During the 117th Congress, lawmakers passed record investments in infrastructure and climate change reduction. The investments include a significant amount of money available directly from the federal government and through state mechanisms to local government, non-profit, and business entities. Information about accessing these available funds continues to be developed and disseminated.

In coordination with Governor Tina Kotek’s office, key faculty and staff with University of Oregon’s Environment Initiative are helping to raise awareness by coordinating a briefing with the latest information about the recent federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that provide billions of dollars in incentives, grants, and loans to support new infrastructure investments in the areas of clean energy, sustainable transportation, and other efforts to address climate change. 

Even those who have participated in similar briefings on the same topic are encouraged to attend, as new details continue to be released about the nature of these investments. 

When: Friday, June 16, 9 am – 12:30 pm PST
Information and registration link at: https://environment.uoregon.edu/IRAconvening

The webinar is hosted by representatives from the University of Oregon Environment Initiative, a campus-wide coordinated effort to create an intellectual and active hub focused on higher education’s role and contribution to a just and livable future. The Environment Initiative aims to leverage the intellectual energy and endeavors of faculty, students, and community partners towards societal contribution through transdisciplinary research, teaching, and experiential learning.

Agenda: With facilitation by UO School of Law, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and Lundquist College of Business experts, representatives from federal and state agencies along with other experts will serve as panelists to help outline the benefits that this investment can provide to Oregon businesses, government entities, and citizens. 

  • UO Environment Introductory Comments –Adell Amos, UO Clayton R. Hess professor of law and executive director, UO Environment Initiative
  • Welcome – Governor Tina Kotek
  • Overview Presentation – Greg Dotson, UO associate professor of law, Senior Faculty Fellow Environment Initiative
  • Panel 1: Federal Implementation – An overview of federal incentives with representatives from US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Housing and Urban Development, and US Department of Agriculture.

Moderated by Anshuman Razdan, Vice President for Research & Innovation, Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences

Margaret Hoffman, USDA State Director for Oregon (confirmed)

Kat Compton, US EPA Region 10 (confirmed)

Margaret Salazar, US HUD (confirmed)

US DOE (invited)

  • Panel 2: State Implementation – Discuss the status of state efforts with representatives from Oregon Department of Environment Quality, Oregon Department of Energy, and Oregon Department of Transportation.

Moderated by Alai Reyes Santos, Professor of Practice, School of Law, Co-Director, PNW Just Futures Institute

Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy (confirmed)

Colin McConnaha, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (confirmed)

Travis Brouwer, Oregon Department of Transportation (confirmed)

  • Panel 3: Federal Tax Opportunities – Overview of IRA tax provisions

Moderated by Joshua Skov, Academic Director, Center for Sustainable Business Practices, Lundquist College of Business

Mike Kaercher, Director of the Climate Tax Project, The Tax Law Center at NYU Law (confirmed)

Michael Such, Stoel Rives (confirmed)

Contributed by: The University of Oregon

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