About fifty people gathered in the Faculty Lounge at Bristol Community College (BCC) on May 14, 2015 to hear a panel discussion on the topic of "Energy, Jobs and the Economy: What are the Options for the South Coast" sponsored by Clean Water Action and the Coalition for Social Justice. Introduced by Clean Air Campaigns Director Becky Smith, the panelists included Abigail Anthony, Director of the Grid Modernization Initiative; Fall River City Councilors Jasiel Correia II and Michael Miozza; South Coast Energy Challenge Director Karen Stewart; Next Step Living Community Programs Coordinator Ronelle Silva; BCC Environmental Technology Coordinator Robert Rak; BCC Vice-President for Workforce Development and External Affairs Paul Vigeant; and Matthew Morrissey, Executive Director of Offshore Wind: Massachusetts. The discussion centered around the impact of the 2017 closing of the Brayton Point Power Station and the vacuum of jobs, municipal revenue and energy into the grid that will be affected by the redevelopment process. Click here for a 80-minute video of the event. Click here for photos and video of a 2013 Clean Air Action event in Fall River.  For more local information, contact Green Futures.

(Top row) Clean Water Action Campaigns Director Becky Smith introduces the panelists included Abigail Anthony, Director of the Grid Modernization Initiative; Fall River City Councilors Jasiel Correia II and Michael Miozza; South Coast Energy Challenge Director Karen Stewart; and Next Step Living Community Programs Coordinator Ronelle Silva. (Row two) Councilor Miozza concludes his opening remarks before Ms. Stewart begins to speak. (Row three) Professor Rak and Vice-President Vigeant talk about the steps Bristol Community College is taking to lower energy use at the College and to prepare a workforce for tomorrow's energy needs. (Row four) Matthew Morrissey of Offshore Wind in New Bedford describes the opportunities that changing energy production will provide the South Coast before Westport Energy Committee Chair Tony Connors speaks. (Bottom row) Becky Smith hands out materials to Somerset residents Connie Brodeur and Pauline Roderiques, who each spoke briefly after the panel presentations, and Dan Gilbarg of the Coalition for Social Justice talks with some participants.