With Congress’s passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and continued progress on the Build Back Better Act, the United States will usher historic levels of funding and investment in clean energy and climate technologies. Governments at all levels – federal, state, and local – as well as partners from academia and the private sector will be critical to ensure smooth implementation, impactful projects, and meaningful and lasting benefits, particularly for communities who have historically been underrepresented in investments and benefits.

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) and the National Association of State Energy Officials are partnering to host a series of discussions to examine and advance opportunities for HBCUs and State Energy Offices to forge new partnerships, relationships, and innovations in the context of upcoming federal and state investments across key sectors – the electric grid, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, and agriculture.  Presentations and facilitated conversations will unpack the workforce, economic development, and equity implications of state planning, policy design, and implementation of clean energy and climate solutions.

Members of NASEO, CEI, and other interested stakeholders are highly encouraged to attend to learn about partnership models, potential funding, and ways to leverage the degree programs and community development capacities of HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions. Contact Natasha Campbell (hbcucleanenergycoalition@gmail.com) or Sandy Fazeli (sfazeli@naseo.org) for more information.

Virtual Discussion Series

Workforce, Economic Development and Equity: Cultivating HBCU-State Energy Office Partnerships for Implementation and Impact

Hosted by the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition Clean Energy Initiative and the National Association of State Energy Officials

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 12:00-1:30 p.m. E.T. – Click Here to Register

Tuesday, January 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m. E.T. – Click Here to Register

December 14, 2021, 12:00-1:30 p.m. E.T.

Discussion 1: The Energy Workforce Landscape and Outlooks for Clean Energy Funding

·         Welcome and Introductions (5 minutes)
Natasha Campbell, Co-Director, HBCU Clean Energy Initiative
Sandy Fazeli, Senior Managing Director, NASEO

·         Overview and Introduction to the DOE Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (10 minutes)

TBD, Office of Minority Programs, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

·         Foundational Research and Recommendations on Energy Sector Workforce Diversity, Access, and Inclusion (20 minutes)
Sarah Lehmann, Project Manager, BW Research Partnership
Sandy Fazeli, Senior Managing Director, NASEO

·         Overview of Opportunities in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Key Provisions of Interest for HBCUs and State Energy Offices (15 minutes)
Natasha Campbell, Co-Director, HBCU Clean Energy Initiative
Sandy Fazeli, Senior Managing Director, NASEO

·         Justice40 and the Key Roles of HBCUs in Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Underserved Communities (15 minutes)
J. Chris Ford, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist & Business Development Manager

FIU Applied Research Center

Engineering Entrepreneurship Lecturer

Enterprise & Logistics Engineering

·         Discussion (all participants) (25 minutes)

o   Representatives from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are invited to share their work in clean energy, climate change, and STEM/innovation, and their interest in connecting with state clean energy policies and programs.

o   State Energy Office representatives are invited to share their work in energy equity, diversity, access, and inclusion, and any preliminary ideas to incorporate energy workforce diversity strategies and Justice40 goals into state clean energy policy and planning.

o   What tangible opportunities are there for state policymakers and MSIs to cultivate more effective partnerships and engage in more regular communications? What challenges do HBCUs and State Energy Offices face in forging these partnerships?

o   What opportunities are participants most excited about in the context of the Infrastructure Bill?

January 11, 2021, 12:00-1:30 p.m. E.T.

Discussion 2: State Energy Office-Minority Serving Institution Partnership Models and Examples

·         Welcome and Introductions (5 minutes)
Natasha Campbell, Co-Director, HBCU Clean Energy Initiative
Sandy Fazeli, Senior Managing Director, NASEO

·         Review and Update on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (5 minutes)
Meeting organizers will recap the presentation from Discussion 1.

·         Initial Plans for Infrastructure Spending (15 minutes)
State Energy Office and HBCU participants will be invited to share their initial plans for Infrastructure spending in climate and clean energy.

·         Overview of the Build Back Better Act and Key Provisions of Interest for State Energy Offices and Minority-Serving Institutions (15 minutes)
Natasha Campbell, Co-Director, HBCU Clean Energy Initiative
Sandy Fazeli, Senior Managing Director, NASEO

·         Partnership Models: Case Studies from HBCUs, Community Colleges, and State Energy Offices (35 minutes)

Representatives from:
Florida Memorial University

NC A&T and Barber-Scotia

Morgan State University

Roxbury Community College

·         Discussion (all participants) (20 minutes)

o   State Energy Offices, where do you see opportunities to build partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions in your state? What key challenges do you face in developing these partnerships?

o   HBCU and MSI representatives, where do you see the biggest opportunities to leverage your skills, expertise, faculty, and student body for impact in efforts to advance clean energy and combat climate change?

o   Can NASEO and CEI help facilitate any further discussions or develop more resources and analysis? If so, what topics would be of greatest interest?