Meet The Speakers:
At each community forum, attendees will have an opportunity to bring their questions and get answers from our panel of energy experts.
Liz Sheehan - LFUCG
Councilmember Liz Sheehan represents the 5th District in Fayette County. She was first elected in November 2020 and is finishing her third term on council at the end of this year.
During her time on the Urban County Council, Councilmember Sheehan has worked on several policies related to energy and sustainability including expanding access to renewable energy, protecting our tree canopy, adopting energy efficient and net-zero practices, and moving towards a greener and more equitable transportation network.
In addition to her role as Councilmember, Liz works as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky.
Councilmember Sheehan will discuss LFUCG’s energy related initiatives, regulatory authority, and community programming. Her presentation will uplift local projects and explain initiatives underway to reach Lexington’s sustainability goals.
Derek Rahn - LG&E KU
Rahn has been a part of the LG&E and KU family since 2002, when he was hired as a student engineer in Generation Services.
LG&E and KU’s presentation explores the critical relationship between energy infrastructure and economic development, emphasizing how reliable, affordable electricity supports business investment, job creation, and community growth. The presentation highlights the importance of responsible infrastructure planning to accommodate increasing energy demand while protecting existing customers from unnecessary costs and risks. It also discusses the role of emerging technologies, renewable energy, natural gas, and battery storage in developing a balanced and reliable energy portfolio. Finally, LG&E and KU outline their economic development resources and community partnerships designed to strengthen Kentucky’s competitiveness and support sustainable, long-term growth.
Wade Archer - Silicon Ranch
Sean Schaub is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA), where he leads statewide efforts to position the Commonwealth as a leader in the next generation of nuclear energy. A geologist by training, Sean began his career in Wyoming's uranium industry, where his passion for nuclear energy first took root. His career has since spanned global supply chain management, advanced manufacturing, and economic development, including work with Wyoming's Manufacturing Extension Partnership and, most recently, as Nuclear Industry Coordinator for the Wyoming Energy Authority.
Today, Sean works collaboratively with policymakers, industry leaders, utilities, regulators, higher education institutions, workforce and economic development organizations, and other stakeholders to advance Kentucky's nuclear energy strategy. He is passionate about building partnerships that strengthen domestic supply chains, support advanced reactor deployment, expand workforce opportunities, and position nuclear energy as a driver of long-term economic growth and energy security.
Sean Schaub - KNEDA
As a Senior Manager on Silicon Ranch’s Regenerative Energy® agribusiness team, Wade Archer works to install grassland ecosystems to enable grazing operations under and around solar panels. A 5th-generation farmer, he draws from his experience and leverages partnerships with experts to ensure successful land management.
Wade Archer will explore Silicon Ranch’s leadership in agrivoltaics and how the company is advancing the practice through Regenerative Energy®, its holistic approach to managing the land beneath and around its solar projects. By integrating regenerative land management and agricultural practices, including strategic pre-seeding and managed grazing with sheep and cattle, Silicon Ranch is demonstrating how solar farms can do more than produce energy, creating new opportunities for local farmers and aspiring ranchers while responsibly stewarding the land for the long term.