Speaker Videos & Participant Recommendations

Artist Illustration of Report-Outs

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Overview:

Our region is host to abundant energy resources, globally-leading expertise, and a willingness to collaborate to do things smarter than anyplace else.  But when it comes to energy, we don’t yet have a plan for where we are going. 

Come and take part in the first formative steps toward identifying our region's energy future and developing strategies to assure our economic competitiveness and high quality of life.  

"Energy for the Power of 32: 32 Counties, 4 States, 1 Energy Future" will unite the region around newfound understanding of our energy sources, consumption by sector, and various outcomes. A series of fast moving presentations will address energy issues and opportunities, followed by an all-attendee deliberation session to provide recommendations on regional energy values, principles, issues to be addressed and how best to design the regional energy plan.

Yes, energy production, distribution and conservation should be at the core of a critical national debate.  But regions like ours can't wait for the federal government to address the issues and opportunities.  Regions are the centers of energy development, transmission, consumption, storage, and conservation.  They breed networks for innovation.  And they have the opportunity to establish actionable energy goals integrating aspirations for economy, equity, and environment.

With our heritage and assets, the Power of 32 region has the potential to be among the nation's first to lead this trend on energy planning.  By bridging borders and recognizing shared challenges and opportunities, our region is differentiated in its commitment to improving the future of 32 counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. 

High Impact

• An exciting format that ensures high value content and interactions among event attendees.
• Attendees will have a hand in determining the process for crafting the region's energy plan and strategy.
• Presentation of the region's Energy Baseline: first ever, fact-based characterization of present sources of energy production, consumption, and outcomes.  This tool will provide a macro basis for participants to be on the same page as they envision the region they want to energize and identify policies to make it possible.
• Following the unveiling of the Energy Baseline will be a series of short, mind-expanding presentations about cutting-edge energy topics.
• Keynote speakers will provide inspiring presentations that are honest and eye-opening about the high stakes and opportunities associated with our energy future -- business, equity, environment, innovation.
• Salon-style interactive rounds for intimate discussion with the featured speakers will prepare attendees to roll up their sleeves and help lay out the issues and ideas for how best to launch the regional energy planning process. 
• Exhibits featuring energy innovations, initiatives, and new ideas that will surprise and motivate.
• Small group deliberation with report outs on regional energy principles, values, pressing needs and opportunities, and recommendations for a process to create a regional energy plan and strategy. The Science & Engineering Ambassadors of National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering will be on hand to provide grounding in science and bring a knowledge of regional energy systems. Graphic illustrator, Emily Marko will capture the table report outs real time in visual art graphics.
• Post event, the Presenting organizations will synthesize input and develop the regional process for creating a regional energy plan and strategy.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be an influential part of an important effort to innovate our region’s brightest energy future.

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Presented by:

• Allegheny Conference on Community Development
• Carnegie Mellon University, Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research
• Center for Energy, University of Pittsburgh
• Center for Energy and Sustainable Development at the WVU College of Law
• Center for Energy Policy and Management, Washington & Jefferson College
• Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)
• Conservation Consultants, Inc.
• Duquesne University's Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and the Center for Environmental Research and Education
• Falk School of Sustainability, Chatham University
• Green Building Alliance
• GTECH
• Institute of Politics, University of Pittsburgh
• Pennsylvania Environmental Council
• Power of 32
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
• Sustainable Pittsburgh
• University of Pittsburgh GSPIA Center for Metropolitan Studies
• West Virginia University

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Sponsors

(For sponsorship and exhibitor packet, contact: gvinski@sustainablepittsburgh.org)

Platinum Level

Gold Level

Silver Level

Bronze Level

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Media Sponsor:

Featured Speakers (more to be added)

	Morning Keynote Aaron Bernstein M.D., M.P.H., Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard School of Public Health; Physician in Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston; Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School "Designing Energy Systems For Health"
	Afternoon Keynote Robyn Beavers, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Founder of Station A Group at NRG Energy "Innovating a 21st century low carbon, energy economy"
	Mustafa Ali, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice at U.S. EPA "Energy Equity: Ensuring all share in a bright energy future"
	Dr. Grace Bochenek, Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) "Addressing 21st Century energy and environmental challenges and creating innovations that will benefit generations to come"
	Dr. Neil Donahue, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University "Policy Frameworks: Accounting for public health, climate change, and leveraging win-wins of energy innovation"
	Ted Ford, President & CEO, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy "America's regions poised to lead energy future.  What other regions are doing that the P32 region can too...energy plan and strategy"
	Annie Gilleo, State Policy Research Analyst The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) "Keeping Score on Energy Efficiency - a strategy to generate cost-savings, promote technological innovation, and stimulate growth"
	Dr. Gregory Reed, Professor and Director, Electric Power Initiative and Interim Director, Center for Energy, University of Pittsburgh "Grid stability - keeping the lights on as we move to a new distributed energy future"

Moderator

Jonas Chaney - Public Affairs Director at WPXI-TV

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Draft Agenda

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Additional support by:

Alcoa Foundation
American Eagle Outfitters Foundation
Bayer USA Foundation
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation