‘The Future of Underground Infrastructure’ to be discussed at The Utility Expo 2021

The Utility Expo will be held Sept. 28-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY

Just as Congress looks set to pass a generational investment in America’s infrastructure during the final days of September, thousands of attendees will converge on Louisville, Kentucky, to take part in The Utility Expo 2021.

The Utility Expo, to be held Sept. 28-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY, is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends.

That’s why the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is partnering with Planet Underground to host an expert-filled panel answering questions on “The Future of Underground Infrastructure,” which will take place Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 9 to 10 a.m. (eastern) in the Broadbent Arena and be livestreamed at www.IV2050.org.

The panel will be moderated by Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program nonresident Senior Fellow Marek Gootman. He’ll be joined by:

• Jason Andringa, president and CEO, Vermeer and Chair of AEM’s Infrastructure Vision 2050 Task Force
• Kevin Smith, general manager, DitchWitch and member of AEM’s Infrastructure Vision 2050 Task Force
• Michael Gritton, executive director, KentuckianaWorks
• Tony Parrott, CEO at Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District and Board Member on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB)

The panel will cover topics such as:

• What does the future of underground infrastructure look like?
• What sort of new opportunities and challenges will there be?
• What new skills or types of jobs will be needed to build and modernize our underground infrastructure as well as the manufactured equipment needed to bring it to life?
• What public policies at the federal, state, and local levels are needed to equip workers and investors with the resources needed to support a forward-looking vision of America’s underground infrastructure?

The discussion will also offer a new opportunity to highlight key findings from comprehensive research released this year by The Brookings Institution, with support from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, “Rebuild With Purpose: An Affirmative Vision for 21st  Century American Infrastructure.”

To learn more about the report, click here.