Panel 2: Energy Decarbonization Solutions
Moderator: John Norton, Panelists: Michael Peters, Cory Kreutzer, Savanna Speciale, Greg Zoeller
The panel brought together energy and infrastructure experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in the ongoing energy transition. Topics ranged from asset management and technology adoption to public perception and market dynamics. A key theme was the need for flexible infrastructure to adapt to an evolving energy landscape. Mike Peters from Brain Drip emphasized repurposing existing assets like decommissioned gas pipelines for hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon dioxide transport. He argued that this adaptability is crucial for future-proofing investments. Corey Kreiser, also from Brain Drip, stressed that the energy transition isn’t a singular solution but a diversification of technologies. He highlighted the importance of storytelling to bridge gaps between engineers and business leaders. Savannah Betancourt, founder of Carbon Solutions, underscored the role of public-private partnerships and bankable transactions in de-risking investments in emerging technologies. She suggested utilities could provide long-term contracts to stabilize financing. The panel also addressed public perception challenges, especially for complex technologies like carbon capture. Greg Zeller, an attorney and former Attorney General, discussed community concerns and the difficulty of explaining safety measures. His Indiana project, using pet coke to produce anhydrous ammonia while sequestering carbon dioxide, faced environmental opposition despite its potential to decarbonize fertilizer production. He noted that many groups reject any fossil fuel involvement, even if it advances sustainability goals. Natural gas’s role as a transitional fuel was another focus. Peters and Betancourt discussed combining natural gas with carbon capture to create low-carbon energy. While the goal is a fully renewable system, natural gas will remain vital in the near term, particularly for industrial heat and heavy transport. The panel also explored the importance of data, measurement, and transparency in the energy transition. Betancourt highlighted blockchain-based platforms that can verify carbon intensity, opening new market opportunities for low-carbon alternatives. Panelists emphasized moving beyond binary solutions and embracing a collaborative, multi-technology approach. Kreiser urged diversification in the energy mix to meet market needs efficiently. Overall, the discussion reinforced the importance of flexibility, collaboration, and exploring unconventional solutions to drive a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Bio
John W. Norton, Jr., PhD., PE , Director of Energy, Research, & Innovation Great Lakes Water Authority
Dr. John Norton is Director of Energy, Research, and Innovation for GLWA, a combined water/wastewater utility in Southeast Michigan. GLWA treats more than 40% of the water, and 30% of the wastewater, for the state of Michigan. Norton leads GLWA’s research efforts to understand, extend, and enhance its linear and process infrastructure and directs projects ranging from source water monitoring and distribution system water quality, through to energy extraction from biosolids. GLWA owns over 388 miles of PCCP, and over 800 miles of transmission main, 4 ft diameter or greater.
Mike Peters, Member and Team Principal, Braindrip & IQ4H2
Mike is a Member and Team Principal at IQ4H2. He is a leading subject matter expert (SME) in hydrogen systems integration, safety, and optimization. At IQ4H2 he leads tasks related to quality assurance, data management, safety, test programs, and product compliance for BrainDrip’s Innervated Tubular Composite (ITC). In his previous role, he worked for over a decade as an applied researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). While at NREL, he gained expertise on projects from hydrogen production to end-use and everything in-between. His previous roles have led to numerous advances of hydrogen technologies including demonstrating electrolyzers as distributed energy resources (DERs) within the grid, leading a medium-/heavy-duty modeling and hardware test program for Class 8 trucks, and leading a 30+ partner hydrogen blending project for the U.S. Department of Energy. Mike and his IQ4H2 team will be exponentially extending BrainDrip’s market lead as designers, engineers, developers, and implementors of innovative products for the safe and effectual distribution and storage of
highly compressed hydrogen.
Cory Kreutzer, Technical director for IQ4H2, a subsidiary of Braindrip, LLC
Cory is a subject matter expert (SME) in hydrogen systems integration and has diverse background in mechanical engineering, chemistry, computational science, and business. Cory has an extensive history in applied research and development on energy systems including system design, safety assessment, product development and optimization, and control system design, with an emphasis on renewable energy systems. His role at IQ4H2 is focused on safety, optimization, and acceleration of hydrogen systems with an emphasis on the advancement of Braindrip’s novel composite pipeline technology. This includes the incorporation and advancement of pipeline health monitoring through advanced sensor systems. Prior to working at IQ4H2, Cory worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a group manager and research engineer for the hydrogen infrastructure team. Prior to that, he worked professionally on a range of topics including electric vehicle climate control technologies, biomass cookstove development and manufacturing, and natural gas internal combustion engine performance. Cory holds a bachelors degree in chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines and masters degree in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University.
Savanna Speciale, Principal and founder of Carbon Solutions, LLC
Savanna Speciale is an expert at managing commodity origination and cross-trade finance transactions across the supply chain for refined products, crude oil, hydrogen, hydrogen vectors, CCUS, RNG, waste circularity and decarbonization solutions. Savanna has over 13 years of experience in trading, operations, analytics, risk management, structured transactions and origination across energy markets at industry majors. Early career highlights include building supply chain logistics and trading at Motiva, the largest refinery in the United States for jet fuel and later crude oil. More recently, Savanna worked at bp as Director of Low Carbon and Cross-Commodity Origination identified project development and partnership opportunities to acquire assets, originate supply and offtake opportunities, and pilots within hard-to-abate sectors, utilities, and the maritime industry seeking to decarbonize. Savanna is currently the Principal of Carbon Solutions, LLC, where she works to bridge commercial gaps between traditional oil and gas and decarbonization in the evolving energy landscape. Savanna holds a Bachelor of Management in Legal Studies and Finance and Master of Energy Trading and Finance from Tulane University and her career spans roles at ConocoPhillips, Motiva Enterprises, bp and Gasology.
Greg Zoeller, VP External Affairs，Wabash Valley Resources LLC
Mr. Zoeller plays a key role in building partnerships at local, state, national, and international levels. He has served as Chairman of the World Trade Center Indianapolis since 2017, where he connects Indiana leaders with the World Trade Centers Association. Previously, he was the Attorney General of Indiana from 2009 to 2017.Greg’s background includes working in the U.S. Senate and White House with Senator and then Vice President Dan Quayle. He has over a decade of experience in private practice, providing legal and strategic counsel to national and international companies, and leading World Trade Center initiatives. Greg earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and has been an adjunct professor at I.U. McKinney School of Law.