What can go wrong with solar-energy installations? How shouldcarriers and risk managers respond to growing renewable-energyexposures?

Specialty underwriters and insurance buyers can find the answersto these and other questions at the upcoming Inland MarineUnderwriters Association's meeting in Chicago during thegathering's first general session on May 16.

The 81^st annual gathering, set to take place May14-17 at the Drake Hotel, will also feature a session focusing onrisk-managers' worries about inland-marine exposures; introductorysessions outlining the basics of several types of inland-marinecoverages; and a trade show and networking receptions.

NU editors scoped out the agenda to select themost-intriguing hot topics on the schedule:

• SOLAR ENERGY May 16, 10:45 a.m.-12:15p.m.

Fred Hilsendager, VP for PowerGuard Specialty, an Irvine,Calif.-based MGA specializing in insurance and risk management forthe wind and solar-energy industries, will join Tom Bosley, VP ofGeneral Re, to explain the emerging risks related to renewableenergy.

• WAREHOUSE LEGAL AND LIABILITY LOGISTICSMay 17, 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

Kevin Phillips, general counsel of the International WarehouseLogistics Association, will be on hand for this general session todiscuss key legal trends and developments in warehouse theft.Philips, an attorney for Nielsen, Zehe & Antas PC, gives thelegal perspective. On hand to discuss logistics will be RichardPayne, VP of risk management for the Graebel Cos., a relocationcompany, and Dan Burges, director of global intelligence forFreightWatch International, a provider of security solutions toprevent cargo theft throughout the supply chain.

• INLAND MARINE: WHAT KEEPS A RISK MANAGER UP ATNIGHT?
  May 17, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Debra Rodgers, risk manager for Aramark, and Stephen Van Buren,deputy general counsel of HMT Inc., will share concerns aboutinland-marine exposures from the perspectives of two very differentcompanies—one, a professional-services firm providing facilitiesmanagement, food services and work apparel for various industries;and the other (HMT), a provider of products and services for themaintenance and repair of above-ground storage tanks.

• WHEN RIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH May 17, 12 p.m.-3p.m.

During Tuesday's lunch, Donna Popow, ethics counsel for theAmerican Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America, willhost “The Ethics Game”—an interactive session designed to engagethe audience in “what-if” scenarios and to reinforce ethicaldecision-making behavior.

Also of note: On Monday, May 16 at 8:15 a.m., Jerry Theodorou, aConning analyst, will kick off the educational sessions with areport on the state of the inland-marine market, as well as theproperty and casualty insurance industry generally.

Sprinkled between the general sessions are “introductory-track”sessions exploring some inland-marine basics—an introduction toinland marine and the basics of builders risk, contractorsequipment and transportation insurance.