Miami, FL – June 6, 2025 – The Official Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Florida held the second edition of the Green Energy Forum on Thursday, June 5, at the offices of Greenberg Traurig LLP in Miami. The event reached full capacity and welcomed representatives from more than 20 multinational energy companies and 100 attendees.

Throughout a full day of analysis and discussion, executives from companies such as Soltec, TransCargo Solutions, Greening, AES Corporation, NextEra Energy Resources, Siemens Gamesa, Acciona Energy North America, Repsol, MN8 Energy, Zelestra, Ingeteam, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, Duke Energy, Qualitas Energy, and New Project Media, among others, shared perspectives on the major challenges of the energy transition in the United States. Key themes included the urgent need for investment in transmission infrastructure, the unprecedented rise in demand, commercial uncertainty, and the growing call for reindustrialization.

The forum was opened by Juan Carlos Pereira, Executive Director of the Chamber, together with Mariano Berges, CEO of Soltec, a company with over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, specializing in the development of solar trackers for photovoltaic plants. From there, five thematic panels were held, exploring the status of the electrical grid, the restructuring of supply chains, the role of energy storage, and the future of gas and coal.

The opening panel featured Robert J. Downing (Greenberg Traurig), Evaristo Leonardi (AES Corporation), Sam Holeman (Duke Energy), and Rodrigo González (Acciona Energy North America), who addressed the main challenges facing the U.S. grid in the face of rapidly growing demand, driven by new industries and especially the construction of new data centers.

Panelists agreed on the urgent need to modernize transmission infrastructure and improve permitting processes. They stressed the importance of replacing critical capacities before retiring them to avoid compromising essential functions such as voltage control and load balancing. They also emphasized that the electric grid is the most critical infrastructure in the country and must be transformed without putting operational stability at risk. “We are reconfiguring the system without being able to shut it down,” they concluded, calling for a planned, secure, and resilient energy transition.

In the second session, experts Brett Birman (New Project Media), Sergio Prado (Greening USA), Ignacio Fuentes (Zelestra), and Gianni Moreno (Hitachi Energy) discussed the strategic role of long-duration energy storage, especially considering the boom in data centers and technologies such as artificial intelligence. It was noted that there are currently 8,000 data centers worldwide, with the largest concentration in the United States, and that number is expected to triple by 2030—driving an unprecedented surge in energy demand.

Panelists highlighted that energy storage is a versatile, key solution for the future of the grid, although it still requires technological improvement and cost reduction. They also warned that despite the growth of renewables; it will be necessary to diversify energy sources and strengthen infrastructure in a context marked by labor shortages and growing 24/7 power demand.

The third panel focused on how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) had begun to promote the reshoring of industrial capacity in the U.S. However, the possibility of the legislation being repealed—at least partially—has put many investment plans on hold. Panelists agreed that many key components are still manufactured abroad, especially in Europe and Asia, which limits local content and forces companies to redirect investment from other regions to remain competitive. Vishal Arole (Siemens Gamesa) emphasized the need to adapt global strategies to invest locally, while Jesús Rodríguez (Ingeteam) highlighted the importance of product diversification and noted that the U.S. market will remain one of the most relevant in the world.

Alberto Fernández (MN8 Energy) stated that “challenges come with opportunities” in a context where there is still a lack of clarity regarding the future application of incentives and tariffs. Panel moderator Jennifer Cooper (Enfinity Global) warned that regulatory uncertainty is currently the main barrier to short-term decision-making. Overall, participants agreed that the coming months will be key to determining the sector’s path forward, and that the success of this expansion will depend on a stable framework that fosters investment and accelerates the development of manufacturing capacity within the U.S.

The fourth panel explored the impact of tariffs and trade measures on the energy sector supply chain, in a context marked by regulatory uncertainty. Moderated by Claudia Hartleben, Of Counsel at Greenberg Traurig LLP, the panel included Javier Albacete, North America Sales Director at Soltec, and Miguel Ángel Pando (TransCargo Solutions).

Panelists agreed that a lack of regulatory clarity and ongoing tariff changes are affecting the logistical planning of projects. Miguel Ángel Pando, co-founder of TransCargo Solutions and expert in logistics for renewable energy, noted that many companies are being forced to fast-track deliveries, reroute shipments, and rely on tools such as Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) to buy time. He also pointed out that “the market is pushing for local content, but key components are still not manufactured domestically.” In this scenario, logistics operators are taking on a strategic role—anticipating changes and adjusting operations to reduce the impact of market volatility.

The day concluded with a discussion on the continued role of conventional technologies such as natural gas and nuclear energy in an energy system moving toward decarbonization. Participants included Ruth Giansante (World Kinect Corporation), Bernerd Da Santos (AES Corporation), and Federico Toro (Repsol Low Carbon Generation), who agreed that the energy future will depend on a mix of natural gas, energy storage, large-scale deployment of renewables such as solar and wind, and emission reduction measures.

They emphasized that while renewables will play a leading role, natural gas will remain essential as a backup technology. Storage will consolidate as critical infrastructure, and although nuclear energy is part of the mix, it requires significantly higher upfront investment and longer implementation timelines compared to renewables, making it less viable in the short term. Panelists concluded that the energy transition must be supported by a balanced strategy, with active participation from all stakeholders—including companies across various sectors—to effectively and sustainably achieve decarbonization goals.

According to Juan Carlos Pereira, CEO of the Chamber, the success of this edition reaffirms the forum’s relevance:

“At a time when U.S. energy policy is undergoing a profound transformation—with new regulations and mixed signals for the sector—it is more important than ever to create spaces where leaders can exchange ideas, build relationships, and reflect on where we’re headed. We are very pleased with the level of participation and the caliber of speakers, and we reaffirm our commitment to continue promoting this forum as a reference for the energy industry dialogue.”

SPAIN-U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Florida is an official chamber, established as a private, non-profit organization and a member of FECECA, the Federation of Official Spanish Chambers of Commerce in the Americas. With more than 550 member companies, it is one of the leading binational chambers in the United States. These members include companies of all sizes and sectors, united by their shared interest in doing business in the United States and Latin America—particularly in Florida, which hosts the highest concentration of Spanish subsidiaries in the country. It is also worth noting the growing number of American companies joining the Chamber over the past three years.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the Chamber organizes more than 35 corporate and social events each year to support the growth of a dynamic business community and encourage collaboration, with a special focus on the sectors generating the most direct employment in the U.S., including electric energy supply, construction, and wholesale trade.

For more information, please contact:

Ana Lluch media@spainchamber.org,  +1 305 358 5988

Head of Marketing and Communications, Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Florida