8:30 am – 8:40 am
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Host
Fran Schofield
NZ-21 Event Co-Chair & Board Director
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
Fran Schofield is a founding member of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and one of three lead organizers of the Collaborative’s inaugural kick-off event in 2016. She handles communications for the Climate Collaborative and serves as conference coordinator for the Collaborative’s Net Zero 2020 virtual conference.
With a diversified public and private sector background in coastal zone management, land planning, historic preservation/urban revitalization, commercial real estate development and real estate marketing and sales, she brings broad perspective, experience and expertise to the issue of climate crisis mitigation on Cape Cod. A resident of Brewster since 2000, Fran divides her time between her professional role as Realtor with Robert Paul Properties, Inc. and positions on the boards and committees of several area nonprofits where her project management, communications and marketing skills are deployed to advance organizational missions. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Fran attended Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in landscape architecture, and is a proud recipient of the Cape & Islands Democratic Council’s “Democrat of the Year” award.

Co-Host
Janet Williams
NZ-21 Event Co-Chair & Board Director
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
With a background in environmental law, education, and consulting, Janet Williams brings a unique set of experiences and skills to the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative. She spent a dozen years as an environmental enforcement attorney with the EPA, five years providing legal counsel to commercial real estate developers and lenders, and several years building and teaching social science education programs at the secondary level. She discovered a passion for and commitment to fighting climate change while volunteering as a pro bono legal researcher with the Climate Justice Programme in London in 2005. She’s been in the fight ever since. And she’s not giving up.
Other: Chair, Chatham Conservation Commission; Coordinator, Chatham Climate Action Network; Secretary, Pleasant Bay Community Boating; Member: Conservation Law Foundation
Janet has a BA from Boston College, Teaching Certification from Northeastern University and JD from Villanova University School of Law and is a LEED Accredited Green Associate.
8:45 am – 9:15 am
FROM PARIS TO GLASGOW TO PLEASANT BAY
CLIMATE ACTION ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, COP26 & YOUR BACKYARD

Presenter
Richard F. Delaney
Founder & Board of Directors President
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
Richard F. Delaney is the President of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA. Previously, Mr. Delaney was founding Director of the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston; served as Assistant Secretary of Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts; was National Chair of the Coastal States Organization in Washington DC representing the Governors of 35 coastal states, Great Lake states and US territories on legislative and budgetary matters before Congress. Mr. Delaney has provided consultations to governments in over 20 countries, regarding coastal and ocean management, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and public outreach. As a member of the International Board of Directors of the Global Ocean Forum, he participated in the Rio +20 events in Rio de Janeiro focusing on sustainable develop and conservation of oceans and coasts and Oceans Day at the Paris Climate Conference, December, 2016. Climate change impacts on oceans and coastal communities is the major focus of his local work at as President of the Board of Directors of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and international as Board member of the Global Ocean Forum. He also serves as vice-chair of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council; chair of the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission and past chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Wastewater Task Force. He has BS in Political Science from Harvard, has completed graduate studies in environmental planning and landscape architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and completed a Certificate Program for Senior Executives at Harvard’s JKF School of Government.
9:20 am – 9:30 am
BUILDING BACK BETTER
BOLD NEW FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICY FOR 2021 & BEYOND

Presenter
Andrew Wishnia
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Policy
U.S. Department of Transportation
9:35 am – 9:45 am
CLIMATE CHANGE 2.0
HOW THE U.S. IS ADVANCING CLIMATE ACTION, CLEAN ENERGY & GREEN JOBS
9:50 am –10:45 am
TURNING LEGISLATION & POLICY INTO LOCAL ACTION
A LIGHTNING ROUND DISCUSSION WITH YOUR CAPE & ISLANDS DELEGATION

Moderator
Andy Gottleib
Executive Director
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
As Executive Director of APCC, Andrew is responsible for determining the focus of APCC’s advocacy and educational efforts, implementing APCC’s programs, coordinating fund raising and membership activities, and the overall management of the daily operations of the organization.
Andrew has more than 30 years of environmental protection experience in government and elected terms in municipal office. Andrew has extensive experience working at all levels of government, having served as a local, state and county official as well as a legislative staff person.
A resident of Mashpee, Andrew is serving a fourth term on the Mashpee Board of Selectmen.
10:45 am – 10:55 am: BREAK
11:00 am – 11:15 am
MASSACHUSETT’S NEXT GENERATION CLIMATE ROAD MAP
CLEAN ENERGY & CLIMATE PLAN FOR 2030

