Clean and Fair Economy Summit

Across the country, labor, business, environmental, economic and environmental justice, and civic leaders working toward climate solutions, economic justice and securing shared prosperity met September 14 and 15 to build an unstoppable blue-green movement at the Clean and Fair Economy Summit in Olympia, WA.

NOTE: Agenda is not final and changes may be made. 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

8:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Registration and networking

10:30 a.m. – noon – Opening Plenary

Speakers

Kim Glas, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance; President, BlueGreen Alliance Foundation

Jeff Johnson, President, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Co-Chair Washington BlueGreen Alliance

KC Golden, Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Solutions; Co-Chair, Washington BlueGreen Alliance

Bob Guenther, Government Affairs Advisor, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77

Edgar Franks, Formación Cîvica Coordinator, Community to Community Development

Beth Doglio, Washington State Representative, 22nd Legislative District; Campaign Director, Climate Solutions

Robin Everett, Organizing Manager, Sierra Club

Gaylan Prescott, Sub-District 3 Director, United Steelworkers District 12

Opening Plenary Panel

Facilitator

  • Stephanie Celt, Washington State Policy Coordinator, BlueGreen Alliance

Panel Participants

  • Dan Wilson, President, United Steelworkers Local 388
  • Vlad Gutman-Britten, Washington Director, Climate Solutions
  • Edgar Scott, Senior Environmental Engineer, Kaiser Aluminum

Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch

Imagination Builds Power: How to Harness the Power of Narrative to Win (Noon – 2:45 p.m.) – Center for Story Based Strategy (Noon – 2:45 p.m.)

The Center for Story-based Strategy (CSS) is a national movement-building organization dedicated to harnessing the power of narrative for social change. CSS offers social justice networks, alliances and organizations the analysis, training and strategic support to change the story on the issues that matter most. Join CSS at a session focused on how telling a personal story can reframe the narrative about our work, making it more impactful and helping to bring about positive policy and social change.

Presenters and Trainers:

  • Hannah Jones, Partnership Associate and Lead Trainer, Center for Story Based Strategy
  • Bernice Shaw, Strategic Partnerships Director, Center for Story Based Strategy

1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Breakout Session I

West Coast Approaches to Carbon Markets: Principles, Lessons and Policy Recommendations for Effective and Equitable Climate Policy

Western states have uniquely positioned themselves as leaders both in the U.S. and globally in tackling the challenge of climate change in a way that is both effective and equitable, —including putting a price on carbon, investments in clean energy, a focus on ensuring low-income communities benefit from investments, avoiding leakage, and pushing for labor and domestic content standards. Leaders on the ground will share their lessons learned and talk about the policies leading the way to a clean, fair economy in their states and region.

Facilitator

Presenters

  • Jeff Johnson, President, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Co-Chair Washington BlueGreen Alliance
  • Blake Konczal, Executive Director, Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board
  • Scott Endres, VP Flat Rolled Products, Kaiser Aluminum – Trentwood
  • Senator Michael Dembrow, Oregon State Senate, 23rd District; Chair, Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Oregon State Legislature
  • Carol Zabin, Ph.D., Labor Economist, UC Berkeley


Energizing the Future: Using Clean Energy, Storage and Efficiency to Reduce Emissions

Tackling climate change means we have to shift how America generates the energy we use every day to power our lives. Renewable energy generation and energy efficiency have already reached levels we couldn’t dream of just 20 years ago, but what will the future hold and how can we keep up this momentum? Find out about companies, projects, and new approaches that are bringing more renewable energy to the grid, making our homes and businesses more energy and water efficient, and finding ways to store our energy to reduce waste and ensure it is there when we need it.

Facilitator

Presenters:

  • Pedro Cruz, Clean Infrastructure Representative, Sierra Club
  • Grant Williamson, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Holmberg Research Group; University of Washington Molecular Engineering; UW Clean Energy Institute; UAW 4121
  • Dave Dias, Business Representative, SMART Local 104
  • Evan Leonard, Vice President, Artisan Electric, Inc.
  • Jennifer Kropke, Director of Sustainable Workforce Development, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11
  • Retired Sergeant Major Mike Kufchak, Director of Veterans Affairs,International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11

More than a Drop in the Bucket: How Water Infrastructure Can Create Clean and Thriving Communities

Flint, Michigan may be the face of America’s water pollution problem, but cities and towns around the country are struggling with water quality. In addition, the U.S. wastes trillions of gallons of water a year. As our climate changes, it becomes even more important to build up resilient water systems that will reduce waste, adapt to changing precipitation patterns and manage stormwater, and ensure our communities can access clean and abundant water. Join this discussion focused how fixing these problems by ensuring every American has access to clean and safe drinking water and reducing water waste will create quality jobs for workers.

Facilitator:

  • Rhys Roth, Director, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at The Evergreen State College

Presenters:

  • Mark Kyle, Director of Government Affairs and Public Relations, Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3
  • Darcy Nonemacher, Government Affairs Director, Washington Environmental Council
  • Alisa Valderrama, Senior Policy Analyst, Water Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. – Break

3:00 – 4:45 p.m. – Breakout Session II

West Coast Approaches to Carbon Markets: Principles, Lessons and Policy Recommendations for Effective and Equitable Climate Policy (see above)

Energizing the Future: Using Clean Energy, Storage and Efficiency to Reduce Emissions (see above)

Just the Ticket: How Transportation Infrastructure Can Create Clean and Thriving Communities

Congestion and a lack of transit investment is plaguing cities around our nation, leaving people stuck in traffic and unnecessarily polluting our air. However, smart investments in transportation and transit systems can yield results that go far beyond just being able to get where you need to go. Hear transportation experts discuss how modernizing our transportation infrastructure can revitalize communities, create quality jobs especially in the manufacturing sector—and help us tackle the urgent issue of climate change.

