Siting Clean Energy and Spent Nuclear Fuel Facilities: Rural Opportunities and Impacts

Processes for siting clean energy technologies and spent nuclear fuel management facilities can impact rural communities–creating new economic opportunities, inspiring cross-sectoral partnerships, altering regional land and resource use, and reshaping local perceptions of risk. In this webinar, Dr. Vincent Ialenti, Scientist, U.S. Department of Energy’s Consent-Based Siting Team, will discuss federal efforts to make people and communities central to siting one or more federal consolidated interim storage facilities for managing the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. Dr. Sarah Mills, a Lecturer and Senior Research Specialist at University of Michigan, will discuss her work on the positive and negative impacts of wind and solar energy in rural communities. She will also discuss her efforts, funded by the State of Michigan’s Energy Office, to help rural communities proactively plan for renewables. The discussion to follow will explore differences between the various risks and benefits associated with siting different kinds of energy-related facilities. Presenters:

• Vincent Ialenti, Social Scientist, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Consent-Based Siting Team
• Sarah Banas Mills, Senior Research Specialist, Graham Sustainability Institute and Lecturer, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

Opinions or points of view expressed in this presentation represent the view of the presenter, and does not necessarily represent the official position or policies of North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, USDA NIFA, or Purdue University.