Residence Inn Capital View, Arlington, VA
(Preliminary Agenda and Speakers as of 1/12/2026 – PDF version)
Sunday, February 22-Wednesday, February 25
DW26 Program Committee: Jim Duffy, Brett Pingree & Ryan Storke
Residence Inn Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA
Session topics: DWEA Leadership Panel: State of the Industry; Innovations in DW: Business Models; Transformation into New Opportunities for DW; Upcoming DW-to-Everything Projects: Scaling up with Microgrids & Hybrid Systems; Introducing New Partners & Members: Lightning Round; Charging Ahead: DWEA Federal Policy Agenda; Looking Forward: DWEA Leaders in Action; Updated Tax Provisions in OBBB: New Guidance on FEOC, Safe Harbors; Case Studies of Distributed Wind Projects; Expanding DW Markets; REpowering Schools DW Student Project Intros; Windustry 2026 Community Wind Awards
Sunday, February 24
7-9p All Attendees Informal Networking SOCCi Italian Restaurant, adjacent to Residence Inn
Monday, February 23
7:30a – 8:15a Registration, Breakfast Buffet for Registered Attendees, and Networking Opportunity
8:15a – 8:20a Welcome and Opening Remarks
DW26 Program Committee: Jim Duffy, Brett Pingree, & Ryan Storke
8:20a – 9:25a DWEA Leadership Panel: State of the Industry
Moderator: Ryan Storke, Stroke LLC
- Steve Sherr, Foundation Windpower, leading developer of large-scale behind-the-meter wind projects
- Ketter Ulrich, Ryse Energy, manufacturer of micro-turbines and supplier of off-grid hybrid systems
- John Mogensen, Eocycle Technologies, manufacturer of farm and commercial wind turbines
- Mike Bergey, Bergey Windpower, manufacturer of residential and farm wind turbines
- Brett Pingree, EWT, manufacturer of direct drive wind turbines up to 1 MW (pending)
9:30a – 10:10a Keynote Address: “Emerging Role of DERs with Microgrids, Grid Strengthening, and Assisting with Data Center Load Growth” Peter Asmus, thought leader on microgrid strategies and cutting edge energy trends
10:10a – 10:25a Networking Break
10:25a – 11:15a Innovations in DW: Business Models, Technologies, Key Players
Moderator: Erika Boeing, Accelerate Wind
- Dr. Phil Hofmeyer, New Leaf Energy
- Brian Steinkamp, HSI Solar
- Ian Sleger, All Energy Management
- Mike Bergey, Bergey Windpower
11:15a – 12:00p Transformation into New Opportunities for DW
Moderator: Jennifer Ralston, Vita Energia
- Padma Kasthuri, Buffalo Renewables
- Sonja Ling, eFormative Options – ElectricFish
- Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan, University of St. Thomas Center for Microgrid Research (invited)
- Others TBA
12:00p-1:10p Networking Lunch (included in registration)
Slideshow Spotlight on Platinum Sponsors: Bergey Windpower & Power Grid Partners
1:10p – 2:00p Upcoming DW-to-Everything Projects: Scaling up with Microgrids & Hybrid Systems
Moderator: Charles Newcomb, Hoss Consulting
- Andy Mackey, ProtoGen
- Mike Murray, Generac
- Cameron Brooks, Think Microgrid (invited)
- Nate Heegaard, Footprint Project (invited)
- Angelo Campus, BoxPower (invited)
- Others TBA
2:00p – 2:50p Introducing New Partners & Members: Lightning Round
Moderator: TBA
- Becky Pettit, HSI Solar
- Antonio Matias, DAKI
- Indrek Gregor, TUGE
- Alexander Morgan, Leitwind
- Hemkant Limaye, Pioneer Wincon Energy Systems
- Others TBA
2:50p-3:05p Networking Break
3:05p – 4:00p Charging Ahead: DWEA Federal Policy Agenda
An overview of DWEA’s 2026 federal policy initiatives and priorities led by Lloyd Ritter with Green Capitol, DWEA’s Washington representative, followed by a Q&A session. Speakers will cover the impact of the Administration and Congress on legislation and policies important to the DW industry.