Presenter
Kathleen Theoharides
Secretary
MA Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
11:20 am – 11:55 am
MASSACHUSETTS’ NEXT GENERATION CLIMATE ROADMAP
THE FOUR PILLARS & NEW DIRECTIONS FOR CAPE & ISLANDS COMMUNITIES

Moderator
Eve Zuckoff
Environment & Climate Reporter
WCAI Cape & Islands
Eve Zuckoff covers the environment and human impacts of climate change for CAI. After contributing to a 10-part-investigative podcast produced by WBUR and the Boston Globe and working as a producer on Radio Boston, the Boston University alum joined CAI as a Report for America Corps member in 2019. Today, as a three-time PMJA-winner and staff reporter, her stories on rising temperatures, North Atlantic right whales, transportation, wastewater, and coastal threats and innovations can frequently be heard on GBH and NPR.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: LUNCH BREAK
1:00 pm – 1:35 pm
PILLAR I – END-USE ENERGY
DRIVING GREEN AT THE REGIONAL & LOCAL LEVELS

Moderator
Jim Wolf
Director of Sustainability Programs
Cape Air
As Program Director for Sustainability at Cape Air, Jim’s focus has been to answer the question: What does it mean when an airline goes green? The solutions include conserving fuel in the fleet aircraft, research, development and partnering on electric propulsion aircraft, energy conservation efforts and renewable energy development at Cape Air facilities, inspiring employees to undertake energy efficiency improvements at their homes and in their transportation, and teaming with the communities served by Cape Air to promote conservation, renewable energy, carbon reduction, and responsible environmental stewardship. Jim’s background is in construction and the arts.

Panelist
Angie Gompert
Administrator
Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority
1:40 pm – 2:05 pm
PILLAR II – ENERGY EFFICIENCY & FLEXIBILITY
REDUCING DEMAND, CARBON EMISSIONS & COSTS

Moderator
Michele White
Special Projects Coordinator
Cape Cod Commission
As a Special Projects Coordinator with the Commission, Michele focuses on climate-related initiatives identified in the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, such as working with staff to establish a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Cape Cod, and assisted staff in the development of the Cape Cod Climate Action Plan. She also supports staff in natural resources, economic development, and solid waste planning. Michele previously worked reviewing Developments of Regional Impact at the Commission and has experience in regulatory review and permitting. She has a Master of Science in Soil Science and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences.

Panelist
Margaret Song
Commercial & Industrial Program Manager
Cape Light Compact
Margaret started with Barnstable County in 2002 as an AmeriCorps member (working with the Compact’s programs) and joined the Compact’s staff in 2003. Margaret oversees the commercial & industrial programs. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Spanish from Hendrix College, completed courses toward a Master of Arts degree in History at Harvard Extension School as well as a Bachelor of Science in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Administration at Suffolk University. Margaret spends most of her time entertaining her 4-year-old daughter.

Panelist
Maria Marasco
Executive Director
Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative
Maria Marasco, Esq. , Executive Director, CVEC- Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Yarmouth
Maria Marasco, of Yarmouth became Executive Director of the Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative, Inc., (CVEC) a non-profit energy cooperative, in the Spring of 2021. She oversees CVEC and its mission to develop renewable energy generation facilities and procure long-term electric supply and other energy-related goods and services for its government members from the Cape, Islands and Southeastern MA. CVEC currently has 25 municipal members and over 70 solar PV projects under management which produce over 50 megawatts of energy, CVEC has another 17 projects currently pending award.
An attorney with an MBA, Maria previously served in the Baker Administration as the Southeast Regional Director of the MA Office of Business Development focusing a much of her attention on supporting offshore wind supply chain development along with the offshore wind teams at the MA Clean Energy Center and the MA Department of Energy Resources. Maria is also a member of the Cape Cod Chamber’s Blue Economy Project (now Blue Expedition).
2:10 pm – 2:35 pm
PILLAR III – DECARBONIZING ENERGY SUPPLY:
WINNING WITH WIND!

