Join industry leaders and AIAI members for breakfast and an interactive conversation specifically tailored to the needs of agencies evaluating P3s. This pre-conference session is designed for those beginning to explore P3s, helping them understand where P3s are applicable, and how they can save money and time when dealing with upgrades, repairs, and maintenance. Learn when P3s do or do not make sense, and what major considerations need to be made when choosing this route, including the critical first steps.

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The operators of a reliable North American grid providing affordable electricity manage, along with the water sector, THE most critical infrastructure needed for the sustainment of life, economic development, and national security.  Our Nation’s utilities know that the U.S. electric load is growing significantly faster than grid planners previously expected. The warning is blunt - The electric grid “is not prepared for significant load growth. In addition, the U.S. must expand the electricity transmission system by 60% by 2030 to meet projected demand, driven by new technology infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence, crypto-currency, and increased electrification of transportation systems. At the same time, more than 70% of the nation’s grid transmission lines and power transformers are over 25 years old.

The threats to the grid are increasing. More frequent blackouts have occurred in California and Texas in response to weather, wildfires, or peak period management. More intermittent renewables on the grid without commensurate battery storage add volatility. Base-load retirements are out-pacing new generation, impacting reliability. National leaders are warning of Nation-state cyber or physical attacks to disrupt national power supplies and transmission.   How does the private sector work with utilities to mitigate this risk to our way of life? What can be done to accelerate supply and distribution development

From the IIJA to the CHIPS Act to the IRA, the energy industry has seen an unprecedented surge in federal funding opportunities. However, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the private sector will need to supply about 80% of the necessary investments for the developing world’s energy transition through 2030. What does all this mean for the evolving landscape of energy projects? What does the opportunity pipeline foretell, and what will it take to bring deals to financial close? This expert panel will explore the current state of the energy market, identify prevailing challenges, and discuss innovative delivery strategies to propel more energy projects to successful completion.

The NEVI Program aims to establish DC Fast Chargers every 50 miles along major U.S. highways and interstates. As this initiative progresses, the challenge of deploying fast charging solutions in rural areas remains. This session explores innovative approaches to installing fast charging stations from a regional perspective, leveraging pooled funding from federal and state programs. Attendees will delve into the potential for regional contracts across states with established EV Plans, examining strategies to attract private investments into charging infrastructure. The session includes a detailed case study showcasing cost estimates for identified contracts, along with insights from expert panelists on optimizing regional P3 contracts and funding sources.

The University of Maryland (UMD) is advancing its commitment to sustainability with the NextGen Energy Program, a $390 million initiative to transform its campus energy system and achieve a fossil fuel-free operation by 2035. Partnering with Maryland Energy Impact Partners (MEIP)—including Plenary Americas, Kiewit Development, and Honeywell—UMD is setting a new standard for energy efficiency and resilience. Attendees will gain insights into the collaboration between public and private sectors, the projected environmental impact—reducing carbon emissions by 23% and water consumption by 50%—and the program’s eligibility for significant federal funding under the Inflation Reduction Act. This case study offers valuable lessons for institutions seeking to balance innovation, sustainability, and efficiency in large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

Discover Henry Ford Health System's innovative 47,000 square foot Central Energy Hub at their Detroit South Campus, funded through a tax-exempt independent non-profit P3 structure. This critical facility anchors the Health System's $2 billion campus expansion, financed in March 2024 with $249.3 million in tax-exempt green bonds via the Michigan Finance Authority.

The Central Energy Hub will provide heating and cooling to two new healthcare facilities, supporting 1.35 million square feet initially, with potential expansion to 2.5 million square feet. Aligned with the Health System's sustainability goals, the project incorporates renewable energy solutions, contributing to their 2040 carbon neutrality objective.

Explore how the independent non-profit P3 structure optimizes long-term operations and maintenance, ensuring efficient service delivery while leveraging the cost benefits of tax-exempt financing. This approach prioritizes sustainability and longevity, enhancing the Health System's capacity to deliver essential services effectively.

Government mandates, favorable legislation, and consumer demand are pushing markets to decarbonize. While technically promising as a solution to decarbonization, emerging technologies like renewable hydrogen face commercial, regulatory, and market challenges to early adoption. Uncertainties such as unclear ownership, unestablished market mechanisms, and unclear regulatory environments can further slow important decarbonization project developments. Such challenges can be overcome more quickly through public-private partnership mechanisms. This session discusses those mechanisms and practical examples of how they can be implemented.

Imagine a future where our cities and states have achieved their ambitious goals of zero emissions for public, for-hire, and personal vehicles within the next two decades. This future is not possible without strong collaborations and coordination across public and private sectors, preparing our public realm and grid infrastructure for this green revolution.

