Three Rivers Chapter

2026 USAEE Conference | Panel Spotlight:

Powering Appalachia’s Future:
Innovation, Resilience, and Regional Opportunity


Mitch DeRubis Managing Director FTI Consulting	Shanti Gamper-Rabindran Professor University of Pittsburgh	Arun Iyengar Chief Engineer & Technical Mgr KeyLogic Systems	Amanda Harker Steele Senior Energy Economist Southwest Power Pool

43rd USAEE North American Conference | Agenda
Sunday, November 15 through Wednesday, November 18
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown

Powering Appalachia's Future: Innovation, Resilience, and Regional Opportunity
This session brings together leading voices from across the Appalachian region to discuss the evolving energy landscape and the opportunities and challenges it presents for communities, industries, and policymakers alike. Panelists will discuss topics related to how the region’s diverse energy resources—from natural gas to solar to wind, opportunities for advanced manufacturing emerging hydrogen hubs, and reclamation-driven economic development—are reshaping long-term growth trajectories. The session aims to highlight the economic, environmental, and workforce considerations critical to building a resilient energy future in the region.

Panel: Mitch DeRubis; Shanti Gamper-Rabindran; Arun Iyengar

Moderator: Amanda Harker Steele

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 17 | 3:15 p.m.

Three Rivers Chapter Dinner at 2026 USAEE Conference

The Three Rivers Chapter is pleased to host its annual dinner at the 2026 USAEE Norther American Conference and warmly invites all attendees and guests to join. Please note that meal and drink costs will be the responsibility of each attendee.

Date: Tuesday, November 17
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST

RSVP: smriti.sharma@keylogic.com

Invitees: All are welcome, including guests (meal and drink costs will be the responsibility of each attendee)

Location: To be communicated closer to the event

About the Three Rivers Chapter

The Three Rivers Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics is committed to expanding the reach of energy information in both the private and public sectors in the State of Pennsylvania, and surrounding area.

Chapter goals are to:

Provide for the mutual association of persons interested in energy economics in order to create a forum for professional discussion
Provide a means of professional communication and exchange of experience and ideas among persons interested in energy economics from within Pittsburgh and the surrounding area
Educate the community on energy economic issues

Anyone interested in the array of issues affecting energy economics--including theory, markets, public policy, and the environment--is invited to join and actively participate.

Please contact the Chapter President or other Officers for further information or questions on how you can get involved.

The chapter holds periodic luncheon meetings featuring guest speakers. Please contact the chapter President for further information.

Three Rivers Officers

President

Dr. Amanda J. Harker Steele
Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
Senior Energy Economist
Email: ajharkersteele@gmail.com

Vice President

Smriti Sharma
KeyLogic Systems
Senior Scientist I
Email: smriti.sharma@keylogic.com | smriti.sharma@netl.doe.gov

Academic Liaison

Dr. Michael Blackhurst
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Teaching Assistant Professor & Environmental Studies Program Coordinator
Email: mfb86@pitt.edu