FEMP 50: Utility Engagement & Performance Contracting for Decarbonization & CFE Goals  

Kurmit serves as ESPC program manager where he oversees services, tools, and resources needed to assist agencies with implementing successful ESPC projects. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, Kurmit's work included all aspects of ESPC project development, implementation, and performance for federal, state, and local governments. His other work in the public and private sector energy services industry has focused on evaluation and implementation of energy and water cost saving technologies, smart building energy optimization services, renewable energy systems, and demand side management. He holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from New York University Tandon School of Engineering (formerly Polytechnic University) and a master's degree in Building Systems Engineering from the University of Colorado. He is a registered professional engineer in multiple states, a Certified Energy Manger, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Epstein, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program
Ethan Epstein is the Program Manager and Technical Lead for the Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) resilience program. At FEMP, Ethan works with both the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to provide federal facilities with technical assistance and develop resources and tools focused around energy/water resilience and climate change. This includes developing strategies to integrate various programmatic efforts including but not limited to climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience, decarbonization, resilience quantification, and resilience planning.

Tracy Niro is the Utility Program manager at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Tracy is a recognized expert in energy policy, federal utility service contracting, and utility energy service contracts. She also oversees electric and natural gas utility acquisitions for DOE sites nationwide and serves as the chair of the Federal Utility Partnership Working Group. Tracy was a 2009 Presidential Management Fellow, has completed detail assignments to the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the International Energy Agency, and was awarded a Fulbright Professional Scholarship to conduct energy research in Australia. Tracy began her career as a staff accountant for an investor-owned utility and has 20 years of experience in the energy industry including past experience leading the DOE FEMP Power Purchase Agreement Program and serving as coordinator for floating offshore wind regulation in Hawaii at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Laura Carpenter is an Advisor for Partnerships and Technical Assistance in DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs, where she helps public institutions in the municipal and state governments, universities and colleges, schools and hospitals (MUSH) market successfully establish and implement energy savings performance contracting projects and programs by developing tools and resources to support best practices and provide solutions to common barriers. Prior to joining DOE, Laura led the energy services division of an engineering consultancy where she oversaw the development and execution of hundreds of energy efficiency projects for commercial customers. Laura holds a Master's of Public Policy from Georgetown University.