Conference Agenda

MARC 2026 Annual Conference Forward Momentum — Recognizing the Past, Energizing the Future

June 7-10, 2026

Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin

Agenda

General Sessions hosted by Wisconsin Commissioners:

Who Run the World: Women Redefining Male-Dominated Industries – Chairperson Summer Strand
Keeping the “Public” in “Public Interest” – Commissioner Kristy Nieto
Back to School – Midwestern Universities Driving Innovation – Commissioner Marcus Hawkins

Breakout Sessions:

Power to the People: How Regulators and Policymakers Can Break the Cycle of Energy Poverty with Targeted Affordability Programs
Hot Takes: Performance Based Ratemaking, Panacea or Proceed with Caution?
Midwestern Nice: Air, Water, and Energy Collaboration on Large Load Impacts
DSM me ASAP: Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Resources to Meet the Moment
Fire & Ice: Best Practices for Managing Emerging Climate Risks
Past is Prologue: Commissioner Origin Stories
Don’t Tell me No Lies and Keep Your Hands to Yourself: Federal and State Jurisdictional Turmoil
Getting to Win-Win-Wins: Collaborative Problem Solving for Load Growth

Registrant List as of May 11, 2026

All tours will take place the morning of Tuesday, June 9–Sign-up is available for Conference registrants!

Tour Descriptions

Wander, Wonder, Work: An Epic Tour

Bus Tour with several on/off stops; choice of two (2) tour tracks

Tours depart at approximately 8 a.m. and will return around 12:15 p.m.

If you’re familiar with MyChart, chances are you’re one of the more than 325 million patients worldwide who have a current electronic medical record in Epic. Founded in a basement by UW-Madison graduate student Judy Faulkner in 1979, Epic Systems is located about 10 miles southwest of Madison and currently employs approximately 14,000 people.

The electronic records giant’s Intergalactic Headquarters is a destination in itself. The1,670-acre facility includes a one-of-a-kind art collection and six creatively themed campuses reminiscent of childhood daydreams–favorite storybooks, outer space, wizards, a working farm, a treehouse, and more. Although these playful environments inspire whimsy, the Epic campus is seriously intentional in its design and function, incorporating sophisticated infrastructure to support the development and deployment of advanced software solutions. Choose your tour track:

Earth, Wind, and Sun: Epic Energy Systems The campus produces both wind and solar power and relies on one of the largest geothermal systems in the world to heat and cool its buildings. On this tour track, learn more about the innovative technologies and systems that create sustainability, reliability, and cost savings at Epic.
Imaginative: Epic Campus Design The campus isn’t just visually distinctive; it’s purposefully planned to support focused work, spark collaboration, and create a sense of community. On this tour track, learn more about Epic’s approach to workspace design, and how it reflects a core company belief: when people have the right environment, they do their best work.

On Sacred Ground: First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour

Walking Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land in a special place called Teejop (four lakes). For more than 20 years, the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour has led group walks to share stories and evocative experiences of the past and present Indigeneity of Teejop. Along the beautiful shores of Tee Waaksikhomik (Lake Mendota), this resonant tour engages with land, water, buildings, historical markers, and archaeological sites through an Indigenous perspective, facilitates discussions about historic and contemporary relationships with First Nations, and fosters reflection on our generational responsibilities. This walking tour begins and ends at the historic Memorial Union and incorporates various terrain such as stairs and inclines in elevation. Participants should be prepared to walk or otherwise travel up to two miles.

Just Come Along with Me: The Wisconsin Idea in Action

Walking Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12:15 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has long been defined by the Wisconsin Idea — the principle that the university’s work should benefit all people in Wisconsin, not just those within its walls—often summarized as, “the boundaries of the campus are the boundaries of the state.” Today this is especially visible in UW’s commitment to energy innovation and developing a cleaner energy future. This tour offers an inside look at some of the cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaborations taking place, and a few of the sustainable, state-of-the-art facilities bringing these commitments to life.

Tour highlights include:

University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor UW’s nuclear engineering program is among the best in the country, training the next generation of scientists and engineers while advancing research with real-world implications for safe, reliable, low-carbon energy production. See the teaching and research reactor that supports a wide range of educational endeavors on campus and beyond.
Pegasus III Nuclear Fusion Project UW-Madison is one of the world’s top-ranked fusion energy research universities and its Fusion Technology Institute produces the most advanced-degree fusion engineers in the nation. This project is one of several programs positioning UW at the forefront of fusion energy innovation. A visit here offers a rare, up-close look at work that may define the future of global energy due to fusion’s potential to produce limitless clean, safe, and reliable energy
Wisconsin Energy Institute The Wisconsin Energy Institute serves as the hub of UW’s broad energy research enterprise, bringing together scientists, engineers, economists, and policymakers under one roof. Its collaborative model reflects the Wisconsin Idea at its best — bridging disciplines and connecting campus research directly to community and industry partners.
Morgridge Hall The newly constructed home of the School of Computer, Data, and Information Sciences is the most sustainable academic building on the UW–Madison campus. Designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and meet the university’s rigorous sustainability standards, Morgridge Hall is a showcase of forward-thinking choices that support environmental responsibility, community well-being, and long-term durability. Every element—from water systems to energy performance—has been thoughtfully integrated to support the university’s mission and serve generations to come.
The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery A collaborative facility focusing on interdisciplinary research and innovation. The state-of-the-art facility features a lush, biodiverse indoor landscape that brings the natural world into the heart of a building dedicated to scientific inquiry.

Power Trip: Dane County Innovation Tour

Bus Tour with some on/off stops. Tour departs at approximately 8 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m.

Prefer to sit back and let someone else do the driving? This is the tour for you! Wisconsin’s successful statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program, Focus on Energy (FOCUS), is celebrating 25 years of helping Wisconsin residents, businesses, schools, farms, and communities save energy and reduce costs. This tour will showcase several unique examples of projects funded by FOCUS and the PSC’s Energy Innovation Grant Program that highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and robust funding opportunities. The tour will also include longer stops at the pristine Holy Wisdom Monastery and additional locations featuring renewable energy and energy storage installations.

Shear Energy: Solar and Agrivoltaics Tour

Bus Tour with some on/off stops. Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m.

Come see what the buzzzz is about! As renewable energy adoption becomes more widespread, interest in agrivoltaics—the use of land for both agriculture and solar energy generation—has grown in tandem. This tour will visit two solar energy generation sites in Fitchburg that integrate agrivoltaics into their operations, demonstrating the benefits of this unique co-location. Tyto Solar is home to a grazing flock of sheep that help control ground cover during the growing season, maintaining grass and brush in a sustainable way. O’Brien Solar incorporates pollinator plantings that support a small apiary (beehives). Visitors will see the sites in action and learn about the innovative rate programs utilizing these solar generation projects.

Under the Dome: Touring Wisconsin’s State Capitol

Walking Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 10:30 a.m.

Need a break from all the energy and utility talk? Wander up the street and into one of the most magnificent state capitols in the country! Located in the heart of downtown Madison, the Capitol is the seat of state government and the city’s most recognizable landmark. Offering beautiful mosaics, towering marble columns, and a soaring rotunda, each space is rich with art, symbolism, and stories of Wisconsin’s past and present. No visit to Madison is complete without a Capitol tour!

Updated as of 5/12/2026

Conference Agenda and Registered Attendees