Spring Sustainable Energy Speaker Series Highlights Communities Leading the Way Toward Clean Energy

Communities across the United States (US) and world are pursuing clean energy goals motivated by various reasons including environmental, cost stability and local resiliency.  In North Carolina, many municipal and county governments have formally committed to renewable energy and/or climate neutrality goals. In the High Country, Boone, Blowing Rock and Watauga County have all adopted resolutions calling for 100% renewable energy in the coming decades.  Such declarations are an important first step, but pathways to achieve these goals remain a challenge.   

The High Country has been a leader in renewable energy for decades.  Boone and Watauga County were early adopters of clean energy resolutions and academic programs in renewable energy at Appalachian State are among the oldest in the US.  For almost two decades, the Appalachian Energy Center (AEC) has helped the State Energy Office, businesses, and local governments to develop and implement clean energy solutions, largely focused around leveraging faculty expertise and research outputs.  

In response to the challenges that local communities face in developing clean energy plans, the AEC will bring speakers to Appalachian’s campus this spring who are leaders in the field.  This challenge is complex and some towns and counties are moving toward their goals more quickly than others. These speakers will share progress made and lessons learned in their work towards 100% clean energy goals. 

Click on the image below for details on the speakers.

Spring SESS


Download the flyer

The Sustainable Energy Speaker Series was created to deepen campus and community understanding of contemporary energy issues and spur conversation around energy topics. The series is a joint effort of the Appalachian Energy Center and the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.


Published: Jan 15, 2020 8:50am

Tags: