09/16/2026

USAEE Conference — Register Now | Panel Spotlight: Powering Appalachia’s Future

Featuring Mitch DeRubis, Shanti Gamper-Rabindran, and Arun Iyengar

Mitch DeRubis Managing Director FTI Consulting	Shanti Gamper-Rabindran Professor University of Pittsburgh	Arun Iyengar Chief Engineer & Technical Mgr  KeyLogic Systems	Amanda Harker Steele Senior Energy Economist Southwest Power Pool

There is still time to register for the 2026 USAEE North American Conference and then join us November 15–18 in Pittsburgh!

REGISTER

43rd USAEE North American Conference
Sunday, November 15 through Wednesday, November 18
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown

Reservations are also open at the conference host hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown at the special USAEE group rate of $159 per night. 

The theme for this year's conference is DISRUPTION: The State of Energy Markets in 2026 and Beyond. Sessions will feature vital and timely topics including crude oil supply disruptions, large load growth in electricity markets, energy affordability, natural gas and LNG, nuclear, coal and its place in the energy mix, and more. Join us in Pittsburgh and hear what leading subject matter experts have to say about these and other topics, all against the backdrop of the extraordinary energy market disruptions of 2026. 

Powering Appalachia's Future: Innovation, Resilience, and Regional Opportunity
This session brings together leading voices from across the Appalachian region to discuss the evolving energy landscape and the opportunities and challenges it presents for communities, industries, and policymakers alike. Panelists will discuss topics related to how the region’s diverse energy resources—from natural gas to solar to wind, opportunities for advanced manufacturing emerging hydrogen hubs, and reclamation-driven economic development—are reshaping long-term growth trajectories. The session aims to highlight the economic, environmental, and workforce considerations critical to building a resilient energy future in the region.

Panelists
Mitch DeRubis manages the Economic Consulting segment of FTI. He offers data-driven insights on U.S. power and natural gas markets that support strategic planning, M&A activity, and expert testimony for a diverse range of energy sector participants. He developed FTI’s U.S. power modeling infrastructure and leads market simulation engagements combining deep market knowledge with best-in-class methods and data. He holds an M.S. in Mineral & Energy Economics from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.S. in Analytics from Georgia Tech, and a B.A. in Economics & Political Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Shanti Gamper-Rabindran is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh with appointments in the School of Public and International Affairs (primary) and the School of Law and Department of Economics (secondary). She undertakes interdisciplinary studies on the just energy transition, environmental protection, and sustainable economic development. She is the author of America’s Energy Gamble: People, Economy and Planet and contributing editor of the Shale Dilemma: A Global Perspective. She has published in peer reviewed journals including Journal of Environmental Economics & Management, Journal of Regulatory Economics, Energy Research and Social Sciences and in law journals. 

Arun Iyengar has a Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics form the University of Minnesota and has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector. As a Chief Engineer at KeyLogic and Technical Lead supporting the NETL, he leads the Markets and Infrastructure capability under the DOE Strategic Analysis contract, overseeing multidisciplinary teams delivering system-level insights on energy markets, grid interactions, and infrastructure planning. In this role, he directs analyses evaluating how generation, transmission, and emerging technologies interact within regional energy systems, providing decision support for complex investment and policy decisions. His expertise spans computational fluid dynamics, techno-economic assessment, energy market analysis, and infrastructure constraint evaluation. Previously, Dr. Iyengar spent over a decade at Siemens Energy applying advanced modeling to optimize energy systems.

Moderator
Amanda Harker Steele is a Senior Energy Economist at Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) that manages the electric grid and wholesale power market for much of the central United States. At SPP, Dr. Harker Steele focuses on developing new and revising existing market design concepts. She and her team are tasked with ensuring such concepts are grounded in foundational economic principles to maintain the assurance of economically efficient and also reliable market outcomes for SPP and its members. Additionally, Dr. Harker Steele serves as the President of the Three Rivers Chapter of USAEE.

MORE SPEAKERS

USAEE's Three Rivers Chapter, the organizer of this panel, is also among groups hosting dinners on Tuesday, November 16 at the conference. Because this year’s offsite reception will be held Monday evening, attendees are encouraged to make dinner plans for Tuesday. Further information for those interest in joining the Three Rivers Chapter dinner (all are welcome!):

2026 USAEE Conference: Three Rivers Chapter Dinner

Now is also the perfect time to join us as a conference or association sponsor! Provide vital support for USAEE's mission and enjoy a range of benefits that enhance visibility and impact both at the conference and year-round!