As we face the challenges of climate change, effective energy management becomes key. Last week, Seattle City Light and energy experts from across the west coast met at the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) West conference. The goal? To discuss strategies for a clean energy future.
Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy co-hosted the annual event in Bellevue. AEE West brings together industry leaders, decision-makers, and tech innovators to talk about energy efficiency, renewable solutions, and upgrading the electrical grid. AEE West is more than just a place to share ideas. It’s a starting point for taking action on energy management, decarbonization, and beyond.
“This is the time for us to really focus on how we create our energy future together,” said City Light Chief Customer Officer Craig Smith during his opening keynote. “Collaboration and partnerships are key to thinking about how we get to scale. And as we electrify, energy efficiency becomes even more important, as is focusing on equity and investing in and modernizing a resilient grid that can help us accommodate new technologies and a more flexible system.”
City Light’s participation in AEE West went beyond the keynote. Our staff facilitated discussions at the event, sharing energy efficiency and related information at our exhibitor booth. Our experts led a technical session on how to make the energy transition fair for everyone and on distributed energy resources, explaining how small power sources can help meet the grid’s demands.
Discussions at the conference emphasized the need for a variety of strategies to meet the increasing energy demand. Presentations covered everything from public policy and the role of artificial intelligence, to more specific discussions on geothermal energy networks and hydrogen innovation.
AEE West was a great opportunity for professionals to learn, connect, and get inspired. With energy professionals collaborating across specialties and organizations, the journey toward a sustainable energy future seems both achievable and exciting.