Event Schedule and Room Assignments

We hope you have safe travels on your way to the 25^th Annual Coal Users’ Group Safety and Technical Forum.

Please find helpful information in this email for your event planning and if you have any questions feel free to text me at 832-622-6083 and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

PowerGen is in Hall D of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, Pick up your badge in the lobby of Hall D

Coal Users’ Group is in Meeting Room D163 and below is the CUG Schedule.  PowerGen Schedule and meeting room numbers can be found on the mobile app.

Kim Arellano, Administrator, Coal Users’ Group

Monday, February 10, 2025

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM  Tour and Discussion Around Power Optimization Center Tour is sold out, if you have been approved for this tour you should have an invite in your calendar.

Meeting room D163

3:00 – 4:30 PM          Fireside Chat with the National Coal Transportation Association/John Ward

5:00 – 7:00 PM          25th Anniversary Reception - “Celebrating a Quarter Century of Collaboration and Innovation”

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025

Meeting room D163

7:00 – 8:00 AM   Breakfast and Roundtable discussion

1. Risk Management/Changes in Requirements – Andy Gonzales, Vistra
2. Boiler – John Flannery, Babcock & Wilcox
3. Coal Handling – Michael Schimmelpfennig, Ameren
4. Community/Workforce – Andy Cofas, AECI
5. Coal Characteristics – Rod Hatt, Coal Combustion
6. Transportation – Byron Lawrence, Savage
7. Lagniappe – Bob Taylor, Coal Safety

8:00 – 10:00 AM   PowerGen International Keynote Hall E

Meeting room D163

10:00 AM   Break

10:30 AM   Welcome and Overview

10:45 AM   From Then to Now: Navigating the Roadmap to Safety and Efficiency

12:00 - 1:30 PM    Lunch on Exhibit Hall D

Meeting room D163

1:30 PM      From Mine to Megawatt: The Journey of GOB Coal — Eric Mullins, Sr. Operations Manager, Savage  

2:00 PM      Safety Case Study - Wilberg Mine Fire – David Verdi, Pacificorp

2:30 PM     Ameren Labadie Energy Center Coal Receiving Upgrades – Case Study — Pete DuBois, Ameren and Ron Pircon, Benetech

3:00 PM Break

 3:30 PM Panel Session: Navigating the Evolving Safety Landscape

4:30 - 6:00 PM       Reception on Exhibit Floor Hall D

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025

Meeting room D163

7:00 - 8:00 AM  Breakfast and Roundtable Discussion Room D163

1. Risk Management/Changes in Requirements – Andy Gonzales
2. Boiler – John Flannery
3. Coal Handling – Michael Schimmelpfennig
4. Community/Workforce – Andy Cofas
5. Coal Characteristics – Rod Hatt
6. Transportation – Byron Lawrence
7. Lagniappe – Bob Taylor

Meeting room D163

8:00 AM      Domestic and International Coal Markets Update Woods McKensie/Anthony Knutson

8:30 am Mic up

8:45 AM      Challenges in building a new Coal Plant – Saiful Azlan and Rozaimie Abdullah, Malakoff

9:15 AM    Environmental Challenges – Chlorine in Coal and HCl Emissions- Rod Hatt, Coal Combustion, Inc.

9:45 am A Safer Future: The Role of Technology in Coal Transportation – Kenny Timothy, Director SH&E, Savage

10:30AM   Break

11:00 AM   Boiler Cyclone Replacement – Jordan Lawyer, Maintenance Manager, AECI, Bill Pullam, Boiler Maintenance Specialist, AECI and Tom Dzurilla, Babcock & Wilcox

12:00 – 1:30 PM    Lunch on Exhibit Floor Hall D

Meeting room D163

1:30 PM    Unique Solutions to Coal Handling in 2024 and Beyond Skip Akers, PRPA

2:00 PM      Hazard Mitigation and Loss Control/Audit Process – Andrew Gonzales, Vistra and Shannon Hill, Evergy

2:45 PM      Break

3:15 PM       Innovation Initiative Awards Presentations 

4:30 – 6:00 PM       Reception on Exhibit Floor Hall D

4:30 - 6:00 PM       Reception on Exhibit Floor Hall D

Thursday, Feb 13, 2025

8 AM to Noon Exhibit hall d open