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and worked as an International Policy Fellow for the Clinton Foundation.
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