Appalachian Energy Center

James Sharp serves the Appalachian Energy Center’s mission by facilitating partnerships to co-create clean energy strategies and policies supporting economic growth, environmental protection, and resilience for North Carolina communities. He manages the Center’s workshops program and other extension initiatives. James has nearly 20 years of experience serving organizations and communities with a focus on strategic planning, business development, project management, and stakeholder engagement programs. Certified by the American Institute of Community Planners, James is a doctoral student in urban planning and public affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, where his areas of research focus include sociotechnical transitions in rural communities, location behavior and urban spatial structure, and the economic and social benefits of public space.