Sustainable Pittsburgh

Green Locomotives Can Be a Big Driver for Jobs in the Region
2023-04-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Presented by: ReImagine Appalachia, Keystone Research Center
Join ReImagine Appalachia, Keystone Research Center for a webinar highlighting the exciting findings of a new study conducted by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) alongside the United Electrical Workers (UE). This study has calculated the employment impacts of ‘green locomotive’ manufacturing at the Erie County, PA plant both in Erie County and the wider Pennsylvania economy.

Solar Project Pipeline Fireside Chat
2023-04-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Presented by: ReImagine Appalachia
Guests will speak to solar projects they have in the pipeline to serve as a showcase and learning experience for others going through the process. They will tell the story about how to move from an idea for renewable solar energy to execution, supported by private and public funding. They will discuss what particular financial gaps may exist to move more projects in our region. We hope to have an inspiring, frank, informative, and mutually beneficial discussion.
This event is for a specific audience of government officials, economic development practitioners and others in our partner networks with direct interest in the topic.

2023-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
ReImagine Appalachia is excited to be joined by speakers from Ohio River Valley Institute, Keystone Research and the Center for Economic and Policy Research to discuss what Full Employment for All could mean for Appalachia.

In this session, they will discuss job and other persistent economic trends that make Full Employment an especially promising concept for our region. With subsidized employment, the government covers some or all the wages of new hires. Scholars find that this is one of the most effective policies for putting people back to work. Increasing the employment rate of the most disadvantaged workers has been shown not only to benefit the workers and their families but also to have broad community-wide benefits.

BLAC Strategy Summit
2023-05-02 10:00 - 2023-05-03 13:00 | Virtual
Presented by: ReImagine Appalachia
The Black Appalachian Coalition is planning a Strategy Summit this May to help shape their priorities for the coming months.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program: Technical Assistance Webinar
2023-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Presented by: DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a webinar series to provide more information about the grant application process, vouchers option, and the DOE technical assistance available to support eligible entities.
The EECBG Program is a flexible formula grant program which is designed to be flexible and to meet local needs. Over 2700+ states, local governments, and tribes are eligible for the funds, which will support strategies to increase energy efficiency, cut emissions, and reduce energy use in communities that will serve more than 250 million Americans. There are 15 different eligible use areas, ranging from developing energy efficiency and conservation strategies, to deploying electric vehicle infrastructure, to installing renewable energy technologies. To determine if your organization is eligible for funds, see here for local governments, tribes, and states and territories.

Igniting Change for a Better Tomorrow - Celebrating 25 Years with Sustainable Pittsburgh
2023-05-11 16:30 - 20:00 | Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, 620 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Join Sustainable Pittsburgh for an evening of celebration as we mark 25 years of impact and honor those who help make our work possible. At Sustainable Pittsburgh, we empower decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous region. We envision a thriving region where stakeholders are connected, sustainability knowledge is shared and applied, and all people can succeed. Help us commemorate Sustainable Pittsburgh’s past and get a glimpse of what’s in store for the future. Join us May 11.
Here’s to 25 years of igniting change for a better tomorrow!

9th Annual PA Renewables Summit 2023
2023-05-22 10:30 - 2023-05-23 12:00 | Penn Harris Hotel (formerly Radisson Camp Hill), 1150 Camp Hill Bypass Camp Hill, PA
Join the Renewables Work for PA (RW4PA) coalition, the PA Solar & Storage Industries Association (PASSIA), and the PA Solar Center for the 9th Annual Renewables Summit in the PA State Capitol. The summit brings together industry professionals, NGOs, and decision-makers to discuss important issues to the Pennsylvania renewables market. The event is also a great networking opportunity. Visit the event link for summit topics and speakers to date.
Schedule:

Summit on Monday, May 22, 2023 – Check-In from 9:30 am – 10:30 pm; Summit presentations 10:30-5:00 pm; (Lunch included)
Networking; 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm with cash bar (appetizers included)
Optional Dinner offsite (location TBD) on Monday, May 22, 2023 (self-pay but reservations required)
Summit on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – Continental breakfast (included) from 8:00am-9:00am; Presentations: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Community Benefits Virtual Summit
2023-05-23 11:00 - 15:00, 2023-05-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Presented by: ReImagine Appalachia
This summit will explore community benefits and labor standards and how they can help grow our vision for Appalachia. Community Benefit Agreements and Policies (CBAs and CBPs) are an important part of ensuring maximum benefits to communities from implementation of federal climate infrastructure funding. We know that widespread community input on sustainable development projects leads to buy-in and incorporation of community member priorities, ultimately increasing the positive impact of these public investments over the long haul.

