Thursday, October 5th from 3-5 PM EST
Shuttered coal plants across Appalachia were once the main source of good jobs and the foundation for economic prosperity for many communities. Many are closed and more are being retired from service. Yet today there is new opportunity to turn them from liabilities into assets. New federal investment incentives position these blighted properties for redevelopment. Many of the new incentives require the community to have a strong voice in redevelopment planning. This event focused on the potential and challenges in creating sustainable development at the sites of former coal plants, and how communities can have a strong voice in redevelopment planning.
This listening session covered:
- Opportunities and investment incentives
- Challenges and barriers to sustainable redevelopment
- The role of community stakeholders at the table: Community Benefit Planning
- Redevelopment work already underway in Appalachia
- Models of sustainable development from around the nation and the world
Presentations:
Our speakers included:
Amanda Woodrum
Co-Executive Director at ReImagine Appalachia
Sam Mardell
Manager, Carbon-Free Electricity at RMI
Wendy Patton
Assistant Professor at Kent State and Senior Researcher with ReImagine Appalachia
Dr. Briggs White
Deputy Director for the Interagency Working Group (IWG)
Jesse Roush
Executive Director, Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
Erifili Draklellis
Senior Associate, Carbon-Free Electricity at RMI
Jeremy Richardson
Manager, Carbon-Free Electricity at RMI
Matthew Popkin
Manager, US Program at RMI
Breakout Rooms
During this summit, participants could choose four of the following breakout rooms:
Climate-Friendly Manufacturing Opportunities for Shuttered Coal Plants
Facilitator: Sam Mardell, Manager, Carbon-Free Electricity at RMI
As we look to reimagine these sites, advocates need to consider a site’s “highest and best use” and look for climate friendly and sustainable development opportunities.
See the notes here.
Engaging the community in visioning and planning for new opportunities
Facilitator: Erifili Draklellis, Senior Associate, Carbon-Free Electricity at RMI
These projects are particularly important to have a multi-stakeholder vision process. How can we make sure the community stakeholders have a voice in the process?
See the notes here.
Federal Funding Streams and the Role of Private Financing
Facilitator: Christian Fong and Kristine Chan-Lizardo at RMI
What are the stages of redeveloping a coal plant, and what funding might help with those individual stages? How can we empower our region to gain more access to these funds?
See the notes here.
Focus on Brownfield Fund and Coal Ash Pond Remediation
Facilitator: Matthew Popkin, Manager, US Program at RMI
Coal ash ponds are one of the biggest barriers to redevelopment of shuttered coal plants. With the right resources, however, these liabilities can be turned from liabilities into opportunities.
See the notes here.