Monday, June 8, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception at the Grand Nave Ballroom in the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel
Sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
7:40 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company
8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
Opening Remarks
Katrina Fritz, President & CEO, California Hydrogen Business Council
8:40 AM – 8:50 AM
Sacramento Welcome
Councilmember Eric Guerra, City of Sacramento; Board Member, California Air Resources Board
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM
Keynote
Senator Bob Archuleta, District 30, California State Senate
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Panel 1: The Clean Energy Policy Landscape
Federal laws, regulations, and incentives impacting California’s hydrogen future
Federal climate and infrastructure policy continues to reshape the economics of clean energy development. This discussion will explore how California is adapting to evolving federal incentives, regulations, and funding opportunities while accelerating deployment across transportation, industrial, and energy sectors. Speakers will discuss market incentives, implementation challenges, and how state and federal priorities intersect to support long-term hydrogen growth.
Panelists
Connor Dolan
Vice President of External Affairs, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Vice President of External Affairs, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Tyson Eckerle
Sr. Advisor, Clean Infrastructure & Mobility, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Sr. Advisor, Clean Infrastructure & Mobility, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Jim Park
Senior Vice President, Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business Development, Hyundai Motor North America
Senior Vice President, Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business Development, Hyundai Motor North America
Sarah Smith
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Consultant, California State Senate
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Consultant, California State Senate
Moderator
Tom Brill
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Keynote
Michelle Buffington, Division Chief of the Mobile Source Control Division, California Air Resources Board
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
10:30 AM – 10:40 AM
Keynote
Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, District 39, California State Assembly
10:40 AM – 10:50 AM
Keynote
Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation, CA State Transportation Agency
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM
Panel 2: Hydrogen Production and Transport
Environmental benefits, delivery systems, permitting, jobs, and investment
California’s hydrogen economy depends on reliable, low-carbon production and the infrastructure necessary to move hydrogen safely and efficiently. This session will explore transportation pathways, environmental benefits of in-state production, siting and permitting considerations, and the economic opportunities associated with scaling California’s hydrogen supply chain.
Panelists
Danielle Mark
Principal Hydrogen Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric
Principal Hydrogen Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric
Elizabeth Betancourt
Natural & Working Lands Policy Advisor, California Department of Conservation
Natural & Working Lands Policy Advisor, California Department of Conservation
Emma Manoukian Chung
Director, BCFS Public Affairs
Director, BCFS Public Affairs
Aaron Katzenstein
Deputy Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District
Deputy Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District
Moderator
Tanya Peacock
Managing Director, Hydrogen and California at EcoEngineers
Managing Director, Hydrogen and California at EcoEngineers
11:40 AM – 11:50 AM
Keynote
Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, District 4, California State Assembly
11:50 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Keynote
Nick Barilo, Executive Director, Center for Hydrogen Safety
1:20 PM – 1:30 PM
Keynote
Michael Galvin, Director of Waterfront and Commercial Real Estate, Port of Los Angeles
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Panel 3: Hydrogen's Role in California's Zero Emission Transit Fleets
How transit leaders are planning, deploying, and funding hydrogen powered fleets
California’s transition to zero-emission transit is accelerating, and hydrogen is emerging as a critical tool for agencies seeking reliability, range, and operational flexibility. This session brings together transit leaders and managers to discuss how fuel cell buses can support fleet decarbonization, what it takes to plan and build hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and how agencies can align with state policy and funding opportunities. Panelists will share lessons from early deployments, explore workforce, safety, and maintenance considerations, and outline the practical steps needed to scale hydrogen-powered transit across California.
Panelists
Walter Watcher
Chief of Capital Projects, SunLine Transit Agency
Chief of Capital Projects, SunLine Transit Agency
Derek Toups
Planning and Innovation Deputy Director, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Planning and Innovation Deputy Director, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Roland Cordero
Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology, Foothill Transit
Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology, Foothill Transit
David Harbour
Director of Maintenance, San Mateo County Transit District
Director of Maintenance, San Mateo County Transit District
Moderator
Michael Pimentel
Executive Director, California Transit Association
Executive Director, California Transit Association
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
Keynote
Assemblymember Pacheco, District 64, California State Assembly
2:40 PM – 3:10 PM
Dessert and Coffee Break
3:10 PM – 3:20 PM
Keynote
Assemblymember Chris Rogers, District 2, California State Assembly
3:20 PM – 3:40 PM
Keynote
Ling Jin, Research Affiliate, UC Berkeley
3:40 PM – 4:40 PM
Panel 4: The Future of Hydrogen
Cross-sector visions for California’s hydrogen future
This forward-looking conversation will bring together leaders from across the hydrogen ecosystem to discuss breakthrough technologies, emerging opportunities, infrastructure expansion, and the collaborations necessary to scale California’s hydrogen economy over the next decade.
Panelists
Mark Mulliner
Northern California Regional Director, California State Building and Construction Trades Council
Northern California Regional Director, California State Building and Construction Trades Council
Arash Saidi
Executive Manager, Power System Planning & Innovation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Executive Manager, Power System Planning & Innovation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Melinda Palmer
Vice President of Regulatory & Public Affairs, Kern Energy
Vice President of Regulatory & Public Affairs, Kern Energy
Imon Uduehi
Global On-Highway General Manager for Alternate Fuels and Delivery Systems, Cummins Inc.
Global On-Highway General Manager for Alternate Fuels and Delivery Systems, Cummins Inc.
Moderator
Bill Magavern
Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air
Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air
4:40 PM – 4:50 PM
Final Keynote
Alberto Ayala, Executive Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
4:50 PM
Closing Remarks
Katrina Fritz, President & CEO, California Hydrogen Business Council
* Program times may be adjusted due to speaker availability and scheduling considerations.