Join Sharon Reishus for a unique inside look at how USA's first multi-state carbon credit trading market was born and why those hard-won lessons are crucial for navigating today's unprecedented electricity demand surge. 

As a founding board member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and former Chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, Sharon will share the story of creating the nation's first mandatory regional carbon market, from the political negotiations to the pushback from stakeholders, to set up a carbon regime that delivered millions in consumer savings over two decades and helped cut regional power plant emissions in half.

But this isn't just a history lesson. With electricity demand growing at rates not seen in decades, driven by AI data centers and rapid electrification of the economy, Sharon will decode what this means for climate goals, energy costs, and grid reliability. Drawing from her 35 years of power sector expertise, she'll connect the strategic thinking that made RGGI successful to the market dynamics reshaping America's energy landscape today.

Join Dev Pawar, Principal and Director of Operations at Architectural Resource Team (A|R|T), for an inspiring conversation on regenerative design and the future of sustainable architecture. With over 25 years of experience in the industry and a unique global perspective shaped by his architectural studies in India and at Arizona State University, Dev has led projects across transit, municipal, educational, and spiritual sectors -- always focused on turning visionary ideas into reality.

At this event, Dev will share the story of Sonoran Studio, Arizona’s first certified Living Building and A|R|T’s new home. Unlike traditional “green” or “sustainable” buildings, Living Buildings follow rigorous standards that go beyond minimizing harm -- they restore, regenerate, and uplift. Learn how this project embodies the seven petals of the Living Building Challenge:

• Place: Restoring a healthy relationship with nature
• Water: Designing within the local water balance
• Energy: Harnessing only current solar income
• Health & Happiness: Promoting physical and psychological well-being
• Materials: Using products safe for all species through time
• Equity: Supporting a just and equitable world
• Beauty: Celebrating design that uplifts the human spirit

This session is perfect for architects, planners, climate enthusiasts, and anyone interested in how buildings can give back more than they take, transforming communities and the planet. Dev will explore both the practical and philosophical dimensions of Living Buildings and share actionable insights for implementing regenerative practices in projects of any scale.