Rep. Summer Lee Joins Business Leaders and Local Officials for Clean Energy Roundtable in Pittsburgh
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Rep. Summer Lee Joins Business Leaders and Local Officials for Clean Energy Roundtable in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA — Today, Rep. Summer Lee joined business leaders, labor representatives, and local officials at the Energy Innovation Center for a Clean Energy Business Roundtable hosted by The Heinz Endowments and Climate Power. The event highlighted Western Pennsylvania’s leadership in clean energy innovation and the significant economic impact of federal investments in the sector.
The roundtable, which included participants from CorePower, Exus, Eos, and other clean energy companies, provided a platform for discussing the opportunities and challenges facing the region’s burgeoning clean energy industry. The event began with a site tour where elected officials, including Rep. Lee, interacted with workers and witnessed firsthand the businesses driving the clean energy boom in Pittsburgh. This was followed by a moderated discussion featuring insights from business leaders, labor, and elected officials on the local economic benefits of federal clean energy investments.
“Pittsburgh’s history is deeply rooted in the energy sector, and today, we’re at the forefront of a new energy revolution,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Thanks to the investments made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), we’re not just talking about a clean energy future—we’re building it right here in Western Pennsylvania. Our region, built on the backbone of fossil fuels, is now leading the way in innovative, sustainable energy solutions that create good-paying jobs and revitalize our communities. But to keep this momentum going, we must protect and expand these critical federal investments in clean energy.”
Event Highlights:
- Site Tour: The event kicked off with a site tour at the Energy Innovation Center, where elected officials engaged with workers and observed the operations of local clean energy companies.
- Roundtable Discussion: The moderated discussion focused on the impact of federal investments, the local economic benefits of the clean energy sector, and future opportunities for growth in the region. Rep. Lee, alongside other local leaders, emphasized the importance of sustained federal support to continue Western Pennsylvania’s leadership in clean energy.
Background:
The Clean Energy Business Roundtable showcased how Western Pennsylvania is emerging as a hub for clean energy innovation, supported by federal initiatives like the IRA and IIJA. These investments have catalyzed the growth of a new clean energy cluster in the region, providing new job opportunities and positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports