Growing Green Industry and Innovation: Mass Timber
Channel: eesionline
Date: 2020-09-23

More information at: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/092320workforce

The United States can lower domestic and global greenhouse gas emissions by supporting innovation and expanding low-carbon industries. Mass timber provides a prime opportunity to diversify the American economy and lower emissions while providing steady, family-sustaining employment for a skilled workforce. Panelists discussed the environmental and workforce benefits of mass timber, from manufacturing to construction. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), forester and sponsor of the Trillion Trees Act, provided opening remarks.

Speakers:

    Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)
    https://youtu.be/unAU6ZCa4fE?t=3m13s

    Jennifer Cover
    President and CEO, WoodWorks
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Jennifer_Cover_092320.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/unAU6ZCa4fE?t=7m16s

    Tyler Freres
    Vice President, Freres Lumber Co., Inc.
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Tyler_Freres_092320.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/unAU6ZCa4fE?t=22m2s

    Carter Sterling
    CEO, Sterling Solutions
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Carter_Sterling_092320.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/unAU6ZCa4fE?t=37m57s

    Question & Answer Session
    https://youtu.be/unAU6ZCa4fE?t=57m37s


Tyler Freres, Vice President of Freres Lumber Co., Inc. discussed the burgeoning mass timber manufacturing sector, its implications for U.S. environmental goals and the American workforce, and the policies currently helping mass timber innovation and manufacturing in the United States. Jennifer Cover, president and CEO of WoodWorks, discussed efforts to train construction workers in using mass timber materials to assure products have broad application after they are manufactured. Carter Sterling, CEO of Sterling Solutions, discussed his work bringing cross-laminated timber manufacturing to urban areas like Chicago and the company’s innovative workforce development programs aimed at building employee’s long-term skills.

This briefing was part of EESI's "Workforce Wednesdays" series, a series of online briefings on workforce development and policies and programs that can support a low-carbon recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis. Speakers discussed major challenges faced in each area and solutions providing economic and environmental benefits to communities across the country.