Climate and Energy Project to host renewable energy workshop, film screening in Pittsburg

The Climate and Energy Project (CEP) has joined with the City of Pittsburg and Pittsburg State University to host two events focused on renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Tuesday, October 30, CEP will present a workshop and film screening to highlight how renewable energy development in Kansas – specifically solar energy – provides jobs, improves the economy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, creating a healthier, more resilient state.

“Kansans need to start talking about solar and how it fits in our energy future,” says CEP Executive Director Dorothy Barnett. “Kansas has great potential for renewable energy – it’s second in the nation for wind power and in the top five for solar. While wind generation has been successful in Kansas, the solar industry is just scratching the surface of its potential.”

Tuesday, October 30, CEP will host the “Building a Brighter Solar Economy in Kansas” workshop and luncheon from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (registration table opens at 11 am), and an evening film screening of Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution at 5:00 pm (registration table opens at 4:30 pm). The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Both events are free to attend and will be held at the Pittsburg State University Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

Businesses, elected officials, community leaders and solar advocates are invited to attend the workshop, which will cover distributed generation with a focus on rooftop solar energy.

Anyone interested in learning about solar power in Kansas is invited to the evening film screening and panel discussion. The documentary follows filmmaker James Redford’s personal journey into the dawn of the clean energy era, as it creates jobs, turns profits, and makes communities stronger and healthier across the United States.

Following the film screening, participants are invited to stay for a panel discussion and hear from Pittsburg State University on sustainability goals and from the City of Pittsburg on plans for the city’s energy future. The panel, moderated by Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director of the Climate and Energy Project, will feature Representative Monica Murnan, Pittsburg Deputy City Manager Jay Byers, PSU Special Assistant to the President for Sustainability Dr. James Triplett and others.

To register for the workshop, go to http://bit.ly/pittsburgsolar.

To register for the film screening, visit http://bit.ly/happeningpittsburg.

For questions about the workshop or film screening, contact Jamie Hofling at hofling@climateandenergy.org.

Workshop Agenda: MORE INFO

11:00 – 11:30 am: Registration and lunch buffet open

11:40 am: Welcome and Introductions – Mayor Jeremy Johnson

11:45 am: What is distributed generation, how does solar work, and what can help build a brighter solar economy in Kansas – Scott White, Cromwell

12:15 pm: What’s new at PSU? – Dr. Triplett, PSU Sustainability Department

12:30 pm: City of Pittsburg energy future – Jay Byers and Dr. James Triplett

1:00 pm: Q&A with moderator

1:30 pm: Adjournment and film reminder

Evening Agenda: MORE INFO

4:30 – 5:00 pm: Registration opens

5:00 – 5:30 pm: Networking & Reception

5:35 pm: Welcome

5:30 pm – 6:45 pm: Film Screening of Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution

7:00 pm – 7:45 pm: Moderated panel, reflections on film and Kansas Energy Future