Workshop 1D: Developing a Policy Platform for Appalachia’s Clean Technology Investments
This was the first breakout session in the Appalachian Manufacturing Action Plan track. The conversation in this breakout focused around building a policy platform to increase investments in Appalachia’s clean technologies such as batteries, renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial hemp, and bioplastics. Participants discussed how we can strengthen supply chains to make Appalachia a hub for those technologies as well as the barriers to developing manufacturing in the region that policy could help fix.
Facilitator: Rike Rothenstein, ReImagine Appalachia
View Recording Here:
Key Takeaways
Developing Manufacturing policy priorities as part of this work
New development in the region has started to form a clean energy manufacturing corridor along Route 33
Ohio’s new behind the meter laws could be leveraged to attract manufacturing and form co-located hubs.
Moving from the research phase to implementation is a challenge for new businesses in the bio-based and renewable energy manufacturing sector. Support for balancing costs and forming partnerships would be helpful.
Moving forward, ReImagine Appalachia could contribute by:
Outreach to key stakeholders in the region followed by a “roadshow” presenting about the work
