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Columbia Business Monthly

The Business Narrative: Green Energy

Nov 02, 2022 01:19PM ● By David Dykes

Green Hydrogen Coalition Announces Initiative in Carolinas

The Green Hydrogen Coalition (GHC) – an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing the role of green hydrogen to accelerate a carbon-free energy future – announced the launch of a new initiative, HyBuild Carolinas.

This effort will work to achieve mass-scale, low-cost, delivered green hydrogen in North and South Carolina, driving multi-sectoral decarbonization and local economic development.

This initiative engages participants from across the green hydrogen ecosystem through convenings and analytical studies. HyBuild Carolinas will co-develop a regional vision and roadmap for accelerating the role of green hydrogen in North and South Carolina's environment and economy. 

The GHC defines green hydrogen as “hydrogen produced from non-fossil fuel feedstocks and has climate integrity (emits zero or de minimis greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis)."

“As the largest airline in the Carolinas, we're proud to support HyBuild Carolinas, which will play a critical role in accelerating the development of green hydrogen in one of our most important markets,” said Jill Blickstein, vice president of sustainability for American Airlines.

“Decarbonizing air travel requires a collaborative approach across all sectors of the economy, and the Green Hydrogen Coalition is helping to lead the way in North Carolina and South Carolina. Green hydrogen is a key element to scaling sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen propulsion, two cornerstones of American's strategy to reach destination net-zero by 2050.” 

“Nucor is proud to be an adviser to HyBuild Carolinas,” said Greg Murphy, vice president of business services and general counsel for the Nucor Corporation.

“The green economy is being built on steel, and Nucor's clean, recycled steel is building our nation's clean energy infrastructure while also helping the world meet its climate goals.”

Hydrogen is a globally traded commodity that – when produced from renewable and carbon-free sources – can decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, including heavy-duty transportation, industrial processes, shipping, and more.

In the near-term, HyBuild Carolinas will undertake analyses to understand green hydrogen demand and enabling infrastructure scenarios to establish a vision for achieving mass-scale, low-cost green hydrogen in the Carolinas and advance a clean and just energy transition.

The current scope of work is supported by donations from Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Siemens Energy, and Williams.

“Duke Energy is uniquely positioned in the Carolinas with a strong base of carbon-free nuclear energy and fast-growing renewables that can contribute to hydrogen production,” said Swati Daji, senior vice president of Enterprise Strategy and Planning for Duke Energy.

“We will need carbon-free dispatchable resources – like hydrogen – to achieve our ambitious emission reduction goals, and we are grateful to the Green Hydrogen Coalition for their leadership as we work to engage our peers, customers, other potential off-takers and all other stakeholders to build support for a hydrogen hub in the region.”

Juliette Bogus Joins SCBIO Board of Directors

Inspire Agency announced that its president and CEO, Juliette Bogus, has joined the SCBIO board of directors, bringing two-plus decades of healthcare, life sciences, and med-tech experience to South Carolina's nonprofit life sciences and economic development organization.

“Life sciences has always inspired and amazed me, and I'm thrilled that I can support SCBIO's mission to champion people, organizations and breakthroughs that save lives, benefit the environment, and improve quality of life for all,” Bogus said.

“I look forward to bringing strategic communications and marketing insights to the board, helping to amplify SCBIO's voice, while supporting the life sciences and med-tech ecosystem here in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.”

Among the companies and organizations Bogus has served throughout her 23-year career are the Maryland affiliate of Bio, Maryland Life Sciences, the Association of University Research Parks, Catalent, MaxCyte, and Medimmune/AstraZeneca.

Bogus has also worked with top schools of medicine including University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“We're excited to welcome Juliette to the SCBIO Board,” said SCBIO President and CEO James Chappell.

“She exudes a passion for not only what we're trying to accomplish here in the State of South Carolina, but for the members we serve. Our team is confident that Juliette's breadth and depth of experience in working with countless life science and med-tech companies, as well as another state affiliate of BIO, will help propel SCBIO's vision forward.”  

Before starting her own agency, Bogus held positions at several full-service national agencies.

In 2013, Bogus founded Inspire Agency, a full-service branding and content agency that provides brand development, content marketing, media relations and corporate communications. The agency specializes in the life sciences, med-tech, and mental health.

Four Companies Added as South Carolina Research Authority Members

Elevate Therapeutics, MacB IT Solutions, Sojourn MedTech, and 3Key Digital Marketing were accepted as South Carolina Research Authority Member Companies. 

Breadwinner and 3Key Digital Marketing received new grant funding. 

All SCRA Member Companies receive coaching, access to experts in SCRA’s Resource Partner Network, eligibility to apply for grant funding, and the potential to be considered for investment from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc

Breadwinner Inc., doing business as Copyt, received a $50,000 Acceleration Grant. The Lexington-based startup developed a tool for secondary ecommerce vendors to automate and accelerate the process of taking and managing inventory on digital marketplaces. It was initially designed for the secondary sneaker market.

Elevate Therapeutics Inc. was accepted as an SCRA Member Company. The Greenville-based startup developed a digital application that helps palliative care patients better manage pain and medications while offering education and empowerment messages at their fingertips.

MacB IT Solutions LLC was accepted as an SCRA Member Company. The Piedmont-based startup offers businesses a wide array of technology services, including website development, ecommerce solutions, and customized app development.

The company also provides telecom solutions that reduce abandoned calls and improve customer services for small businesses.

Sojourn MedTech LLC was accepted as an SCRA Member Company. The Clemson University-based startup developed the world’s first smart simulator (called CanSim) equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software for assessing and training clinic personnel to improve dialysis procedures.

3Key Digital Marketing LLC, doing business as WAVS Custom, was accepted as an SCRA Member Company and received a $50,000 Acceleration Grant. The Greenville-based startup developed an app that allows users to scan their ears remotely and then create a digital mold that is 3D printed into a usable earpiece.

Grant funding is made possible, in part, by Industry Partnership Fund contributions that fuel the state’s innovation economy. Contributors to the IPF receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit, making it an easy and effective way to help one of the fastest-growing segments of the South Carolina economy.

Greenville’s Beau Welling Named President of World Curling Federation

The World Curling Federation member associations elected Beau Welling of Greenville, S.C., as president at the Annual General Assembly, according to the Federation.

Welling was elected in the second round of voting and replaces President Kate Caithness CBE at the conclusion of her 12-year term of office.

Welling is the 11th president of the World Curling Federation — previously the International Curling Federation — and is the second president from the United States, following Dr. Donald F. Barcome, who served from 1988–1990.

Welling was elected as a board member of the World Curling Federation in 2018, with his original four-year term concluding this year.

Welling was the chair of the Structural Review Group, and prior to his time with the World Curling Federation was an independent board director of the United States Curling Association from 2007 until 2018.

Welling is founder and president of Beau Welling Design, a golf course design and development company based in Greenville, S.C.

“I feel an incredible sense of responsibility and at the same time an incredible sense of excitement about the future of curling,” Welling said.

“I look forward to working with our members to advance the sport of curling to higher levels and to continue the great work that Kate Caithness has done. I want to honor her legacy by continuing to drive the sport forward.”

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