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The Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization invites you to join us for an in-depth discussion on the effort to revitalize energy communities within the Illinois Basin.
In partnership with Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the IWG will host a free workshop on Thursday, Sept 29, 2022, to engage community leaders and identify opportunities for regional economic diversification and growth in the Illinois Basin in response to coal mine and power plant closures.
Revitalizing Energy Communities in the Illinois Basin aims to convene a broad cross section of relevant stakeholders including economic development leaders; regional, state, and municipal officials; legislators; and representatives from the private sector, labor, philanthropy, academia, nongovernmental organizations and more.
The Illinois Basin is one of six regions in the country identified as most vulnerable to further declines in coal-related employment. The region includes three of the Biden Administration’s top 25 priority energy communities: #6 West Kentucky non-metropolitan area, #12 South Illinois non-metropolitan area, and #14 Southern Indiana non-metropolitan area.
The workshop is designed to help energy communities:
- Connect energy workers and communities with federal resources;
- Advance economic development in rural coal communities; and
- Build sustainable, effective relationships throughout the Illinois Basin region.
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Southern Illinois University Carbondale
1255 Lincoln Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901-6899
Space is limited, and registration is required to attend.
WORKING AGENDA
Topic | Speakers | Central Time |
Networking & Registration | 8:00 a.m. | |
Welcome & Opening Remarks | Dr. Daniel F. Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University System Brian Anderson, Energy Communities IWG Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chair, Delta Regional Authority | 9:00 a.m. |
Regional Panel | Regional stakeholders will share about challenges, opportunities, and ongoing efforts to support energy communities in the Illinois Basin. Dr. Ken B. Anderson, Director, Advanced Energy Institute, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (moderator) Panelists: Brandi Bradley, Designee for Governor J.B. Pritzker (IL) to the Delta Regional Authority Amanda Pankau, Energy Campaign Coordinator, Prairie Rivers Network Nathan Held, Senior Project Administrator, Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission Tiffany George, Executive Director, Southern Five Regional Planning District & Development Commission | 9:25 a.m. |
Break | 10:35 a.m. | |
Federal Panel | Federal officials will highlight investments and funding opportunities available from the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act available to energy communities within the Illinois Basin. Briggs White, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG (moderator) Panelists: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, State Director for Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture John Jurevis, Brownfields Project Manager in Region 5 (Chicago), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency James Winters, Indiana U.S. Economic Development Administration Lane Dilg, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Energy | 10:45 a.m. |
Lunch Break | 11:55 a.m. | |
Breakout Sessions | Breakout Session #1: Education & Workforce Development Facilitators: President Curt Oldfield, Spoon River College Mary Anne Medlock, Business Liaison, West Kentucky Workforce Board Breakout Session #2: Innovation & Emerging Economic Opportunities in the Illinois Basin Facilitators: Lane Dilg, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Energy James Winters, U.S. Economic Development Administration (Indiana) Breakout Session #3: Taxes & Revenue Replacement Facilitator: Cindy Winland, Senior Consultant, Energy Communities IWG Breakout Session #4: Fossil Asset Repurposing & Clean Energy Deployment Facilitators: Jonah Wagner, Senior Advisor (contractor), U.S. DOE Loan Programs Office Jeffrey A. Ferry, Senior Director Government Affairs, Vistra | 1:00 p.m. |
Breakout Session Report Outs | Facilitators briefly summarize the discussion from each breakout session. Our academic partner and the IWG leadership team offer summary remarks. | 2:15 p.m. |
Illinois Basin Stakeholder Next Steps | Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, State Director for Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture | 2:45 p.m. |
Closing Remarks | Briggs White, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG | 3:00 p.m. |
