On January 10-11, 2012, the National Governors Association held a workshop for governors’ energy and economic advisors to discuss the latest best practices for economic development in the clean energy sector. The workshop brought together teams from the governor’s offices, energy offices and economic development agencies from ten states and territories to hear about successful case studies and resources regarding policies and programs that foster business growth and cost-savings in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The workshop was held in Nashville, Tennessee with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. Participants included representatives from the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Guam, Iowa, Kentucky, Hew Hampshire, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Technical experts who spoke at the event included representatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Southern Growth Policies Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Energy, and the energy efficiency industry. Discussion topics included: balancing energy portfolios with a diverse set of resources to maximize economic security; helping businesses become more competitive by reducing their energy costs; financing opportunities to upgrade state facilities and reduce utility bills; leveraging research partnerships to commercialize clean energy technologies; and identifying state assets for clean energy cluster strategies.

PRESENTATIONS:

  • Welcome from Tennessee
    • Paul Fassbender, assistant commissioner of policy and federal programs, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Identifying Local Strengths & Building a Comprehensive Strategy
    • Ted Abernathy, executive director, Southern Growth Policies Board
    • John Davies, deputy commissioner, Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence
  • Fostering Supply & Innovation in Clean Energy Markets
    • Nish Acharya, director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship & Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
    • Ryan Gooch, innovation director, Tennessee Economic & Community Development
  • Breaking Barriers to Energy Efficiency Markets
    • Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE
  • Advancing Energy Efficiency to Lower Costs and Drive Demand
    • Scott Hamilton, director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission/ Arkansas Energy Office
    • Heather Goggin, program manager, Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs, Energy Division
    • Scudder Parker, consulting division director, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
  • Helping Industry Lower Energy Costs
    • Mark Schmit, director, National Accounts, NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Finance Mechanisms for Clean Energy Investments
    • Matthew H. Brown, principal, Harcourt Brown & Carey: Energy & Finance
  • Rural Economic Opportunities from Clean Energy
    • Ray Daffner, entrepreneurship initiative manager, Appalachian Regional Commission
  • Alternative Business Models Promoting Energy Efficiency
    • Scudder Parker, consulting division director, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
  • Understanding Demand for Clean Energy Markets
    • Steve Kalland, executive director, North Carolina State Solar Center
    • Donald Gilligan, president, National Association of Energy Service Companies
  • Helping Businesses Grow Through Clean Energy
    • Paritosh Kasotia, team lead, Iowa Economic Development Authority
    • Brett Palmer, president, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies
    • Marcus Craig, southeast sales manager, Schneider Electric
  • PUC Perspective on Clean Energy Market Opportunity
    • Colette D. Honorable, Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission
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