NEWIEE's 2020 Women Shaping the Agenda
NEWIEE's sixth annual program in the "Women Shaping the Agenda" series will be held virtually on Thursday, July 23 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Promoting Equitable Access To Clean Energy And A Sustainable Environment
The New England region is transitioning to cleaner forms of energy production as it pursues emissions reductions and other environmental sustainability goals. But in this march toward greener power and a cleaner environment, who among us are being left behind, underserved, or overburdened? What work are we doing to ensure that no segment of the population is denied equal access to the environmental benefits of clean energy? What steps are we taking to ensure that no segment of the population bears a disproportionate share of the risks and consequences of the climate crisis or the costs of the response? These questions are urgent. This panel will feature a discussion among industry experts and thought leaders on the research, policies, and initiatives they are pursuing to promote equitable access to clean energy and a sustainable environment.
WSTA Press Release
Panelists And Speakers
Keynote Address:
Alicia Barton
Former President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Former CEO and Executive Director, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
"With the historic convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unprecedented social unrest across our nation in response to systemic racism, and the ongoing climate crisis, we are faced with a stark revelation of the connections between our energy systems, race, public health, and our ongoing vulnerability to climate-related impacts in the future. We face a pivotal moment in our efforts to advance climate justice and equitable access to clean energy and clean energy jobs and I am honored to be joining NEWIEE's Women Shaping the Agenda event for this critically important conversation and this critically important time."
Read Alicia's Bio
Shalanda H. Baker
Professor of Law, Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University
Co-Founder and Co-Director, Initiative for Energy Justice
"This panel is so timely, as there is no better moment to talk about the structural inequalities baked into the existing energy system. I'm thrilled to join other experts to discuss energy justice and the potential of energy policy to remedy the energy system-related harms experienced by vulnerable populations."
Read Shalanda's Bio
Mariella Puerto
Co-Director for Climate, Barr Foundation
"I'm excited to join NEWIEE at this year's 'Women Shaping the Agenda' to discuss urgent issues of equitable access to clean energy and the consequences of our climate crisis, Creating a clean energy future will require us to face the legacy of a system that has overwhelmingly burdened communities of color with air pollution. It's time to lift up their voices and leadership to design policies and systems that direct investment and benefits to these communities while increasing public health and resilience for everyone."
Read Mariella's Bio
Shubhada Kambli
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Hartford Office of Sustainability
Read Shubhada's Bio
Nancy L. Seidman
Senior Advisor, Regulatory Assistance Project
Read Nancy's Bio
About Women Shaping The Agenda
NEWIEE's Women Shaping the Agenda Series is an annual, summer panel discussion among leaders in the industry, featuring engaging dialog and debate on industry and policy topics in New England. NEWIEE's programming seeks to bring the energy and environmental sectors together with a particular focus on areas where they most closely intersect, raising the voice of women professionals in solving today's challenges and helping women to advance in their careers.