An ELI Public Webinar
Nearly half of Fortune 500 companies have set a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target with renewable electricity as a central component in their commitment to tackle climate change. To achieve these goals, companies—in deciding where to invest in new facilities and infrastructure—are prioritizing locations with electric grid infrastructure that offers low- or zero-carbon electricity. In a new report, David Gardiner & Associates investigated the role of cities’ electricity sourcing and how that plays into enticing companies to bring businesses and jobs to their area.
Do fast-growing cities, such as Austin, Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Nashville, compete for new businesses based on the availability of the renewables and the carbon emissions of their electric grids? How are utilities addressing demands for renewable or low-carbon power by some of the largest corporations? Will corporate commitments that include supply chains drive demand for renewable energy among medium- and small-sized businesses?
Join ELI and expert panelists to explore how corporate renewables and climate commitments are creating pressure on cities as they compete for business recruitment and retention, and how that pressure in turn is creating incentives for a more rapid decarbonization of electric utilities.
Panelists:
Linda Breggin, Director, Center for State, Tribal, and Local Environmental Programs; and Senior Attorney, Environmental Law Institute, Moderator
Bryn Baker, Director, Policy Innovation, Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance
David Gardiner, President, David Gardiner & Associates
James Hewett, Vice President, Renewable Energy, David Gardiner & Associates
Erin Hiatt, Senior Director, Sustainability and Innovation, Retail Leaders Industry Association
Decosta Jenkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nashville Electric Service
Michael Vandenbergh, David Daniels Allen Chair of Law and Professor, Vanderbilt University Law School
Materials:
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