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Dr. Dorris brings over two decades of leadership in energy analytics and is the founder of Ascend Analytics, a 170+ person software and consulting firm driving innovation in power market modeling. His work has reshaped approaches to real-time operations, portfolio optimization, and long-term planning. Dr. Dorris has advised on more than $50 billion in energy financing and frequently provides expert testimony and board-level insights. He previously served as the lead expert witness for Merrill Lynch in the Enron proceedings and has supported regulatory cases across the industry.
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Dr. Nelson leads Ascend Analytics’ forecasting practice, delivering market insights that support storage and renewable project valuation, resource planning, and investment strategy. His work focuses on emerging market dynamics, renewable integration, and the impacts of technological change on power systems. Prior to joining Ascend, Dr. Nelson held academic and research roles at Northern Arizona University, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy, where he focused on energy efficiency and demand-side management research.
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William Hargett leads business development for Ascend Analytics' PowerVAL business, a platform which provides developers, investors, and utilities with bankable and regulatory accepted wholesale and retail price forecasts for their projects by performing dispatch simulations to match customers' specific use cases. William has extensive expertise in market strategy and execution, project acquisition and Mergers & Acquisitions, and tenders and competitive bids.
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Jonah Simon oversees customer success and enterprise account management, partnering with clients across energy and financial markets. At Ascend Analytics, Mr. Simon has contributed to project finance transactions totaling more than $2 billion in assets. Driven by a deep focus on energy and sustainability, Jonah provides pragmatic, value-driven guidance that helps organizations navigate complex challenges and advance durable, long-term growth.
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Rahm Orenstein leads Ascend Energy Exchange, an analytics-driven marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of storage and renewable projects. With 15 years in renewable-energy leadership, Rahm applies Ascend’s forecasting and consulting strengths to help utilities, developers, and investors enhance asset value and streamline M&A and PPA transactions. Book a meeting with Rahm to learn the latest M&A and PPA Market Outlook forecast from Ascend Analytics.
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Erik Schwartz works with financial institutions investing in energy, guiding investment teams through quantitative insights that strengthen asset valuation, portfolio strategy, and long-term decision planning. With more than two decades in energy-market leadership across Refinitiv, EnergyGPS, Energy Ventures Analysis, Genscape, and Point Carbon, Erik developed a skill set centered on market intelligence and commercial development that supports disciplined capital deployment.
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Erin Vasseur leads business development, delivering regulatory-accepted price forecasts that support investment-grade decisions for developers, investors, and utilities. By applying advanced dispatch simulations to specific customer use cases, Erin enables accurate project valuation in evolving markets. With extensive experience in renewable energy and power, she bridges technical insights with commercial needs to drive clean energy deployment and strategic planning in a rapidly transitioning energy landscape.
ConnectDespite the cancellation of 21 GWh of BESS factory capacity in 2025, the US storage market started strong with over 2 GW deployed in Q1, largely driven by utility-scale projects. While investment uncertainty remains, the OBBB Act’s tax incentive timelines spared storage from the worst cuts and spurred activity in the latter half of the year. Developers and investors are adapting to evolving compensation models and financing structures, and storage continues to attract investment. How are timelines and strategies changing with the new landscape, and how can development and investment innovate to drive future growth? This panel will examine the state of the storage market, including deployment trends, financing shifts, supply chain strategy, business models, and technology outlook.
Review the full program agenda here.
The Ascend Energy Exchange, the industry’s market-leading M&A advisory platform leveraging the deepest pool of qualified buyers and sellers, combines bankable asset valuations with complementary portfolio management & risk mitigation solutions.
Explore current M&A trends, market comps, buyer priorities, and opportunities to acquire pre-qualified assets across ERCOT, MISO, SPP, ISO-NE, and other regions. Book a meeting with Rahm Orenstein to learn more.
Ascend Analytics is the leading provider of market intelligence and analytics solutions for the power industry. The company’s offerings enable decision makers in power supply, procurement, and investment markets to plan, operate, monetize, and manage risk across any energy asset portfolio. From real-time to 30-year horizons, their forecasts and insights are at the foundation of over $50 billion in project financing assessments. Ascend provides energy market stakeholders with the clarity and confidence to successfully navigate the rapidly shifting energy landscape.
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