SDGE, a proactive utility, is leading the charge with programs that support the rapid deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure. Innovative companies like Itselectric are also playing a pivotal role, developing unique business models that involve partnerships with property owners to expand charging availability. Uber, as a major for-hire vehicle platform, is making significant strides in this transition by working across the public and private sector to support planning for future EV charging needs and de risk investment in charging infrastructure and help meet the growing demand by rideshare drivers. 

Join us for a riveting panel discussion where we’ll delve into these strategies and other methods that governments, utilities, and developers are adopting to facilitate this transition in urban areas. We’ll explore topics such as collaborating with electric utilities for grid capacity upgrades, providing minimum levels of demand to developers, actively seeking new federal funding, simplifying permitting processes, utilizing underused public or institutional real estate, investigating land use and zoning incentives, and forming large-scale public-private partnerships with developers and operators.

Join us for an in-depth panel discussion on owner offramps in progressive P3 delivery models. These offramps occur when an owner decides not to proceed with the final finance, design, and construction phases with the private entity, or to terminate the project altogether. Topics covered include:

• Common types of offramps in progressive delivery and their frequency
• Key considerations for owners when deciding to exercise offramps
• Differentiating between credible and theoretical offramps
• Unique issues such as post-offramp designer access, design ownership, and private entity eligibility for future procurements
• Reasons why owners might opt for offramps
• Real-world experiences and insights from owners and advisors on instances where offramps were and were not executed, and the underlying reasons

Gain valuable perspectives on navigating owner offramps in progressive P3 projects, from theoretical concepts to practical implications and lessons learned from industry experiences.

Join us at this special evening networking receptions for all attendees. Enjoy drinks and light fare while meeting with exhibitors, speakers, and conference delegates. 

Speakers representing AIAI's P3Direct program will address how risk transfer can deliver value, the types of risk, and the best practices for allocation and mitigation to ensure project success.

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As cities face the pressing challenges of climate change and air quality, Seattle, Anaheim, and Los Angeles have demonstrated remarkable success in translating plans into tangible actions, becoming trailblazers in sustainable urban transportation. This panel will highlight how Seattle’s Transportation Electrification Blueprint, Anaheim’s solar-powered EV charging hub, The Charge, and Los Angeles’ Zero Emissions Bus Program have not only set ambitious goals but have effectively moved them toward implementation. These initiatives exemplify how forward-thinking policies and strategic execution are successfully transitioning to all-electric bus fleets, expanding renewable energy infrastructure, and delivering significant environmental benefits. Learn how these cities are paving the way for scalable, sustainable transportation solutions that other communities can replicate.

5 years ago the City and County of Denver built the largest sewer heat recovery project at the National Western Campus.  Now they are reviewing taking an existing chilled water line and converting it to an ambient loop to shed their thermal load on their downtown buildings to help achieve the City's decarbonation goals.  The team is currently reviewing geothermal and sewer heat recovery to achieve this transformational project.

An Energy Savings Performance Contract is a public-private partnership between a public entity and an Energy Service Company (ESCO) that allows public and institutional buildings to finance energy and water improvements through energy cost savings. The public entity repays the project financing using the energy, water and operations and maintenance (O&M) cost savings that result from the new or upgraded equipment and facility improvements.

Whenever additional dollars can be infused into an energy savings performance contract (i.e. existing capital, rebates, grant dollars, or tax credits) it increases the total investment of the project, allowing inclusion of measures with longer paybacks. It provides an opportunity for public entities to pay for more expensive upgrades cost-effectively (i.e., electrification – heat pumps, electric boilers, renewable energy, building envelope, etc.).

Policy makers and owners throughout the nation have set aggressive energy efficiency and decarbonization goals, while demand on the power grid and the nation’s energy utilities is increasing at a rapid rate. In order to meet those demands, owners must not only improve energy efficiency but also find creative solutions to upgrade energy sources. Whether it involves a regulated utility, microgrid/district energy system, or a blend of these, recognizing the transitional phase we are in is essential. Public-private partnerships (P3s) can serve as a valuable mechanism for companies, public authorities, and utilities to collaborate with operating & financial partners in implementing energy retrofit projects necessary to fulfill energy objectives. This discussion will address some of the needs and explore grid Distributed Energy Resource, Deep Energy Retrofits trends, and highlight some the benefits and challenges associated with the DBFOM delivery model.

As the energy landscape evolves, energy storage has become a pivotal element in building sustainable and resilient power systems. P3s offer unique opportunities to foster innovation and investment in energy storage projects, promoting more efficient energy management, enhancing grid reliability, and facilitating the transition to renewable energy. This session will explore the expanding market for energy storage, highlighting the latest trends, financing models, and partnership structures that can unlock new opportunities. Join industry experts and public sector leaders to discuss how P3s can accelerate the deployment of energy storage solutions and shape the future of energy infrastructure