Description:

Join the Illinois Green Alliance for a one-hour webinar about energy efficiency in the cannabis industry. The rapidly expanding cannabis industry is a significant source of load growth in several states that have legalized recreational use. This load growth coupled with inefficient technology make the cannabis industry suitable with efficiency potential. However, there are a host of technological and social barriers to unlocking this potential. This presentation provides an overview of the energy in the cannabis industry including growing, current incentives, transportation, legalization, and energy efficient technologies.

Presenters:

Molly Graham, Senior Program Manager with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance 

Molly Graham oversees commercial training and education programs in 11 states. She creates and executes strategic program expansion plans, leads MEEA’s efforts to expand energy efficiency initiatives for indoor agriculture and supports the recently launched Midwest Market Transformation Collaborative. Molly drives innovation and new business development for MEEA through research projects, pilot programs and grant proposals. Molly holds a B.S. in Earth, Society, and the Environment from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Lauren Gaikowski, Energy Advisor at Franklin Energy

With several years of experience in the industry, Lauren Gaikowski is vital in helping Franklin Energy pioneer energy efficiency within the cannabis sector. In her role, Lauren has conducted extensive cannabis-focused research over the past year. She has spent time working to develop cannabis-specific energy efficiency programs in the Midwest region, combining existing industry experience with an innovative, forward-thinking approach. When she is not working, Lauren enjoys spending her free time hiking, gardening, and traveling.