Itron Inspire 2023: Impacts of the IIJA on the Energy Industry

The passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) stands out as one of the most pivotal moments in the energy industry’s history. As of May 2023, the IIJA has awarded over $220 billion dollars toward green energy initiatives, electric vehicle adoption, public infrastructure and more¹. In light of the two-year anniversary of the legislation’s passing, numerous sessions at Itron Inspire 2023 will be focused on the IIJA and ways our customers can use this funding to support their decarbonization strategies and better manage energy and water resources. 

During the Knowledge Conference, held in San Antonio, TX from Oct. 24-26, IIJA-focused breakout sessions will share perspectives from thought leaders about their lessons learned and lend insight into strategic positioning. Attendees will learn about key use cases in AMI, distributed intelligence, grid resiliency and distribution automation that are applicable to the IIJA and how it can serve as a path to deploying these solutions at scale. Throughout the Knowledge Center, Itron solutions that qualify for IIJA funding will be marked with a round IIJA sticker.

Keep reading for a preview of the IIJA sessions attendees can look forward to at Itron Inspire: 

A Holistic Approach to Electrification  
Government funding is accelerating more than electrification. It is changing how communities need to think about participating and working together to achieve all the benefits electrification can provide. In this session, Utilizing IIJA Funding to Build a Community-Centric Approach to Electrification Starting with School Buses, on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m., attendees will learn how some of the early thought leaders are organizing a community approach to move this concept forward. For more information on this topic, check out Dan Pfeiffer’s blog, Driving a Greener Future: IIJA Funding and the Rise of Electric School Buses.

A Look at What’s Next with IIJA
In this session, Where Are We Now? Industry Insight into the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, held on Wednesday, Oct 25 from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m., presenters from El Paso Electric Company, Black & Veatch and Sacramento Utility District will discuss how the IIJA has evolved over the past two years. Last year, utilities and cities were focused on understanding IIJA and what funding was available from which agencies. Now that the first round of funding is complete, we’ve uncovered more tangible lessons learned on the process and how to position for future rounds of funding opportunities. Join this conversation between utility and industry leaders on how you can maximize the benefits that IIJA can unlock for your communities.

Using IIJA to Accelerate Decarbonization
As utilities strive to meet aggressive 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goals, the adoption of hydrogen in the gas industry presents an intriguing tool to help reach these goals. In this interactive session, Considering Hydrogen? Exploring the Right Balance to Ensure Safety and Meet Decarbonization Goals, on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4:00 – 4:45 p.m., industry leaders will explore the delicate balance between safety and decarbonization objectives and how we can move forward together as an industry. The IIJA plays a key role in advancing hydrogen adoption in addition to other decarbonization strategies as existing gas distribution infrastructures need to adapt to support greener energy. Attend this session to stay informed about trends, ask questions and share your thoughts about the role of hydrogen in the gas industry. More information about how IIJA funding can support utility decarbonization initiatives is available in Itron’s latest blog of our IIJA series, The Pivotal Role of IIJA in the Decarbonization Movement. 

We look forward to connecting with energy, water, industrial IoT (IIoT) and smart city leaders at Itron Inspire to explore technologies and solutions that support a more sustainable future. Don’t forget to join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #ItronInspire23.