Solar Energy Seminar

9115 Mary Alexander Road,Charlotte NC 28262

31 August, 2021

Description

With climate change continuing to accelerate, planning for and taking action to address climate change is crucial for NC Residents. Please Note: This event has 2 registration options. The first being a limited-capacity in-person option at UNC Charlotte School of Architecture (Storrs Hall) in the Lambla Gallery. We will not be serving food at this event and masks will be required as per the regulations set in place by the UNC school system. We are capping in-person attendees at 25 people to be able to distance everyone safely. The second being a Zoom Webinar option that you can view from the comfort of your own office. Please make sure to plan accordingly for the registration option you choose. Course Overview With climate change continuing to accelerate, planning for and taking action to address climate change and create climate resilience are crucial for North Carolina's citizens. Join Helen Bertelli, Ethan Blumenthal and Laura Combs to learn about: Federal and state tools that can be used to help your clients improve climate resilience affordably via solar energy installations (Laura)Green energy, climate trends and ways to present information to help your clients understand the power of taking renewable energy action (Helen)Building new models and approaches to making solar energy affordable for marginalized communities (grassroots community solar, green banks, CDFIs - Ethan)Learning Objectives After completing this presentation you should be able to: Discuss solar energy incentives with your clientsProvide compelling data and case studies illustrating the power of solar energy to reduce climate impacts and save moneySuggest funding solutions for underfunded communities or organizationsHave a framework for selecting solar energy installersSpeakers Helen Bertelli founded the Benecomms agency to tackle the existential threat of our time: climate change. Helen believes that when corporations and investors can quantify the financial risks of climate change — rising seas, extreme heat, wildfire — business sense compels them to advocate for reform. In the three years since she founded Benecomms, this small but mighty agency has won international awards for groundbreaking work to communicate climate risk, including a gold MarCom award and 2020 Content Team of the Year by PR Daily. Last year, Helen built and co-founded the Women in Climate Tech platform. This organization is dedicated to uplifting women and nonbinary people’s voices in the fight against climate change. With leaders from Amazon, Google and Facebook among its ranks, Women in Climate Tech champions investing in women-owned climate tech companies and embracing climate tech in STEM education for girls. Ethan Blumenthal graduated the University of Colorado Boulder with a BA in political science and environmental studies before moving on to the University of North Carolina School of Law. After becoming a member of the NC state bar in 2018, Ethan co-founded Good Solar and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Good Solar is a 501(c)(3) that creates renewable energy solutions for nonprofit organizations and low- and moderate-income communities to promote social justice, combat climate change, provide community economic development, and build community resiliency. By developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, Good Solar matches funding with need—enabling its project partners to receive the benefits of a successful transition to renewable energy, wherever they are in the process. Laura Combs is Eagle Solar & Light’s Business Development Director in North Carolina. She has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, with a specialty in Environmental Planning. Laura is a former government and non-profit employee who worked to recover the endangered Florida manatee. She is very aware of the need for maintaining slim overhead and maximizing funds, and she is grateful for the opportunity to help protect the planet while helping people to reduce their carbon footprint and utility bills via solar energy installation. Tuesday, August 31st 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4 HSW Hours In-Person Event at Storrs School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte