2024 Speakers & Presenters
Panel #1: 1:30pm - 2:30 pm
Uncovering Federal and State Funding Opportunities
An overview of timely local government funding opportunities, and how they may be stacked, in the areas of Economic Development, Water Quality, Brownfields, and Clean Energy.
Eleanor Peck, Moderator
Ms. Peck serves as the Deputy Executive Director at HVRC. She works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support as a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects. Previously, Ms. Peck was the Climate Smart Coordinator in the City of Beacon, helping the City achieve NYS Climate Smart Communities Program Silver Certification. She has also worked for the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, fundraising for the Institute's ecological science, as well as the Wildlife Conservation Society, fundraising for the Bronx Zoo and conservation projects around the globe. Ms. Peck received a master's degree in International Affairs from the New School for Social Research in New York City and her bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She continues to volunteer in the City of Beacon as a member of the City’s Conservation Advisory Committee.
Lucas Martin
Mr. Martin is a Management & Program Analyst at the US Economic Development Administration’s Philadelphia Regional Office. Lucas is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) and Project Management Professional (PMP), with over eight years of federal service. Lucas earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at SUNY Polytechnic Institute focused on Technology Management, a Master of Science (MS) degree in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from SUNY Oswego with a major in Business Administration. Lucas severed two years as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) and has been a multi-year recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizing community service hours dedicated.
Ryan Corbett
Mr. Corbett is the Water Resources Manger at HVRC. Mr. Corbett joined HRVC in July 2024 to develop HVRC’s Wastewater Systems Training & Technical Assistance (TA) Program for Small & Rural Municipalities in the Mid-Hudson Region. Prior to a professional hiatus in the craft brewing industry, Mr. Corbett worked with Tectonic Engineering’s Geotechnical department conducting stormwater assessment and vibration monitoring throughout New York. While at San Francisco State University, his strong passion for managed aquifer recharge led to investigating the role of fog drip as a hydrologic input, as well as being a member of the Hydrology and Water Resources Group studying the sustainability and vulnerability of low impact development. Mr. Corbett received a master’s degree in Hydrogeology from the San Francisco State University. He received his bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Ashita Patel
Ms. Patel is the regional Brownfields State & Tribal Response Coordinator at EPA Region 2. She is a project manager overseeing the implementation of cooperative agreements involving CERCLA Sec. 128(a) State and Tribal Response program and various Brownfields assessment, multipurpose, cleanup and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements. She also leads and monitors the regional effort to ensure annual program metrics for the completion of environmental assessments, cleanups, and sites returned to productive reuse are being achieved through EPA’s ACRES database reporting system. Ashita has a Master of Science degree in Sustainability and Environmental Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Environmental Studies.
Ellie Kahn
Ellie Kahn is a Program Manager at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Communities and Local Governments team, which promotes local leadership within the clean energy transition through programs such as Clean Energy Communities. Prior to joining NYSERDA, she worked on energy policy for the City of New York and supported public health research at Columbia University. Ellie received a bachelor’s in individualized study at New York University and a master’s in public administration at Columbia University.
Panel #2: 2:40pm - 3:40 pm
Clean Energy, Economic Development, and Water Quality: Discussion of Local Case Studies
Discussion of the environmental and economic considerations of both small and large-scale clean energy in the Mid-Hudson Region including local case studies and their interplay with local governments and other stakeholders.
Carla Castillo, Moderator
Ms. Castillo serves as the Executive Director at HVRC. Ms. Castillo has been with HVRC since 2016. In her current role, Ms. Castillo oversees staff’s regional work with 202 municipalities in the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region. This includes HVRC’s funded work through the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, NYSDEC 604(b) Water Quality Program, US Environmental Protection Agency Wastewater Technical Assistance Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Program, HREP/NEIWPCC-funded adaptation Climate Action Planning Institutes in Dutchess and Westchester Counties, and the US Department of Energy Energy Future Grant through the City of Yonkers. Ms. Castillo manages HVRC’s $1.2M budget and board relations with a 19-member board consisting of elected officials and non-government representatives. She has created and maintained relationships with nearly all the municipalities within the Region, and her fluency in Spanish is useful for communicating with the large Spanish-speaking population of the Region. Ms. Castillo’s brings 26 years of combined experience in project management and lending as well as community engagement and capacity building experience to HVRC. Ms. Castillo received a master’s degree in City & Regional Planning and a Master of Science in International Development & Appropriate Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from UCLA. Ms. Castillo chairs her local municipality’s town-appointed environmental committee and sits on a number of regional and local boards.
Walter Alvarado
Mr. Alvarado serves as Con Edison's Vice President of System and Transmission Operations. He is responsible for several teams that include Transmission Planning, which manages the electric bulk power transmission system with NYISO and neighboring utilities; System Operations, which ensures the safe and reliable 24/7 operation of our electric and steam systems; Transmission Operations, which inspects and maintains, the underground and overhead transmission system (including vegetation management); and Transmission Project Development, which manages the transmission investment portfolio (internal and 3rd party).
Drew Gamils
Drew Gamils is a Senior Attorney at Riverkeeper, Inc. Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization whose mission includes protecting and restoring the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguarding drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law. Ms. Gamils joined Riverkeeper as a Staff Attorney in April 2023. Ms. Gamils works to advance Riverkeeper’s policy goals of fishable, swimmable waterways, and clean drinking water through litigation, advocacy, public education and outreach. Ms. Gamils is Riverkeeper’s lead attorney on the Hudson River PCBs campaign. Prior to joining Riverkeeper, Ms. Gamils worked as an associate at Keane & Beane, P.C. specializing in the practice of environmental, zoning, land use and municipal law. Ms. Gamils provided counsel for several municipal boards as well as private clients on matters regarding SEQRA, New York City Watershed Regulations, and other environmental regulatory requirements. Ms. Gamils received her juris doctor, cum laude, from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2016, with a Certificate in Environmental Law, and received her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2013. She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York and the United States Supreme Court.
Bill Oberkehr
Mr. Oberkehr is a Senior Advisor on the Clean Energy Siting team at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). He currently focuses on leading the New York State Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group for battery energy storage, reviewing codes and standards related to energy storage technologies, ensuring alignment with the New York State Uniform Code, and guiding local government officials through the requirements and best practices and creation and implementation of appropriate local laws. Mr. Oberkehr previously worked on NYSERDA’s PV Trainers Network program, providing technical assistance, developing resources, and training local government officials about solar energy throughout New York State. In addition to Mr. Oberkehr's statewide work, he spent several years administering the City of New York's municipal solar programs.
Mr. Oberkehr received his B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from State University of New York College at Old Westbury. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning from Stony Brook University and an Advanced Certificate in Workplace Democracy and Community Ownership from City University of New York’s School of Labor and Urban Studies.
Stephen Ballentine
Mr. Ballentine is the Director of Environmental Advocacy and Public Policy for Scenic Hudson. His work focuses on renewable energy issues, conservation, and Hudson River advocacy. Before joining Scenic Hudson, Stephen was a staff attorney at a Pennsylvania-based environmental nonprofit, and he has worked on political campaigns, at a plaintiff-side law firm, and as a law clerk in the Northern District of New York.