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Catalyzing Economic Development in Pennsylvania’s Energy Communities

October 20, 2023 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm EDT

The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG) will host an event at Westmoreland County Community College to highlight federal opportunities that can help catalyze economic development in Pennsylvania’s energy communities.  Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with federal officials to share challenges their community faces and identify solutions to address those needs.

All attendees are required to pre-register; only credentialed media will be admitted.

**Streaming Live today at 10 a.m. EDT**

Registration Closed

Working Agenda

TopicSpeakersEastern Time
Networking & Office Hours

Participants can sign up to meet with federal and PA state staff to discuss funding and technical opportunities that can directly impact their project and/or community. Invited partners (e.g. Community foundations, TA providers, and grant writing resources) offering community support and workers’ services will also be available.

9:00 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Dr. Brian Anderson, Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG

Hon. Bob Casey, U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

10:00 a.m.
Keynote Remarks

Senior officials will provide remarks to highlight ongoing efforts and share newsworthy announcements that directly impact energy communities in Pennsylvania.

Jennifer Granholm, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy, Co-Chair Energy Communities IWG

Hon. Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania

Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, Co-Chair, Energy Communities IWG

Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair, Appalachian Regional Commission 

Phil Smith, Executive Assistant to the President/Chief of Staff, United Mine Workers of America

10:10 a.m.
Community Panel 

Community voices will share challenges, success stories, and opportunities to support energy communities in Pennsylvania.

Moderators:
Briggs White, Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG

Panelists

  1. Patty Horvatich, Senior Vice President for Business Investment, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
  2. Linda Thomson, President, JARI
  3. Jennifer Lasser, Director of Economic & Workforce Development, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
10:50 a.m.
BreakDr. Kerr, Chair, Board of Directors, Westmoreland County Community College11:30 a.m.
Federal & State Officials Panel

Federal officials will highlight investments and funding opportunities available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act for energy communities.   

Moderator Kennedy O’Dell, Office of US Senator Casey

Panelists

  1. Rick Siger, Secretary, Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  2. Jack Groarke, Senior Advisor for Implementation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  3. Jennifer Friedman, Region 2 Administrator, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
  4. Giulia Siccardo, Director, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, U.S. Department of Energy
  5. Dr. Taresa Lawrence, Director of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Policy, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Energy
  6. Bob Morgan, State Director for Pennsylvania, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
12:15 p.m.
Break 1:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
(in parallel)

Breakout Session #1: Building Capacity & Infrastructure
Co-Facilitators:

  • Emily Cerna, Program Analyst, POWER and ARISE, Appalachian Regional Commission
  • Larry Shifflet, Deputy Secretary for Planning, Penn DOT

Breakout Session #2: Education & Workforce Development Co-Facilitators:

  • Daniel Kuba, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • Jennifer Friedman, Region 2 Administrator, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

Breakout Session #3: Economic Development (Environmental Remediation and Site Readiness; Economic Development and Business Attraction; Fossil Asset Repurposing)
Co-Facilitators:

  • Bhima Sastri, Director of DOE Energy Asset Transformation Program
  • Neil Fowler, Executive Director, Office of Technology & Entrepreneurship, Center for Strategic Partnerships, PA Department of Community and Economic Development; and Appalachian Regional Commission Pennsylvania State Alternate
  • Adam Walters, Senior Energy Advisor, PA Office of Energy, PA Department of Community & Economic Development
1:15 p.m.
Breakout Session Report Outs  Moderators briefly summarize the discussion from each breakout session.2:15 p.m.
Pennsylvania Next StepsTerri Dean, Chief of Staff, Mid-Atlantic Region, US Environmental Protection Agency2:30 p.m.
Closing RemarksBrian Anderson, Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG2:45 p.m.

Westmoreland County Community College, Science Innovation Center

161 Community College Drive
Youngwood, PA 15697 United States

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