Joint Center Hosts Commissioners Breakfast

This morning the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies hosted a breakfast gathering of state public service commissioners of color at the Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington DC. The meeting allowed commissioners to share issues that impact communities of color with the Joint Center. This input was incredibly helpful as we plan out our research agenda for the next year.

A variety of key issues were discussed, including the Telecommunications Act rewrite, the need for better data, infrastructure development in communities of color, broadband deployment (including mobile), reliability and affordability, access to water, environmental justice, 21st century energy workforce, diversity at all levels (e.g., workforce, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, lawyers, asset managers), filling jobs as current energy workforce retires, internships, STEM and related pipeline issues, engagement with HBCUs and their graduates, diversity on Public Service Commissions, and several other topics.

Several commissioners were in attendance, including Commissioner Mignon Clyburn (FCC), Commissioner Colette Honorable (FERC), Chair Nikki Hall (SC Public Service Commission), Chair Robert Kenney (MO Public Service Commission), Vice Chair Carolene Mays-Medley (IN Utility Regulatory Commission), and Commissioners Ronald Brisé (FL Public Service Commission), Lamar Davis (AR Public Service Commission), Sherina Maye (IL Commerce Commission), Carla Peterman (CA Public Utility Commission), Catherine Sandoval (CA Public Utility Commission), and Harold Williams (MD Public Service Commission).We are incredibly thankful to the commissioners for their input, our co-hostthe American Association of Blacks in Energy, Barbara Johnson and Julia Johnson who helped us organize the event, and Joint Center Special Assistants Genette Gaffney and Yosef Getachew.