Moderator: TBA
- Lloyd Ritter, Green Capitol
- Mike Bergey, DWEA President
- Brian Steinkamp, HSI
4:00p – 5:00p Looking Ahead: DWEA Leaders in Action
Moderator: Drew Gertz, Northwind Engineering
- Dean Davis, Windward Engineering
- Ian Brownstein, XFlow Energy
- Ken Kotalik, Northern Power Systems
- Heather Rhoads, DWEA Executive Director
5:00p First Day Closing Comments, DW26 Program Committee
5:00p Adjourn
5:15 – 7:30p Monday Happy Hour – Networking Opportunity – cash bar
SOCCi Italian Restaurant, Renaissance Arlington Capital View (adjacent to the Residence Inn)
Tuesday, February 24
7:30a – 8:15a Registration, Breakfast Buffet and Networking Opportunity
7:30a – 8:15a Women in DWind Meetup, Terrace Room
All Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy members and allies welcome
8:15a – 8:20a Welcome and Opening Remarks, DW26 Program Committee
8:20a – 9:50a Updated Tax Provisions in OBBB: New Guidance on FEOC, Mfg 45X, Safe Harbors, Energy Communities, Prevailing Wages
Moderator: Steve Sherr, Foundation Windpower
- Jim Duffy, Nixon Peabody
- Chris Diaz, Seminole Financial Services (invited)
- Forest Milder, Nixon Peabody
9:50a-10:05a Networking Break
10:05a – 10:40p Case Studies of Distributed Wind Projects
This session will feature case studies of noteworthy Distributed Wind projects covering different sizes and applications. Project details, including costs, performance, and economics will be presented.
Moderator: David Dunaway, eFormative Options
- John Fellhauer, PowerGrid Partners
- Joe Spossey, REInnovations
- Ketter Ulrich, Ryse Energy
- Rocky McIntosh, Sonsight Wind
- Others TBA
10:40a – 11:20p Expanding DW Markets
Moderator: Paul Rowan, Windurance
- Becky Pettit, HSI Solar
- Jake Carney, 38 North (invited)
- Others TBA
11:20a – 12:00p REpowering Schools Student Presentations
As at DW25, REpowering Schools is hosting a parallel workshop on Tuesday for college students and faculty engaged in renewable energy research. This session offers a unique platform for participants to present their project results to industry leaders. Additionally, student posters will be showcased during the Tuesday evening DW26 reception, providing a prime networking opportunity for distributed wind companies to recruit top talent for internships and full-time roles.
Moderator: Remy Pangle, REpowering Schools
Expected presenters include:
- Bushra Alkarmi, Harry S Truman College – Chicago, Illinois
- Eliazar Lovis, City Colleges of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
- Ram Poudel, Appalachian State University – Boone, North Carolina
- Kobe Williams, City Colleges of Chicago – Truman College School of Engineering – Chicago, IL
- Adam Wagih, Wilbur Wright College – Chicago, IL
12:00 – 12:15p Windustry 2026 Community Wind Awards – presented by Lisa Daniels and Jim Duffy
12:15p DW26 Charging Ahead: Scaling up with Microgrids & Hybrid Systems
Conference Closing Remarks – DW26 Planning Team
12:20p Adjourn
12:20-1:30p Networking Lunch and AgWind Strategy Session (included in registration)
1:30p – 5:00p National Industry Research Collaboration
Building on last year’s dialogue focused on collaborative research challenges to lower energy costs and improve energy access for rural agriculture, industry, and populations, this half-day discussion will focus on technology and process innovations which will support long-term national economic growth. This session will work to identify collaborative research partnerships between the distributed wind industry and national laboratories to support U.S. Administration energy dominance goals while lowering costs for rural energy consumers.
Moderator: Ian Baring-Gould, Distributed Wind Program Manager, National Lab of the Rockies (NLR)
5:00p Adjourn
5:15 – 7:30p Tuesday Poster Reception – Networking Opportunity – cash bar
Main Foyer, Renaissance Arlington Capital View
Slideshow Spotlight on Platinum/Gold Sponsors: Bergey WP, Power Grid Partners, RE Innovations, Windurance
Wednesday, February 25
7:30a – 8:15a Registration, Breakfast Buffet for Registered Attendees, Hill Day prep, Terrace Room
8:30 Teams Uber to Hill: formal business attire
Lunch with Team
5:00 Hill Day Debriefing & Networking, Bullfeathers on the Hill, 410 First Street SE, Washington, DC