Moderator
Paul Niedzwiecki
Executive Director
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Paul Niedzwiecki assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 2021.
Niedzwiecki, of West Barnstable, is a public policy professional and attorney with more than two decades of experience in public administration and crafting environmental and economic policy on Cape Cod.
As former executive director of the Cape Cod Commission, Niedzwiecki worked to reorganize the region’s planning and regulatory agency to reduce red tape and assist communities to balance protection of the natural environment and fuel economic growth, while increasing transparency and community engagement.
Niedzwiecki has also held senior positions with Southfield Redevelopment Authority and Cape Cod Healthcare. In addition, he served as the assistant town manager in Barnstable, the Cape’s largest town, where he established the Cape’s first Growth Incentive Zone to bolster downtown Hyannis small business and was the first chairman of the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative.
Niedzwiecki holds a bachelor of science degree in public administration from Suffolk University and a juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School.
2:40 pm – 3:05 pm
PILLAR IV – CARBON SEQUESTRATION
SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES… & BEYOND

Panelist
Kevin Kroeger, PhD
Research Chemist
USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Panelist
Mon Cochran
Board of Directors Vice President
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
Mon Cochran is currently a writer living in South Orleans, on Cape Cod. He grew up on the Cape, went to Orleans public schools, and received his BA from Harvard in sociology. His PhD in developmental psychology is from the University of Michigan. Mon is a professor emeritus at Cornell University, where for 35 years he taught and conducted applied child development research in the College of Human Ecology. Since retirement Mon has shifted his focus to ways of helping children and adults understand why the earth’s climate is changing and what they can do to manage those changes. He is currently Vice President of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and an adjunct educator with the Center for Coastal Studies.
3:10 pm – 3:35 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Q&A WITH PRESENTERS & PANELISTS
PILLAR I – END-USE ENERGY
- Angie Gompert
Executive Director
Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority - Tom Cahir
Executive Director
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
PILLAR II – ENERGY EFFICIENCY & FLEXIBILITY
- Briana Kane
Residential Program Manager
Cape Light Compact - Margaret Song
Commercial & Industrial Program Manager
Cape Light Compact - Maria Marasco
Executive Director
Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative
PILLAR III – DECARBONIZING ENERGY SUPPLY
- Nate Mayo
Director of Public Affairs
Vineyard Wind - Seth Kaplan
Director of External Affairs
Mayflower Wind
PILLAR IV – CARBON SEQUESTRATION
- Mark Robinson
Executive Director
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts - Kevin Kroeger
PhD, Research Chemist
USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center - Mon Cochran
Board of Directors Vice President
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
3:35 pm – 3:40 pm
CONFERENCE CLOSE

Host
Richard F. Delaney
Founder & Board of Directors President
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
Richard F. Delaney is the President of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA. Previously, Mr. Delaney was founding Director of the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston; served as Assistant Secretary of Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts; was National Chair of the Coastal States Organization in Washington DC representing the Governors of 35 coastal states, Great Lake states and US territories on legislative and budgetary matters before Congress. Mr. Delaney has provided consultations to governments in over 20 countries, regarding coastal and ocean management, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and public outreach. As a member of the International Board of Directors of the Global Ocean Forum, he participated in the Rio +20 events in Rio de Janeiro focusing on sustainable develop and conservation of oceans and coasts and Oceans Day at the Paris Climate Conference, December, 2016. Climate change impacts on oceans and coastal communities is the major focus of his local work at as President of the Board of Directors of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and international as Board member of the Global Ocean Forum. He also serves as vice-chair of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council; chair of the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission and past chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Wastewater Task Force. He has BS in Political Science from Harvard, has completed graduate studies in environmental planning and landscape architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and completed a Certificate Program for Senior Executives at Harvard’s JKF School of Government.
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm
SOCIAL “45”
Network with Presenters!
Mix and mingle with audience members in the lounge!
Visit sponsor booths and win prizes!
Watch the Conference!
This virtual conference is offered at no cost to participants thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and patrons.