LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 18 solutions rooted in shared responsibility. While our team has grown, we remain committed to a foundation built on hope, accessibility, and a belief that mean- ingful climate and energy action begins with people coming together. Designing an experience that stays with you Maya Angelou's sentiment, "that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel," is an underlying thought when we plan this conference. Even more important than the sessions they went to or what they had for lunch, we hope they remember how it felt to build meaningful connections with their fellow attendees. Even Jill Henck, now busy hosting the conference, discovered a supportive community and thriving relationships at a past ANCA Climate & Energy Conference she attended in her previous role as a Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Coordinator in the Capital Region. CEC Coordinators are essential in today's rapidly evolving energy landscape. Our coordinators have helped municipalities secure funding for meaningful clean energy upgrades, giving us a firsthand appre- ciation for the impact of their work. For example, our coordinators provided the assistance needed for the Village of Lake Placid to upgrade their heating systems and purchase electric vehicles to cut munic- ipal costs. At the conference, we will bring together local government leaders, business owners, students, educators, and community champions to be a part of the conversation. By gathering this diverse group, we hope to strengthen the collaborative human capital that will carry our communities forward. As we look ahead to the conference, we aim for something even more ambitious: a shared sense of possibility. By prioritizing accessibility to these rel- evant topics, we ensure every voice — regardless of background, expertise, or lived experience — can enter and shape the conversation. We hope that by elevating multiple perspectives it can spark curiosity — inviting attendees to explore new ideas, ask ques- tions, and see themselves as part of solutions. At the end of the two-day conference, attendees will leave not only with new knowledge, but with the confidence and motivation to carry that energy back into their communities. Sessions designed for real-world impact This year's conference will feature sessions about generation and transmission, battery storage systems, nuclear power, NYS energy plan, and accessibility — designed to be of key interest to municipalities, who are welcome to share the challenges they're facing in the current energy climate. Our goal is to spark genuine dialogue between community voices and the innovators who can help strengthen long-term energy stability. Plus, we will present projects about climate solutions that have been implemented in rural commu- nities for leaders looking to start their own projects and get their communities involved. Participants will walk away with strategies they can apply to support climate-focused work. Additionally, with the cost of living increasing, an aging housing stock, increased storm intensity, and limited access to critical services, it's harder for com- munities to find a balance between preserving the environment and simply making ends meet. Our 2026 Left: Participants visit Brookfield Renew- able's Franklin Falls Hydropower Facility at 2025 ANC A Conference. Above: Climate & Energy Program Director, Jill Henck, at hydropower tour.

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