Speakers

Pilar Thomas is a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP. She focuses her practice on tribal renewable energy project development and finance, tribal economic development, federal Indian Law, and natural resource development. Pilar assists clients with strategic legal advice on tribal energy policy and planning; clean energy and infrastructure project development and finance; federal and state energy regulatory, programs, and policy efforts; and federal requirements for tribal lands development. She has negotiated or assisted with agreements related to transmission lines, landfill gas, solar projects, a natural gas power plant, and mineral development on tribal lands. She serves as general counsel for several tribes, Section 17, and tribal business entities.

Prior to entering private practice, Pilar was the Deputy Director for the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs at the US Department of Energy, where she was responsible for developing and implementing policy and program efforts within the department and federal government to achieve the office’s policy objectives related to the promotion of energy development, electrification, and infrastructure improvement on tribal lands. She also is the former Deputy Solicitor of Indian Affairs for the US Department of the Interior; served as the Interim Attorney General and Chief of Staff to Chairwoman Herminia Frias of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe; and was a trial attorney in the US Department of Justice, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, Indian Resources Section.

Dylan is a Professional Engineer (PE) with over a dozen years of consulting experience in the fields of architecture, engineering, and solar design. He has degrees in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami. He has been a solar project developer for Affordable Solar since early 2018 three years and he uses his diverse expertise to provide his customer’s with a comprehensive perspective in order to meet their energy saving goals.

Salina is an Iñupiaq woman whose grandmother moved her young family from the Village of Kiana (Alaska) to Denver, CO during the relocation efforts after WWII. She is a first-generation college student who earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, followed by an MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University. Salina is an accomplished energy professional with 25 years of experience in development, operations, and community engagement in oil & gas, geothermal, wind, and solar industries. Salina is an accomplished entrepreneur and as the founder and former CEO of Transitional Energy, Salina successfully led her team to develop innovative solutions to convert heat waste from the oilfield into clean power for the grid, prior to her current role as Director of Development for SunShare.

In addition to her work in the energy industry, Derichsweiler is also committed to lifelong learning and passionate about building more resilient and equitable communities. She serves on the board of directors for Colorado Young Leaders, an organization committed to helping youth find new ways to lead from a place of purpose, passion and service in their communities. Salina also supports her community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children in Denver County, and as a volunteer with A Little Help providing older adult neighbors with care and community so that they can thrive at home.

Alaric J. Babej is the Principal of Customer Energy Solutions at the Public Service Company of New Mexico where he oversees utility programs focused on electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy to
help customers achieve their sustainability goals. At PNM, Mr. Babej designed and launched an online interconnection process that reduced the time required to evaluate customer solar applications by 80%.
He also designed and launched PNM’s inaugural Transportation Electrification Program and company initiatives to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment in New Mexico. Mr. Babej earned a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from the Anderson School at the University of New Mexico. When not thinking about the best classic car to convert to an EV, Mr. Babej continuously proves that lack of natural talent is no reason to give up playing hockey.