Southwestern Pennsylvania Electric Fleet Expo
2023-05-24 08:00 - 16:00 | UPMC Events Center, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon, PA
Presented by: Duquesne Light Company, Local Government Academy, Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, and Sustainable Pittsburgh
If you’re a fleet, transportation, sustainability, or local government leader for a municipality, school district, or commercial fleet based in southwestern PA, join us for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Electric Fleet Expo, where you’ll have an opportunity to:

See the latest electric vehicle models available for your fleet
Hear about funding opportunities and best practices for transitioning to an electric fleet from peers who have already started incorporating electric vehicles into their fleets
Talk with vendors experienced in electric fleet management and charging

Featuring:

Matt Mahoney, Director of Government Affairs, Sustainable Pittsburgh
Joylette Portlock, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh

SCDN Policy Connection: Clean Energy Opportunities for Local Governments
2023-05-24 14:30 - 15:30 | Virtual
Presented by: Sustainable Pittsburgh
Featured presentations will be given by the PA Solar Center and their G.E.T. Solar Communities program, which offers technical assistance and financial guidance for local governments that want to learn more about going solar. The Great Plains Institute will present on SolSmart, a designation program that offers technical assistance for solar planning, community engagement and market development. Register today!

13th Annual Community Development Summit
2023-06-07 08:00 - 2023-06-08 17:00 | Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Presented by: PCRG
The PCRG Annual Summit serves as a platform for community leaders, professionals, and organizations to come together, share knowledge, and explore innovative strategies to drive positive change in our neighborhoods. This year’s theme, [Re]Defining Equity, Equality, and Justice in Community Development, will inspire thought-provoking discussions and provide valuable insights into key community development topics.

Pittsburgh Business Diversity Conference 2023
2023-06-08 08:00 - 16:30 | Wintergarden at PPG Place, 1 PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA
Presented by: Pancho Timmons
This conference will address how Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion related issues impact the growth and development of businesses and institutions. The conference will create opportunities for institutions and businesses to make new connections and learn strategies to eliminate barriers, create opportunities and increase growth.

The ABCs of LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
2023-06-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Presented by: Vibrant Pittsburgh

In this training, participants will:

develop a better understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences through an intersectional lens
learn about respectful and inclusive language
understand the role that you can play as an ally in supporting LGBTQIA+ people
help to create an inclusive environment for all

Every June LGBTQIA+ communities are celebrated in the U.S. and around the world. We recognize the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals along with the aim of increasing visibility, acknowledging intersectionality, and embracing self-affirmation. With diversity, equity, and inclusion as important as ever, we must ask the question: How does Pride continue throughout the year?

Bridge to 2030 Educational Series
2023-06-20 04:30 - 06:30
Presented by: Green Building Alliance

The Bridge to 2030 educational series invites the public to dive into topics integral to 2030 District progress – building decarbonization, energy efficiency, reducing water consumption, and improving indoor air quality!

Advanced registration is required, and all details will be shared via email in the days leading up to the event.

Backyard Composting Webinar
2023-06-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Presented by: Pennsylvania Resources Council

This workshop thoroughly covers the importance and benefits of composting, the process, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost. Registrants may choose to purchase a FreeGarden EARTH compost bin with their workshop ticket. This bin has an 82-gallon capacity and is ideal for urban and suburban areas. Logistics for picking up purchased bins from PRC’s offices (Pittsburgh and Media) will be shared during the webinar.

Youth Changemakers Conference
2023-06-29 00:00 - 2023-06-30 23:59
Presented by: NA for Change, University of Pittsburgh, and Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

Unleash the potential of young leaders at the 2023 Pittsburgh Youth Changemakers Conference, where inspiration meets action. North Allegheny (NA) for Change, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, is excited to announce the first-ever Pittsburgh Youth Changemakers Conference on June 29-30, 2023. Join for a two-day transformative experience filled with dynamic workshops, inspiring speakers, and a network of like-minded visionaries ready to make a difference in Pittsburgh. We are also honored to welcome Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey for a keynote address.

Bridge to Equity: Social Determinants of Health
2023-07-13 08:00 - 10:00 | Fairmont Hotel, 510 Market St
Presented by: Pittsburgh Business Times

Join Pittsburgh Business Times for the first in a series of conversations examining how economic and social disparities, as well as a lack of equity available to those in communities populated by people of color, is manifesting in — and jeopardizing — various aspects of the region’s economy.

SCDN Policy Connection: Activating Municipal Sustainability Teams to Attract Funding
2023-07-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Presented by: Sustainable Pittsburgh

Event Description:

Recent federal programs authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are prioritizing applications submitted by “teams” to maximize the scope, reach and level of ambition of projects. In the same spirit, Pennsylvania’s proposed budget includes a significant increase to the Municipal Assistance Program which provides funding to local governments that advance intergovernmental approaches to community planning, transit studies, land use and other initiatives focused on sharing services across jurisdictional boundaries.

Join Sustainable Pittsburgh and guest speakers to explore resources for local governments to activate Municipal Sustainability Teams that can strengthen connections among non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, local businesses and other local governments to advance quality of life and accomplish community goals. We’ll also be joined by the Department of Community and Economic Development to cover the Municipal Assistance Program which provides funding to advance intergovernmental approaches to a variety of needs.

Guest Speakers:

Mark Hand, Director, Pennsylvania’s GreenGov Council

Christopher Nafe, Energy Program Specialist, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Programs Office

TBD, Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, Municipal Assistance Program Specialist

Download Speaker Bios

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Farm to Table Buy Local Grower/Buyer Networking Event
2023-07-25 14:00 - 17:00 | David L Lawrence Convention Center
Presented by: Farm to Table and Sustainable Pittsburgh

This FREE event will help you create new business relationships with local buyers and resource providers will be onsite to help you grow your business.

Vendors can sample/sell products to prospective wholesale/ institutional buyers.

Attendees will include food service professionals, dietitians, wellness & health care providers, childcare providers, hospitals, nursing homes, school districts, corporate cafeterias and other institutional or wholesale buyers who are interested in buying from local farms/growers and food/beverage producers.

CCA for PA Boroughs Progress Report
2023-07-26 10:00 - 11:30
Join Narberth & Swarthmore Boroughs and CCA for PA, July 26, 10 -11:30 am to discuss the progress of their CCA Implementation Plans.

Agenda:

Borough CCA and emissions reduction goals

Narberth and Swarthmore report on their CCA Implementation Plan progress

Projected CCA renewable energy supply for PA boroughs

CCA Projected borough benefits: .GHGe reduction, BIL/IRA Ed & outreach, Consumer protection…et al

Invitation to ‘explore CCA benefits for your borough

Timeline to Borough CCA adoption

Next action steps leading to CCA adoption

Commercial Induction Cooking Workshop - CHECK Program
2023-08-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Chatham University's Eden Hall Campus, 6035 Ridge Road, Gibsonia, PA, United States
Presented by: PA DEP

Are you interested in decarbonizing your building by converting your commercial kitchen to induction cooking equipment? If so, join us for this in-person workshop!

Learn about DEP’s new Cooking in Healthy Electrified Commercial Kitchens (CHECK) rebateprogram for Restaurants, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and nonprofits whosemissions focus on healthcare or community services.

Chef Chris Galarza of Forward Dining Solutions will provide in-person demonstrations ofvarious induction cooking equipment and explain how it works to reduce facility energycosts and improve the health of building occupants. You’ll be able to experience firsthandthe excellent performance of induction cooking and learn helpful tips on how to use thisequipment.

This FREE workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about induction cooking andpotentially installing this equipment in their commercial kitchen.

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Sustainable Developers Roundtable with Dr. Patricia M. DeMarco and ReImagine Appalachia
2023-08-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Presented by: The Forbes Funds

When confronted by what appears as an impossible challenge with unwanted consequences, what can a community do? This was the dilemma faced by hundreds of communities in the Ohio River Valley in 2019 as industry and mainstream politicians touted the purported benefits of establishing a “Plastics Hub” in the Ohio River Valley, driven by the Marcellus Shale resources. ReImagine Appalachia Blueprint lays out a different fate, one which reinvests in communities, relies on strong union jobs and builds a shared prosperity for everyone.

