Speakers and Expert Panelists

In addition to Sustainable Ramona speakers, several expert panelists will be available to comment and respond to questions, including:

Allie Detrio is the Founder & Chief Strategist for Reimagine Power, a boutique microgrid and cleantech policy consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco. She serves as the Senior Advisor for the Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC), where she manages all microgrid industry advocacy efforts in the west, including serving as an expert witness and providing testimony in multiple state legislatures and commissions, and is a registered lobbyist for the MRC in California. Detrio is an award-winning advocate known for her leadership in passing California’s landmark microgrid legislation (SB 1339), expanding the state’s energy storage incentive program with $800M in new funding (SB 700), and securing microgrid eligibility and funding ($700M) for California’s new reliability incentive programs (AB 205), among many other notable policy and regulatory achievements. Detrio was one of the first in the world to receive an accredited B.S. in Sustainability from the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

Ryan Hanna is a research scientist at UC San Diego working broadly on energy systems and decarbonization. Much of that research has focused on the technical and economic potential for decentralized energy, solar, batteries, and microgrids—and the ways in which these decentralized supplies of energy generate societal benefits, like lower CO2 emissions, alongside local benefits like lower energy costs and better reliability and resilience. Ryan has a B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis and Ph.D. from UC San Diego in mechanical engineering.

Robert (Bob) Macomber is a member of Sustainable Ramona who moved to Ramona in 1988 following a career in aerial mapping, remote sensing, and management of coastal wetlands. The wildfires of 2006 brought firsthand realization of climate change—burning home and business assets. Rebuilding according to LEED Platinum specifications, as general contractors, Bob and his wife Betsy created a sustainable Net Zero electric home, utilizing thermal mass, solar and battery backup, requiring 4kW of electricity. Grey water separation, collection of rainwater from impervious surfaces and xeric plant landscaping help minimize water requirements. His education includes a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and General Motors Institute in Flint Michigan. He also completed coursework and thesis toward an MS in Remote Sensing from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources.

Rob Lewallen, Moderator, is a Sustainable Ramona board member who is an architectural designer and California-building contractor specializing in energy-efficient design and construction since the mid-1970s. He moved to Ramona in 1974 “when this was still a little horse town with under 6,000 population and no traffic lights.” He has designed and built more than 300 homes as well as many additions and remodels in the Ramona area over the past 45 years. Former member and past Chairman of the Ramona Community Planning Group, founding/current member/past Chairman of the Ramona Design Review Board. Current Chairman of the Ramona Village Design Committee and Co-Chair Ramona Bluegrass & Old West Festival. Performing musician in the San Diego area.

Bill Powers, P.E., is a long-time board member of The Protect Our Communities Foundation providing technical expertise as an energy expert.  A registered professional engineer, Mr. Powers has extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of energy and environmental engineering, air emissions control, and regional energy planning.  Mr. Powers has authored two local solar and battery storage strategic plans for the San Diego area: “San Diego Smart Energy 2020” in 2008, and “Roadmap to 100 Percent Local Solar Build-Out by 2030 in the City of San Diego” in 2020. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and M.P.H. in Environmental Sciences from the University of North Carolina.

Walt Sindewald is a member of the Sustainable Ramona Board of Directors and a long-time proponent of a Ramona microgrid. He is a 30-year Ramona resident, who raised a family and is now retired from Sony Electronics after 28 years (37 years in business overall) as a Director in Corporate Procurement.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, a Certificate in Purchasing Management from UCSD and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from SDSU.