FSEC Advisory Board Meeting
June 5, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
In-Person Meeting with Remote Option via GoToMeeting
| Time | Description | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Welcome | Jeff Juger, Vice Chair, FSEC Advisory Board; Deputy General Manager, JinkoSolar |
| Introductions – Advisory Board Members Roll Call | Sherri Shields, Director, Communications & Marketing, FSEC | |
| 9:40 a.m. | Approval of October 24, 2024 Minutes | Jeff Juger, Vice Chair |
| 9:45 a.m. | Status of FSEC Programs [PDF 8 MB| Video] |
James Fenton, Director, FSEC |
| 10:30 a.m. | Solar for Everybody [PDF 3 MB | Video] |
Allena McKinley, ABM Manager, ESA Solar Sabrina Diniz, Public Relations Specialist, ESA Solar |
| 10:50 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Florida Energy Office Report | Tony Morgan, Deputy Director, Office of Energy, FDACS |
| 11:10 a.m. | Florida Legislative Session Report | Louis Rotundo, Principal, Louis Rotundo and Associates |
| 11:20 a.m. | Future of PV Manufacturing in Florida [Video] | Jeff Juger, Deputy General Manager, JinkoSolar |
| 11:40 a.m. | Input to Strategic Plan and SWOT Analysis | Colleen Kettles, Workforce and Business Development Director, FSEC |
| 11:55 a.m. | Federal Funding Discussion | James Fenton, Director, FSEC Jeff Juger, Vice Chair |
| 12:10 p.m. | New Business Next AB Meeting: October 3rd 50th Anniversary Celebration: October 4th |
Jeff Juger, Vice Chair Sherri Shields, Communications Director, FSEC |
| 12:25 p.m. | Adjourn for Lunch | All |
Attendance
Presenters
James Fenton, Director, FSEC
Tony Morgan, Deputy Director, Office of Energy FDACS
Jeff Juger, Deputy General Manager, JinkoSolar
Colleen Kettles, Workforce and Business Development Director, FSEC
Board Members
Carrie Black, Orange County Government; Jason Gaschel, FPL; Bill Grieco, Innventure, LLC; Paul Johnston*, Watsco, Inc.; Jeff Juger, Jinko Solar Inc.; Karen Kicinski*, Lifestyle Homes Builders; Bruce Lindsay, Trane Technologies; Ashraf Mahmoud*, Saft; Scott McWhorter*, SHEA; Tony Norrow, Universal Destinations and Resort; Jennifer Szaro*, AESP; Tamara Waldmann*, Duke Energy Florida
Guests
Johnson Chen, M2X Energy; Benajmin Cross, Nusynergy Energy; Jan Marsh*, Siemens Energy; Ben Millar, JinkoSolar; Tony Morgan, Office of Energy FDACS; Dave Robau*, Gulf Coast Energy Network; Pankaj Sharma, Purdue University; Mike Taylor, City of Orlando; Benjamin Yoakum, Orange County Government
FSEC, Faculty, UCF Staff
Meghana Agnigundala*, Matias Campos Tejera*, David Chasar*, Keith Coelho*, Carlos Colon, Carla Craig, Joshua Currie*, Al Davis*, Zhipeng Deng, Liz Dusch, Philip Fairey, James Fenton, Hamed Haggi, Chris Hale, Ethan Hunt*, Safvat Kalaghachy, Colleen Kettles, Eric Martin*, Robyn McCarl, Janet McIlvaine*, Tabatha Moye*, Elizabeth Myron*, Bereket Nigusse*, Karthik Panchabikesan, Alex Parlato*, Richard Raustad*, Veronica Rigo*, Winston Schoenfeld, Alireza Shantia*, Sherri Shields, Kelly Stevens*, Rob Vieira, Yifan Wang, Charles Withers
Attendance Total = 55
In-Person: 31
Virtual: 24
*Virtual attendees
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
- Sherri Shields started roll call at 9:31 am. Board members and guests briefly introduced themselves.
- Jeff Juger, the FSEC Advisory Board Vice Chair, presented the meeting minutes from October 25, 2024. Motion to approve was given by James Fenton. Motion was seconded by William Greico. Minutes were unanimously approved by voice vote.
- Dr. James Fenton, director of FSEC, provided an Update of FSEC Programs. Updates were provided on FSEC contracts, partnerships, and research projects. Dr. Fenton and FSEC researchers are actively working on solar energy research, zero emission goals, Florida electricity generation, and alternative fuels. Dr. Fenton also elaborated on the importance of Florida-made energy for utilities, homeowners, vehicle owners, and farmers. This interconnected model of energy supply and demand would greatly reduce costs for Florida and homeowners.
- ESA Solar’s presentation, Solar for Everyone, was shared by Dr. Fenton. This presentation highlighted ESA Solar canopy projects in Orlando, Florida including the Advent Health Corporate Campus.
- All went to break at 10:45 a.m.
- Tony Morgan, deputy director of the Florida Office of Energy, provided an Energy Office program update. The Office of Energy is currently focused on three programs:
1. HEAR Program – Fully Awarded, $174 million – For low-moderate income homeowners to upgrade heat pump heating and cooling, ENERGYSTAR stoves and dryers, insulation and home electrical systems. FDACS is currently working on the website for applicant onboarding.
2. HOMES Program – Conditionally Awarded, On Hold.
3. TREC Program – Conditionally Awarded, On Hold – Training for Residential Contractors, working towards partnership with FSEC to provide training. - Louis Rotundo, Louis Rotundo & Associates, was not able attend due to the Florida Legislative Session.
- Jeff Juger, Deputy General Manager of JinkoSolar presented on ‘Prospects of PV manufacturing in Florida: Opportunities and Challenges.” JinkoSolar is the world’s largest solar manufacturer and ranks 3rd in total installed solar capacity. The final assembly is completed at their manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Manufacturing challenges can include policy changes, supply chain challenges, and high energy demand in manufacturing. To allow for industry growth and investment, JinkoSolar is scaling their solar manufacturing and driving solar innovation, while also focusing on workforce development.
- Colleen Kettles, director of Workforce and Business Development at FSEC, led a presentation to gather the Board’s, “Input to the Strategic Plan and SWOT Analysis”. The SWOT Analysis and Strategic Plan are being put in place for 2025-2030. A survey was distributed to FSEC staff and advisory board members. FSEC has identified five overall goals:
1. Deploy FSEC’s distinctive assets to enhance prominence in sustainable energy research and development,
2. Recruit and retain highly qualified faculty and staff to increase and support research excellence,
3. Elevate and expand FSEC’s education and training program,
4. Diversify the partnership base that supports and funds FSEC’s research, development and education initiatives,
5. Increase stakeholder and constituent engagement with FSEC to better inform its programs and services.
Board members were encouraged to give their inputs to the Strategic Plan as it is being drafted. The final draft of the plan will be shared at the next Advisory Board meeting. - Jeff Juger, vice chair, and Dr. James Fenton, FSEC director, led a discussion on federal funding. Following Dr. Fenton’s visit to Congress, current opportunities, changes, and challenges at the federal level were discussed with the board. Jeff Juger brought questions to the board members surrounding the future of energy research and programs, cost-savings measures, funding opportunities, and strategies for FSEC’s resiliency.
- The next FSEC Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025. Additionally, FSEC will hold a 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 4, 2025.
- Jeff Juger adjourned the meeting at 12:25 pm.