Louisiana Sustainability CONFERENCE

Sept 13-14, 2024 : RURAL COMMUNITIES : VIDALIA,LA

SUSTAINABILITY: Our society's ability to exist and develop WITHOUT DEPLETING all of the natural resources needed to live in the future.

ATTEND OUR CONFERENCE TAKING PLACE

Sept 13-14, 2024

VIDALIA CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION CENTER

112 FRONT ST

VIDALIA, LA 71373

An Ever-changing World Requires a Sustainable Community and Workforce!

The Louisiana Sustainability Conference is being held in Vidalia, Louisiana. Vidalia is one of Louisiana's most sustainable rural cities. Vidalia's prime location on the Mississippi River allows it to own its own utilities. The community is proud to produce their power through The Sidney A. Murray Jr. Hydroelectric Station, also known as Louisiana Hydroelectric (LA Hydro). LA Hydro opened in response to a need for a non-polluting, less-costly power source for Vidalia, Louisiana in 1990. LA Hydro is the largest prefabricated power plant in the world!

Vidalia is also home to Syrah Technologies. According to the U.S Department of Energy (April 2022), Syrah Technologies is the first active anode material (AAM) manufacturer of its kind in the United States. In July 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) selected Syrah Technologies for a $102.1 million loan to fund the expansion of its Vidalia facility (Syrah Vidalia). This facility produces graphite-based active anode material (AAM). AAM is a key component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean energy technologies.

Vidalia is also home to State Representative C. Travis Johnson, who established the political subdivision called Delta Agriculture Research & Sustainability District (DARSD) in 2022. DARSD is one of the only sustainability research districts of its kind and has already received 2 federal grants. DARSD is joining forces with 21st Century Workforce Development to establish this conference.

THIS CONFERENCE WILL BRING IN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, PRIVATE INDUSTRY LEADERS, AND UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS TO HELP PREPARE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES FOR THE SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION IN LOUISIANA.

Sources:

Department of Energy 2022, Department of Energy website, assessed 13 June 2024.

<https://www.energy.gov/lpo/syrah-vidalia>.

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MAILING LIST

OUR SPEAKERS

These speakers are a mixture of government officials, industry leaders, and university research leaders. All of these leaders understand the important role sustainability plays in Louisiana's growth and future. This speaker list will continue to grow as more leaders show interest in our effort.

SPEAKERS

Rep. C. Travis Johnson

Vice Chair, Agriculture, Aquaculture & Rural Development. House Committee

Brandon Davis

Chair- Delta Agriculture Research & Sustainability District

Mayor Buz Craft

Mayor of Vidalia

Mr. Matthew Moreau

Chair- Industrial Hemp Research & Promotion Program

Dr. John Sutherlin

Chief Innovation & Research Officer- University of Louisiana Monroe

Dr. Janana Snowden

Director for Hemp Research at Southern University Ag Center

Mr. Brian Boyler

Owner Okish Mound Farm. Hemp Grower

Dr. James Obuya

Hemp Research

Moderator: Veenth Iyengar

opic: Smart Rural Communities

Moderator: Veneeth Iyengar

Veneeth is the first executive director for the state of Louisiana's broadband efforts (also known as Connect LA). He is responsible for coordinating efforts among federal, state and local leaders in allocating nearly $1.6 Billion in federal funds to eliminate the digital divide in Louisiana by 2029.He and his team are considered thought leaders in the broadband community for their rapid scale up and execution of federal dollars to impact the 1.7 million residents in Louisiana who lack high speed internet. Louisiana's efforts have been recognized nationally, and he is often asked to speak at events hosted and or organized by the Pew Charitable Trusts, National Governors Association, Consumer Electronics Show, Fiber Broadband Association, National Conference of State Legislators, US Department of Commerce's SelectUSA Summit, Federalist Society, American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institute and leading other organizations.

Dr. Jimmy Jones, Jr. was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, and graduated from Huntington High School before obtaining a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, followed by an MBA from LSUS. Dr. Jones currently serves as President for Axom Development, providing services in sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and research & development. Throughout his career, Dr. Jones has remained a staunch advocate for both energy and environmental justice.

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