Accelerating Development of Renewables in Underserved Communities

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

8:30 AM – 9:35 AM MT

Location: International Center North

Moderator(s)

Hilary Clark (she/her/hers)

Senior Director, Siting and Permitting, Social Licensing
American Clean Power Association
Washington, District of Columbia

Speaker(s)

Cari Collins

Director, Global Public Affairs, Communications, and ESG
Recurrent Energy
Houston, Texas

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Tom Figel (he/him/his)

Vice President, Product
Reactivate
Chicago, Illinois

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Clara Houghteling, MS (she/her/hers)

Social Science Researcher
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Colorado
Erin Hutson (she/her/hers)

Director, Corporate Affairs Department
Laborers International Union of North America "LIUNA"
Washington, District of Columbia

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Annie Lappe (she/her/hers)

Vice President, Strategy and Impact
Pivot Energy
boulder, Colorado

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There has been a longstanding pattern of disproportionate impact on underserved communities from traditional energy generation and related industries, often resulting in distrust of large energy development projects. Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act placed an emphasis on greenhouse gas reduction projects in communities, especially those that are low-income and disadvantaged. This has opened a door to new opportunities to build trust and social acceptance of clean energy in underserved areas by providing economic and other community benefits. This session will focus on how the consideration of equity may help bridge community acceptance barriers and advance collaboration on the future of equitable clean energy development.