Key economic development/energy officials from the State of Pennsylvania visited NETL in Pittsburgh Thursday to learn more about the NETL’s research activities, take a tour of key laboratories and discuss areas of mutual interest with NETL leadership.

NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., hosted the visit, which was designed to highlight the energy research done at the Laboratory that can bolster local, state and national economic development and energy security initiatives.
Bryan D. Morreale, Ph.D., executive director of NETL’s Research and Innovation Center, conducted a tour of the Laboratory’s facilities during the visit.

The delegation consisted of the State of Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development Dennis M. Davin; Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Energy Denise M. Brinley; Adam Walters, William Penn Energy Fellow in the Governor’s Office of Energy; and Ryan Unger, president of Team Pennsylvania Foundation.

The Mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is to support good stewardship and sustainable development initiatives across the commonwealth. The department’s personnel act as advisors and advocates to provide strategic technical assistance, training, and financial resources to encourage communities and industries flourish.

The Governor’s Office of Energy, within the Department of Community and Economic Development, focuses on Pennsylvania’s energy advantages by working with economic development partners to retain and grow energy industries; expand the use and delivery of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial facilities; cultivate a strong business climate for alternative energy deployment; support the growth of in-state development, and manufacture of advanced energy technologies; and ensure a sound energy-related infrastructure.

Team Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization established to support public-private partnerships that improve the state’s competitiveness and economic prosperity.

Anderson said NETL and its roster of energy researchers, “eagerly welcome productive relationships with state agencies, academia and private industry to advance the energy security of the region and nation through development of cutting-edge energy technologies. Our meeting with the Pennsylvania officials is intended to advance that mission and explore opportunities to work together toward those goals.”

Secretary Davin leads the commonwealth’s efforts to support business growth, strengthen the workforce, and revitalize communities. He oversees DCED’s $1.6 billion investment in community and economic development projects since 2015, serving nearly 13 million Pennsylvanians. Prior to his appointment, Secretary Davin served as director of the Allegheny County Economic Development and the director of the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. 

Before becoming executive director of the Governor’s Energy Office, Brinley served as vice president and principal environmental consultant in TRC Corporation’s Harrisburg office, focusing primarily on the natural gas development, wetland mitigation banking, and brownfield redevelopment.

As a William Penn Fellow, Walters is currently a project administrator with Downtown Inc. of the City of York, Pennsylvania. William Penn Fellows work alongside leaders in state government to address the challenges facing Pennsylvania and then apply what they learn in their home communities. 

Under has committed his career to advancing local and regional economic development efforts. Through his various roles at Team Pennsylvania, Ryan has been integral in a variety of statewide workforce and economic development initiatives that have been recognized nationally as best practices.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that produces technological solutions for America’s energy challenges. From developing creative innovations and efficient energy systems that make coal more competitive, to advancing technologies that enhance oil and natural gas extraction and transmission processes, NETL research is providing breakthroughs and discoveries that support home-grown energy initiatives, stimulate a growing economy, and improve the health, safety, and security of all Americans.