The Appalachian region of the United States has long been known for coal production, but it is now becoming a hotspot for environmental innovation. This is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic one, as innovation creates jobs, growth, and other opportunities where they are sorely needed. In this panel, a variety of innovators will discuss how to harness private capital for climate action and develop projects that not only benefit our environment but also invest in communities getting left behind.
Carbon Emissions and Appalachia
How can Appalachia, a previously coal dependent region, become a leader in the solar revolution?
The Tennessee Valley Authority sees it as part of their economic mission in the valley to add green energy to court additional companies to locate here. Manufacturing is going green; Volkswagen and Bridgestone, two major manufacturers in the region that have made serious commitments to their footprint. Tech companies, like Facebook, are locating data centers in the region but require green energy to power these centers. I think greater Appalachia could be central to our country’s strategy of doing something serious about greenhouse gas emissions
Fmr. Gov. Phil Bredesen
Emissionality
Emissionality is the amount of carbon emissions that are produced because of electricity generation. This is an important concept that underlies the basis of Clearloop’s strategy for solar development.
The environmental impact of turning on your lights here in Tennessee is very different from Connecticut because our grid mix is very different….
It’s an opportunity for all of us to reinvent and learn from the things we have done in the past. There have been carbon offsets, there’s been solar energy, so how do we combine these things and different perspectives and bring them to the forefront?
Laura Zapata – Co-Founder of Clearloop
A special thanks to these co-hosts:
- CBEY
- Tsai CITY
- Sewanee Office of Civic Engagement
- Sewanee Integrated Program in the Environment
- Rockridge Venture Law
Speakers:
Nathan Hall – President at Reclaim Appalachia
Sally Palmer – Director of Science and Policy at The Nature Conservancy
Laura Zapata – Founder at Clearloop corporation
Daniel Carter – Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at The University of the South
Phil Bredesen – President & Chairman of the Board at Clearloop corporation
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Want more information on how solar energy can offset your carbon footprint? Drop us a note at hello@clearloop.us or contact us here if you want to learn more.
