Registration open for Confluence water and energy summit

GREELEY — Registration is open for BizWest’s annual Confluence summit, “where water and energy come together.”

Attendees at the April 30 event in Greeley can learn about the key factors driving water supply and climate action from experts in the field.

The summit will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Aims Community College Welcome Center, 4901 W. 20th St. 

Confluence is the only water conference in the region that examines the economic issues surrounding water scarcity and how it affects the growing number of residents and businesses in the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado.

The summit will examine how water is used for energy development including data centers, probe issues surrounding the Colorado River, outline regulatory changes for energy and how the rules are changing, and explore the many facets of water availability, cost, conservation, development and supply. Other conversations will involve how artificial intelligence is being used for energy and water development.

During the panel discussions at the event:

• Rich Werner, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado, will moderate a panel discussing how coordinated planning for water and power can reduce risk, improve resilience and support economic development.
• Scott Franz, a reporter for KUNC-FM 91.5 who covers water and environment issues, will lead a group exploring what the Colorado River’s uncertain future means for Northern Colorado communities and agriculture.
• Dan Haley, executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development, will lead a discussion examining how digital technologies are improving efficiency, reducing emissions, lowering water use and reshaping regulatory compliance.
• Scott Holwick, attorney with Lyons Gaddis, will moderate a panel examining how water projects are financed — from rate increases to bonds to impact fees — and what that means for businesses and households.
• Julie Murphy, director of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, will lead a session providing a practical look at how state and local rules are shaping energy development, grid planning and investment decisions.
• Sandra Hagen Solin, founder of Capitol Solutions, will lead a session tackling data centers’ consumption of electricity and water. Panelists will focus on how cooling technologies, grid capacity, water sourcing and infrastructure planning intersect — and what it means for municipalities, utilities and economic development leaders.

Those wishing to attend the summit can register here. Cost is $80.35 through April 29 and $90.85 the morning of the event if seats are still available. Check-in and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m.

Presenting sponsors are the City of Boulder’s Climate Initiatives Department and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. The City of Greeley’s Water and Sewer Department is the supporting sponsor. Associate sponsors include Alchemer, Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development, the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University, the Lyons Gaddis law firm, the NoCo Foundation, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and SouthState Bank. West Water Research is the coffee sponsor.

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