Ginny Cleaveland, Deputy Press Secretary, Federal Communications, ginny.cleaveland@sierraclub.org, 415-508-8498 (Pacific Time)
One of the Sierra Club’s experts on industrial decarbonization will speak at the Virtual Industrial Heat Shot Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday, October 23.
Yong Kwon, a senior policy advisor with the Sierra Club, will participate in the 1:20 p.m. ET panel “How Industrial Heat Impacts Industrial Communities”, where he will talk about the Sierra Club’s recent report detailing the greenhouse gas emissions at heavy industrial facilities in the US producing steel, cement, aluminum, and metallurgical coke, as well as the current challenges with the quality of existing data on toxic emissions releases from these facilities, which impacts community monitoring.
WHAT: Department of Energy’s Virtual Industrial Heat Shot Summit
WHEN: The virtual summit is happening on Monday, October 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
WHERE: The summit is virtual and interested participants can register online at https://www.energy.gov/eere/iedo/events/register-does-virtual-industrial-heat-shot-summit-oct-23-2023.
WHO: The 1:20 p.m. ET panel titled “How Industrial Heat Impacts Industrial Communities” will feature a Sierra Club representative alongside other experts:
- Yong Kwon, Senior Policy Advisor, the Sierra Club
- Anne Hampson, Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program Manager, Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office, DOE
- Dominique Thomas, Partner and Field Building Director, Industrious Labs
- Matthew Mehalik, Executive Director, Breathe Project
- Moderator: Kelly Crawford, Senior Advisor of Energy and Environmental Justice, DOE
WHY: A new report, database, and interactive map commissioned by the Sierra Club reveals for the first time the greenhouse gas emissions intensity at every domestic facility in the US for four heavy industries: steel, cement, aluminum, and metallurgical coke.
The report, “Coming Clean on Industrial Emissions”, also profiles the fenceline communities living near these facilities, examines the public health impact of these sectors, and details employment figures at each facility — underscoring the importance of federal investments in these critical sectors to the US economy that will both grow employment and reduce pollution.
With the US industrial sector responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, alongside significant toxic air pollution harmful to public health, the study aims to help inform areas where increased pollution monitoring is needed.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.