On December 8-9, 2011, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices held a workshop for governors’ energy and economic advisors to discuss the latest best practices in states’ economic development in the clean energy sector. The workshop brought together teams from the governor’s office, energy offices and economic development agencies from eleven states in the west to hear about successful case studies, resources and contacts regarding policies and programs that foster business growth and cost-savings in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The workshop was held in Phoenix, Arizona with support from the US Department of Energy. Participants included representatives from the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Washington. Technical experts who spoke at the event included representatives from the US Department of Commerce, US Department of Energy, USDA Rural Development, Science Foundation Arizona, Battelle, Collaborative Economics and representatives from the solar manufacturing and wind development sectors. Discussion topics included: new approaches to designating renewables so that utilities can earn a profit, role of energy efficiency resource standards, financing opportunities, leveraging research partnerships, identifying state assets for clean energy cluster strategies and how to structure a comprehensive strategy that integrates economic development in and clean energy policy goals.

PRESENTATIONS:

  • From Policy to Reality: Site Visit to Suntech Manufacturing
    • Polly Shaw, director, External Relations, Suntech Power
  • Building State-University Research Partnerships to Address Barriers to Economic Development in Clean Energy
    • Bud Annan, co-director, Solar Technology Institute, Science Foundation Arizona
  • Identifying Local Strengths & Building a Comprehensive Strategy
    • Tracey Grose, vice president & director of Research and Development, Collaborative Economics
    • Bennett Curry, vice president, Business Development, Arizona Commerce Authority
    • Daniel Malarkey, deputy director, Washington Department of Commerce
  • Rural Economic Development Through Clean Energy
    •  Gary Mack, director, Business and Cooperatives Program, USDA
  • Helping Industry Lower Energy Costs
    • Sandy Glatt, energy technology program specialist, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Job Opportunities through Transmission Expansion
    • James Hoecker, senior counsel & Energy Strategist, Husch & Blackwell
  • Financing Mechanisms for Clean Energy Investments
    • Matthew Brown, principal, Harcourt Brown & Carey: Energy & Finance
  • Building Demand for Robust Clean Energy Markets
    • Kris Mayes, director, Program on Law and Sustainability, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law
    • Dale Hahn, senior advisor, Hawaii Office of Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz
    • Jay Albert, deputy secretary of Energy, State of Oklahoma
  • Fostering Supply & Innovation in Clean Energy Markets
  • Trends & Opportunities in Financing Clean Energy
  • Helping Businesses Grow through Clean Energy
    • Mark Troppe, manager of strategic partnerships, National Institute of Standards  and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
    • Henrietta Gurri McBee, vice president, HDR Engineering, Inc.
    • Scott Morgan, deputy director of Administration & State Clearinghouse Director, Office and Planning and Research, Office of California Governor Jerry Brown
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