From Policy to Progress: What IRA and IIJA Mean for Our Clean Energy Future
Monday, November 6th from 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Join experts from Capitol Hill, state government, and nonprofit advocacy groups for a panel discussion about these historic laws and what they mean for community development, sustainability efforts, and economic growth across the state of North Carolina. Light reception to follow. Open to all.
About the Event
Do you want to learn more about how the historical climate legislation passed by Congress last year is being implemented?
Kick off Energy Week at Duke by learning about the largest federal investments in clean energy in American history: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Join experts from Capitol Hill, state government, and nonprofit advocacy groups for a panel discussion about these historic laws and what they mean for community development, sustainability efforts, and economic growth across the state of North Carolina.
This event is in-person only. A reception will be held following the discussion.
This event is part of the eighth annual Energy Week at Duke (Nov. 6-10), organized by dozens of students from degree programs across Duke.
Featured Speakers:
Nick Jimenez leads the Southern Environmental Law Center’s (SELC) Solar Initiative. He represents environmental and clean energy advocacy organizations in solar-related proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). Nick also works to support SELC’s broader climate work, advocating for a quicker and cheaper transition to clean energy, and was part of the team that successfully petitioned the state of North Carolina to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Tobin Freid (MA ‘03) is the Sustainability Manager for Durham County Government. In this role, Tobin assists county residents in implementing environmentally sustainable practices and building community resilience. Tobin previously served as the Project Coordinator for Energy and Environment at the Triangle J Council of Governments and for the Department of Energy in the Office of Environmental Management. Tobin holds Masters Degrees in Environmental Policy from Tufts University and Duke University and a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Policy and Urban Planning from UC Santa Cruz.
Eric Fins is the Vice President of Grove Climate Group. In this role, Eric works directly with clients to achieve their climate goals, providing policy advice, strategic guidance, and research and analysis. He also worked for 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Deputy Staff Director of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (SCCC) from 2021-2022.
Eric received his J.D. from American University Magna Cum Laude and served as a staff member on the American University Law Review for two years.
Elizabeth Ouzts is the North Carolina Journalism Fellow for the Energy News Network, where she has covered the state’s clean energy transition since 2016. She has also produced features for Environmental Health News and SEJournal, the news magazine of the Society of Environmental Journalists. A former communications director for the nonprofit Environment America, Elizabeth brings over two decades of environmental and energy policy experience to her reporting.
