Overheard

President Bill Clinton focused much of his speech at the Rural Philanthropy Conference on alternative energy initiatives and the future growth of wind and solar energy in rural America. He was adamant about the need for such initiatives, saying, “We need to change the way we produce, conserve, and consume energy—and rural America needs to be part of that.”Alternative energy, he claimed, “…would spark the largest job boom we’ve had since World War II—and we wouldn’t have to shoot anyone to do it!”

T>A>I asked several conference attendees if they agreed/disagreed with President Clinton’s bold statement and challenge to rural America. We also asked them to suggest other areas rural America should focus on in order to survive and thrive.

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“Clinton made two important points about conversion to a green economy and rural America’s opportunity to lead. First, he pointed out the challenges in transmission technology. Right now renewable energy from rural solar and wind can’t be deployed to major urban markets at competitive costs. But that could mean outstanding opportunities to develop renewable energy zones in hard hit rural communities where the energy is produced, modern day TVAs [Tennessee Valley Authority]. But this is where President Clinton’s other point is critical. For rural to take part in a green economy we will need financing that both takes into account the true value of conversion and appreciates the lengthier terms needed for a full return on investment.”

- Dee Davis
Founder and President
Center for Rural Strategies

“As President Clinton made his way out of the room after almost two hours of captivating commentary regarding rural issues of the day, one comment he made kept running through my mind: “Make things better today than yesterday.” The message to me is to be diligent, committed, and passionate about making a difference for rural people and places one step at a time. Challenges do not go away overnight.  Our work is about improving lives and recognizing progress every day.”

- Robert Mahaffey
Director of Communications
Rural School and Community Trust

“President Clinton was right about the opportunities for rural America in renewable energy. Wind energy, for example, has potential to create tens of thousands of good jobs for struggling Great Plains communities.

But renewable energy must be done right. Wind should be structured to maximize ownership opportunities for wind farm employees, as well as farmers and ranchers.  Wind wealth should not be an export.

Renewable energy is no silver bullet. But, combined with broader initiatives to build assets, support microenterprise and develop community leaders, it can bring new prosperity and hope to struggling rural communities.”

- Chuck Hassebrook
Executive Director
Center for Rural Affairs

“Simply, America can’t change the way we produce, conserve, and consume energy WITHOUT the workforce in rural America. A developing community college training network is providing the human energy necessary to participate in this boom. Because energy production, whether from the wind, rays, or bio-mass will be generated from the landscape, it just makes good sense to give opportunities to those who live in rural areas to upgrade and increase their skills. The community colleges are place-based institutions that partner with the businesses and the communities in which they are located in. Linking good paying jobs with a local skilled workforce not only benefits the individual worker economically, but this strengthens the community and the nation.”

- Marcie McLaughlin
Director of Constituent Relations
Rural Policy Research Institute

“During his address at the Rural Philanthropy Conference, President Clinton challenged participants to take full advantage of the opportunities that are currently available. I was particularly struck by the goals President Clinton outlined for the current administration’s Social Innovation Fund and how well those goals align with those of Southern Bancorp. The Social Innovation Fund is tasked with identifying programs that address chronic problems in our communities with innovative solutions. The Fund will then develop ways to bring these innovative solutions to scale and reach an even larger population of people facing these same problems. At Southern Bancorp we strive to bring residents together to develop new solutions for their communities at the county level and then help the local, and frequently isolated, rural communities to connect to resources from all over the country. By scaling up in counties across rural Arkansas and Mississippi, we can make regional change, very similar to what the Social Innovation Fund proposes to do.”

- Ben Steinberg
President
Southern Bancorp