Mark your calendars to join us on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 12 PM – 1:30 PM PST, for this exploratory lunch conversation and networking event at the Perkins Coie office downtown Seattle.
This February, join us for dynamic lunchtime presentations on cutting-edge battery materials research and the future of the energy storage industry, followed by ample time to network with cleantech leaders.
Learn about a thin, flexible solid-state electrolyte developed by Dr. Guang Yang’s team at ORNL that could potentially double the energy storage capacity of Li batteries, paving the way for longer-lasting electric vehicles, cell phones, and laptops.
Hear from Portland-based Drew Lebowitz, P.E., an expert in the design, financing, construction, and operation of utility-scale energy storage systems. He will travel to Seattle to round out the lunch conversation by sharing his broader perspective on the commercial market.
Introductory Speakers:
Michael Avent, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, Perkins Coie LLP
Michael Avent serves as outside counsel to emerging growth technology and life sciences companies. He negotiates and closes debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, commercial agreements, and general corporate matters. He also works closely with venture capitalists and corporate venture groups investing in high-growth companies. Michael works with clients across a range of sectors and technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, climate tech, blockchain, software-as-a-service, fintech, aerospace and defense, retail, and biotech.
Russ Weed, President, CleanTech Strategies
Russ Weed is a business and project developer, market expert, government relations veteran, legal manager, and company advisor. He has diverse and deep experience in start-ups, mid-market companies, conglomerates, and law firms. This includes 23 years of work in business and legal positions with private and public companies, and 10 years as a commercial and litigation attorney, working widely in North America, Europe, and Asia. In 2018, Russ established CleanTech Strategies LLC, providing seasoned experience and professional expertise on energy storage, power electronics & controls, microgrids, renewables, and advanced materials
In 2022, Russ proposed the creation of the Flow Battery Industry Group (FBIG), and collaborated with flow battery developers and other stakeholders to establish FBIG in 2023 as a part of Battery Council International (BCI) trade association, based in Washington, DC and in its second century of work now supporting multiple electrochemical battery technologies including flow batteries.
Russ is also active in the development of companies, products, and projects providing mechanical and thermal energy storage. He is an early and strong advocate of the utility of segmenting the stationary energy storage market into short, medium, long, and seasonal capabilities, use cases, and technologies.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Guang Yang, R&D Staff Scientist, Energy Storage & Conversion Group, Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Dr. Guang Yang is an electrochemical material scientist with extensive experience in materials, devices, and advanced operando characterization tools development for next-generation batteries and sustainable energy conversion technologies. These initiatives include high-energy all-solid-state batteries, redox flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage, Li/Na-S batteries, and electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed publications (H-index = 33), authored two book chapters, and filed eight patents and invention disclosures. Dr. Yang has received several prestigious awards, such as the ARPA-E Early Career Award, the RSC Emerging Investigator Award, and the UT-Battelle Outstanding Scholarly Output Award.
Drew Lebowitz, P.E., Managing Director, PowerSwitch
Drew is an expert in the design, finance, construction, and operation of utility-scale energy storage systems. Prior to joining PowerSwitch, he worked for 4 years as Principal Consultant and Team Lead with DNV, a leading renewable advisory firm based in Norway. At DNV he was the Project Manager for over 1 GW of energy storage independent engineering (IE) projects, as well as PM for energy storage mergers & acquisitions assistance, technology reviews, and battery safety advisory services. Drew has served as an expert witness to provide sworn testimony in disputes around energy storage and microgrid. He has visited over 2 GW of energy storage projects at various stages of construction, and has performed manufacturing site visits, touring the battery plants for some of the leading cell, inverter, and integrated BESS systems on the market. He holds a B.S. from Cornell University and a Professional Engineering License in the State of Oregon.
Drew is a fluent speaker of French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. He lived in Bolivia, Panama, and Haiti before moving to Portland, Oregon where he currently lives. Drew is an avid pianist and enjoys cycling through the rolling hills of the Pacific Northwest.
Drew is lead author of The BESS Book: A Cell to Grid Guide to Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems, a leading industry handbook published in June 2024.
Moderator:
Jennifer Audet, Senior Director of Programs and Communications, CleanTech Alliance
Jennifer provides strategic leadership for public-facing aspects of the CleanTech Alliance, which she joined in 2021. As Senior Director, she is excited to address the pressing issue of climate change by advancing understanding, inspiring action, and creating communities of change.
Previously, Jennifer developed and implemented diplomatic outreach and advocacy initiatives in the U.S. for both the Canadian and German governments. As a Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service Officer for the Government of Canada in Seattle, Jennifer built strategic partnerships and networks of influence as the team policy lead for Alaska and the Arctic. As Communications Officer for the German Center for Research and Innovation in New York City, she managed public relations for the center and wrote extensively about cutting-edge research and emerging technologies.
From planning large-scale events with partners from business, academia, and government to developing digital diplomacy strategies, Jennifer thrives in cross-functional leadership. She is an enthusiastic relationship-builder and a clear communicator who values smart ideas, thoughtful networks, and long-term vision.
Jennifer holds a Master of Communication in Digital Media from the University of Washington. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, learning foreign languages, and spending time with friends and family.