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Shaping the Pennsylvania Clean Energy & Efficiency Workforce Future
2023-08-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
EEA, E2, the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, and Sustainable Pittsburgh are proud to partner on a workforce development webinar focused on Shaping the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Workforce Future. This fast-paced virtual event will feature several presenters—including DEP Secretary Richard Negrin and PUC Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss—along with interactive opportunities for attendees to ask questions. Pennsylvania recently welcomed a slate of new administrative leaders, poised to help the Commonwealth’s business community capitalize on both the relentless transition to a cleaner energy future and new federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. But that business community also faces significant workforce shortages. Join us as we address the state of readiness of our workforce for the next phase of the clean energy transition.

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Food at the Foundation: Why Appalachia Needs Food Assistance that Works for Us
2023-08-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Learn why the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP – also known as food assistance- is so important to Appalachian communities, and how to advocate for a stronger SNAP program for Appalachia in the upcoming Farm Bill. We need to build an economy that respects working people—that means improving access to food benefits. Making it easier for families to access food assistance allows people to work, take care of their families, and contribute to their communities.

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2023 Nature of Place Symposium: Faith and the Environment
2023-08-23 08:30 - 2023-08-24 17:00 | Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, One Schenley Park, PA, United States
The way people interact with nature and relate to the wild world is often rooted in the spiritual ideas and beliefs that we were raised with. The symposium invites us all to explore the spectrum of beliefs about nature held by our neighbors and community members so we can understand one another and discover the hidden points where our views intersect. By examining the intertwined histories of belief, nature and humanity, we seek to learn from the past and present to cultivate climate action for the future.The first day of the symposium will be virtual and feature academic insights on the relationship between spiritual beliefs and environmental action, and the second day can be attended either in-person or virtually and will feature a variety of practicing perspectives on building creative bridges towards climate action.

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Climate Smart Agriculture: Impacts from the Affordable Clean Energy Plan
2023-08-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Learn more about the 2023 Farm Bill, the reauthorization process, and why climate smart conservation programs are so vital to addressing the climate crisis. The historic passage of the Affordable Clean Energy Plan is at the one year mark, and along with the extensive clean energy programs is a $20 billion Farm Bill. There is no shortage of threats to cutting various conservation and climate smart agricultural components within the Farm Bill, and it is essential that throughout the legislative process that these programs remain intact. A robust and clean Farm Bill will have a significant impact on farming livelihood, how food is grown, and addressing long standing inequities in our food systems for farmers of color. This legislation covers programs ranging from crop insurance for farmers, to healthy food access for low-income families, supporting sustainable farming practices and more.

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KING COAL: A Film Screening
2023-08-28 19:30 - 20:50 | Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222
With director Elaine McMillion Sheldon in person to introduce the film and do Q&A after the screening! Co-Presented with Film Pittsburgh.

A lyrical tapestry of a place and people, KING COAL meditates on the complex history and future of the coal industry, the communities it has shaped, and the myths it has created. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon reshapes the boundaries of documentary filmmaking in a spectacularly beautiful and deeply moving immersion into Central Appalachia where coal is not just a resource, but a way of life, imagining the ways a community can re-envision itself. While deeply situated in the regions under the reign of King Coal, where McMillion Sheldon has lived and worked her entire life, the film transcends time and place, emphasizing the ways in which all are connected through an immersive mosaic of belonging, ritual, and imagination. Emerging from the long shadows of the coal mines, KING COAL untangles the pain from the beauty, and illuminates the innately human capacity for change.

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Time to Scale Up!
2023-09-06 08:00 - 2023-09-07 17:00 | Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
Join KEEA & EEA-NJ for their 12th Annual Policy Conference. Whether your work covers New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or beyond, you’ll leave with real insight on how the energy efficiency industry can meet the moment—and scale.

Unprecedented levels of investment in energy efficiency and adjacent sectors are poised to transform our industry both regionally and nationally. Growth and expansion are in the cards—but can we take what we’ve been dealt and do it the right way? “Time to Scale Up!” looks to the future with an eye toward the best policy, program, and practical strategies for making this growth stage in our industry both sustainable and impactful.

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Fair Shake Fest - Celebrate 10 Years of Environmental Legal Aid in Appalachia
2023-09-14 18:30 - 21:30 | Tree Pittsburgh, 32 62nd St, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Presented by: Fair Shake

Celebrating 10 years of environmental legal aid in Appalachia! Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, live bluegrass music and silent auction with items from partners such as Patagonia & learn how they work to support equal access, environmental justice, and community democracy.

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