Facilitator

  • Zoe Lipman, Director, Vehicles and Advanced Transportation Program, BlueGreen Alliance

Presenters

  • Jimmy O’Dea, Vehicles Analyst, Clean Vehicles Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Debolina Banerjee, Climate Justice Policy Analyst, Puget Sound Sage
  • Erika Thi Patterson, National Policy Director, Jobs to Move America
  • Jerad Franz, Public Policy Coordinator, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757

If You’re Not at the Table You’re on the Menu: Labor’s Role in addressing Climate Change

Using an interactive training tool, this session will explore union demands and strategies to ensure goods jobs as we make the transition to a low carbon economy. From fixing leaking water pipes to manufacturing the next generation of clean vehicle technology to installing solar arrays, every day, union workers are fighting climate change just by doing their jobs. Yet, much more needs to be done to ensure that the jobs created in the emerging clean economy are union jobs—ensuring safe workplaces, better wages, and a secure retirement. Join us for a discussion about how we can make more clean energy jobs union jobs and how we can help union workers become more engaged in climate change issues and climate policy. This session will use a module from a climate curriculum for labor unions developed by the UC Berkeley’s Labor Center and Labor Occupational Health Program.

Presenters

  • Suzanne Teran, Associate Director, UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program
  • Alma Trejo, Organizer, California Works Foundation 

4:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Break (there will be a networking area near the pool and live stage story telling available during this time)

6:30 – 9:30 p.m. – BlueGreen Champions Awards Reception

BlueGreen Champions Awardees

  • Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy
  • Jobs to Move America
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48
  • Sierra Club
  • Steve Garey, United Steelworkers (retired)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. – Morning Kickoff 

9:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Training and Strategy Sessions

Trading Opportunities: How NAFTA Renegotiation Can Jumpstart Fair Trade Deals

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has had a devastating impact on workers in our country, as well as opening up all three countries to a slate of lawsuits challenging green jobs programs and environmental policies. Recent negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership have shown our leaders haven’t yet learned how to negotiate trade deals that are a force for good in our society. At this session, policy experts will discuss what it would look like to have fair trade deals that create a race to the top instead of a race to the bottom, and we will come together to build a roadmap towards a better model of trade.

Facilitator

  • Gillian Locascio, Director, Washington Fair Trade Coalition

Presenters

  • Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director, US Human Rights Network
  • Kim Glas, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance; President, BlueGreen Alliance Foundation
  • Ben Beachy, Director, Responsible Trade Program, Sierra Club
  • Michael Schendel, President, Communication Workers of America 37083 – WashTech

Building a Movement: The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy’s Groundbreaking Climate Campaign in Washington

It’s going to take thousands of committed, volunteer leaders across Washington State to win bold, equitable climate action. Join us for a lively discussion with activists from the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy who will share their strategies to build a strong, people-powered movement to address the climate crisis. Participants will learn about the AJCE and its goals to pass a climate policy in Washington that will invest in solutions and put a price on pollution. The session will mobilize Washington residents as well as providing lessons for those from other states about how to build an effective and equitable climate movement.

Presenters

Staff from Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy

Putting it into Practice: AFL-CIO Leaders Strategic Discussion

After learning more about opportunities related to job creation in the clean energy economy, this strategic discussion session will provide space for labor leaders to consider any opportunities for moving this work forward. For AFL-CIO leadership.

Telling your Tale: Recording Stories to Achieve Shared Goals

Have you helped build something that improves our infrastructure or supports renewable energy? Has your community been impacted by climate change? Has your job or industry changed due to international trade? We live in a digital age but we all yearn for connections with each other. Storytelling is an incredibly powerful medium that bridges the gap that often exists between our digital world and our shared humanity. This training session will focus on how to best record stories to share with others and build real connections with potential supporters of our policies and how to telling stories can help change hearts and minds in an impactful way. We will also provide the opportunity to share and record your own story, and discuss how we could use these stories to help achieve blue-green victories.

Presenters and Trainers:

  • Oskar Zambrano, Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement Programs Manager, Latino Community Fund
  • Stina Janssen, Field Organizer, Washington Environmental Council/Washington Conservation Voters

Interactive Solar Lab

Meet IBEW staff and current apprentices who will provide an introductory training about how to assemble and install solar panels. This is a hands-on opportunity to learn and try a new skill, while hearing from workers about opportunities related to this fast-growing industry.

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Closing Plenary 

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Washington’s 7th District

Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch (box lunches available)

12:30 – 2:30 p.m.Field trips and side meetings

  • Trip to Centralia Massacre site.
    See the mural and history, and have a discussion about America’s current and changing energy landscape. Led by David Watterson, Tenino City Council.
  • Trip to Lott Water Treatment Center
    Tour water treatment and LEED building, including focus on water conservation and creating union jobs. Led by Lisa Dennis-Perez, Director of Environmental Planning & Communications, LOTT Clean Water Alliance and Joanne Lind, Public Communications Manager, LOTT Clean Water Alliance
  • Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Committee Meeting

3:30 p.m. – Summit concludes.