2026 Schedule

A complimentary breakfast while networking with industry professionals.

A welcome to the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference, led by the SEEC committee.

Alex Fitzsimmons is an energy policy and government affairs leader with extensive experience advancing clean energy innovation and strengthening energy security. He currently serves as Director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), where he leads efforts to protect and modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure. Previously, Alex held senior roles in government and industry, including leadership positions at Sila Nanotechnologies, ClearPath, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, working across energy storage, clean technology, and policy strategy.

A break for refreshments.

The Energy Innovation panel explores how leadership and organizational culture drive innovation across the energy sector. Panelists will discuss how innovative ideas are identified, supported, and scaled within their organizations, and what role leadership plays in that process. The conversation will also offer practical insight for students on how to identify innovative organizations, position themselves early in their careers, and understand what it is really like to work in innovation-focused energy roles.

Lunch break for all conference attendees.

The Industry Showcase brings together leading energy companies and organizations to highlight innovative technologies, projects, and initiatives shaping the future of energy, while offering attendees valuable opportunities to connect with industry leaders.

The Overcoming Growing Pains focuses on how the energy system can remain reliable and resilient as demand accelerates and infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Panelists will explore how rising loads from AI, electrification, and economic growth stress the grid, and what it takes to build resilience across generation, transmission, supply chains, and the workforce. The discussion will examine strategies such as demand-side management, advanced storage, grid modernization, and distributed resources, while considering how these challenges ultimately impact reliability and the everyday consumer.

A student research presentation event where participants share energy-focused projects with industry judges and compete for awards.

The Scaling Emerging Energy Technologies explores emerging energy technologies and the path from concept to commercialization. Panelists representing batteries, nuclear, hydro, and geothermal will discuss how new technologies are developed, evaluated, financed, and integrated into the broader energy system. The conversation will examine technical readiness, economic viability, and policy considerations, while highlighting the real-world challenges of bringing innovative energy solutions to market.

James Marlow is an innovator, business and nonprofit builder, and digital transformation leader. As president of Atlanta-based sustainable building nonprofit Southface Institute, he works to scale sustainable, cost-effective building and development solutions to environmental challenges. He was founder of two energy startups, CEO and Co-Founder of Radiance Solar, and CEO of Clean Energy Advisors. James led software and digital technologies at Computerland, Yahoo!, Lotus Development, and IBM. James is a trustee for The Nature Conservancy of Georgia, serves on the Georgia Drawdown Leadership Advisory Council, he has been a member of The Carter Center Board of Councilors, and the Georgia Chamber’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Final remarks for the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference.