Roundtable Talk - Solar Power Systems and the Fire Service: What Responders Need to Know

David is a 22 year member of the fire service and currently serves as a Lieutenant and coassigned to the Training Division with the Columbia County Fire Rescue (Ga.) and a part time Firefighter with Grovetown (Ga) DPS. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia State Firefighter's Association, National Volunteer Fire Council State Director, Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiave Board of Directors, NFPA’s Working Group on Flammable Refrigerants, Alternate to NFPA 1021 and 1056 Committees, and was Secretary of IFSTA's Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator 3rd Edition Curriculum Committee, contributor to the “Training Officer’s Desk Reference”, and is a Safety and Health coordinator with HEPACO LLC. As an active instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy with Firefighter Basics, David is constantly engaged with teaching live fire, leadership, HAZMAT, and Firefighter Survival/RIT classes.

Jasen Dodson serves as a Battalion Chief for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and in the data center alley of Loudoun County.  Jasen has served the department for 23 years.  He has been a hazmat technician for 22 years and served as a Safety Officer for the department.  He is currently the Chairman of the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System (NVERS) Emerging Technologies Workgroup.  The NVERS Emerging Technologies Work Group is comprised of multiple jurisdictions in the Northern Virginia region and has developed a Data Center Response Manual.  In addition, the workgroup has developed tactical one-pagers for battery energy storage systems, electric vehicles, photovoltaic and wind.

 He is also the Chairman of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) Emerging Technology Workgroup that received the Governor’s Award for the development of the VDFP Electric Vehicle and Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Awareness course.  He is also a member of the Council of Governments (COG) ESS/EV Committee, a technical panel member of the UL Electric Vehicle Committee, a member of the USFA and IAFC battery safety committee.  

Bill Hopson is a 48 year veteran of the New Jersey Fire Service.  He began is career in 1978 with the Seaside Heights, NJ Fire Department.  For the last 35 years, he has served with the Beachwood NJ Fire Department.  Bill has been an active and engaged fire service instructor since 1982.  Bill has delivered fire service training across the country and in various parts of the world. Bill is a 3^rd generation fireman and a strong supporter of the NVFC and their mission.

Seth McPherson brings more than 27 years of experience in the energy industry, with a career spanning solar operations, electrical work, and major energy infrastructure. He currently serves as a Solar Technician III at AES’s Clover Creek facility near Mona, Utah, where he has supported safe, reliable solar operations for more than four years. Before joining AES, Seth previously worked in construction and as an electrician at the Intermountain Power Plant in Utah. Outside of work, Seth is a father of three and a proud new grandfather.