2025 Delmarva Power Global Sustainability Challenge
The Challenge
DOVER — Affordable and clean energy was the focus of the first Delmarva Power Global Challenge Sustainability Conference on Tuesday, hosted by Delaware State University’s College of Business.
The event aimed to discover ways to achieve the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals. Energy that is economical and clean is No. 7 on that list.
About 100 individuals, most of them university students, attended the conference. They were asked to approach green energy with a creative, fresh perspective.
“At today’s conference, I hope you all will expand your mind about sustainability,” said Dr. Carrie Awadzi, a DSU business professor and organizer of the gathering.
In one activity, called a “Case Competition,” students were asked to come up with public policies that real estate developers could use to contribute to the New York City Housing Authority’s clean energy transition, while preventing gentrification.
The winning group — named “EcoVolt” and consisting of Bryson Downing, Arnaldo Josue Santos, Lorenzo Ramirez Morales and Daniel Hernandez Garcia — was awarded $10,000 from the university and Delmarva Power. Their presentation was titled “A Just Transition for NYCHA: Aligning Clean Energy, Public Policy and Equity.”
Tuesday’s forum also featured speaker Amber Perry, the vice president of regulatory strategy and services for Pepco Holdings. She shared her belief that the conference would “set the standard” for many other colleges.
Also throughout the day, three sessions of panelists addressed topics like environmental justice, energy efficiency and business.
The first, “Green Hydrogen: A Bubble or Game Changer in Decarbonization,” featured Serena Wilson-Archie, regional director of operations at Delmarva Power; Andrew Cottone, founder and CEO of Aternium; and Dr. Jalaal Hayes, founder and CEO of Evince Inc., among others.
The discussion explored the potential of green hydrogen as a component in the transition to clean energy and sustainability. The speakers explained how the substance is produced, stored and utilized, as well as its role in eliminating carbon emissions.
In “Booming Business: The Expanding Commercial & Industrial Segment,” Larry Alston, director of business and customer support for Pepco Holdings, and Delle Joseph, the senior vice president of TD Bank, joined others to talk about the rapid expansion of the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the challenges and opportunities this presents to the business world.
The final panel, “A Global View on the Forces Impacting the Future of Energy and Disaster Resilience,” included Marcus Beal, a regional vice president for Delmarva Power; Drew Slater, executive director of Energize Delaware; Haly Laasme, energy assistance director at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, as well as several others.
They debated the connection between energy and disaster resilience. Topics such as climate change, technological advancements and geopolitical shifts were discussed, as methods to build a sustainable and resilient future.
