Executive-led business roundtable drives industrial growth and global competitiveness in the Gulf South – Entergy

Gulf South Business Roundtable Launch: A Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A coalition of prominent energy and industrial executives has launched the Gulf South Business Roundtable (GSBR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic and industrial landscape of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The initiative aims to align regional growth with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on infrastructure, economic opportunity, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

The GSBR’s mission is directly linked to several Sustainable Development Goals, framing its regional development strategy within a global context for sustainable progress.

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The primary goal is to advance economic competitiveness and create long-term opportunities. By uniting sectors such as advanced manufacturing, energy, and logistics, the GSBR aims to bolster the region’s $2.7 trillion contribution to the U.S. GDP, promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: A central focus is the development of resilient infrastructure and the promotion of industrial growth. Strengthening grid reliability and expanding infrastructure investments are key priorities that support sustainable industrialization and foster innovation across the Gulf South.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: By bringing together energy producers and large industrial consumers, the roundtable is positioned to influence policy that ensures access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all, a cornerstone of regional competitiveness and community well-being.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The formation of the GSBR itself exemplifies this goal. It creates a vital partnership between the private sector, community organizations, and public officials to mobilize resources and advocate for policies that achieve sustainable development objectives.

Leadership and Founding Members

The roundtable is guided by a committee of experienced industry leaders committed to its strategic vision.

Founding Members

• Entergy Corporation and its five operating companies
• Alabama Power Company
• Kinder Morgan
• Mitsubishi Power Americas

Executive Leadership

• Co-Chair: John Hudson, Chief External Affairs Officer, Entergy
• Co-Chair: Jeff Peoples, Chairman, President & CEO, Alabama Power Company
• Executive Director: Ben Portis

Board of Directors

• John Hudson, Entergy*
• Jeff Peoples, Alabama Power Company*
• Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana*
• Eliecer “Eli” Viamontes, Entergy Texas*
• William “Bill” A. Newsom Jr., Mitsubishi Power Americas*
• Sital Mody, Kinder Morgan*
• Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas
• Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi
• Deanna Rodriguez, Entergy New Orleans

*Denotes member of the GSBR Executive Committee

Strategic Outlook and Future Initiatives

The GSBR’s initial strategy involves building strategic alliances and engaging with federal and regional policymakers to advocate for policies that drive investment and innovation. The organization will work to elevate the Gulf South’s strategic importance in national policymaking. A key event in this effort will be the roundtable’s annual policy conference, scheduled for October in Washington, D.C., which will serve as a platform to advance its agenda for sustainable regional growth.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article’s primary focus is on “advancing economic competitiveness,” “industrial growth,” and creating “long-term economic opportunity and mobility for its residents.” The formation of the Gulf South Business Roundtable (GSBR) is explicitly aimed at enhancing the “economic vitality of the area” and bringing “real investment, innovation and jobs” to the region, which directly aligns with the core principles of SDG 8.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The GSBR’s dedication to “infrastructure development” and “expanding infrastructure investments” is a central theme. The article highlights the coalition’s goal to support sectors like “advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics and chemicals,” which are key components of industrialization and innovation. Strengthening infrastructure is presented as a foundational element for regional economic progress.

3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • The founding members of the GSBR are predominantly from the energy sector (Entergy, Alabama Power, Kinder Morgan, Mitsubishi Power Americas). A stated objective is “strengthening grid reliability.” This goal is directly related to ensuring access to reliable energy, a fundamental aspect of SDG 7.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The entire article describes the creation of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The GSBR is a “coalition of leading energy and industrial executives” that “brings together energy producers, large industrial energy consumers, and community organizations.” Its strategy involves “building strategic alliances” and uniting “public officials and businesses” to advocate for shared policy goals, which is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth. The article mentions that the five Gulf South states contributed over “$2.7 trillion to the U.S. GDP” in 2023 and that the GSBR aims to “enhance the economic vitality” and “drive long-term growth,” which aligns with sustaining and increasing economic output.
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The focus on “advanced manufacturing” and “innovation” to move the region forward points directly to this target.
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The stated goal to “create long-term economic opportunity” and bring “jobs to our region” is a direct reflection of this target.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development. The GSBR’s dedication to “infrastructure development,” “strengthening grid reliability,” and “expanding infrastructure investments” is a clear match for this target.

3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The roundtable’s focus on “strengthening grid reliability” directly supports the “reliable” component of this energy access target.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The GSBR is a textbook example of a public-private partnership, as it aims to unite “public officials and businesses” and engage “federal and regional policymakers” to achieve its objectives.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Implied Indicator: Growth in regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The article establishes a baseline by stating the region contributed “$2.7 trillion to the U.S. GDP” in 2023. Future increases in this figure would be a key indicator of success for the GSBR’s goal to “enhance… economic vitality.”
   • Implied Indicator: Number of jobs created. The objective to “bring real… jobs to our region” implies that job creation will be a primary metric for measuring the roundtable’s impact on economic opportunity.

2. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

   • Implied Indicator: Level of infrastructure investment. The goal of “expanding infrastructure investments” suggests that the total capital invested in regional infrastructure projects would be a measure of progress.
   • Implied Indicator: Grid reliability metrics. The aim of “strengthening grid reliability” implies that progress could be measured by indicators such as a reduction in the frequency and duration of power outages.

3. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Implied Indicator: Number of members and partners. The article states that “GSBR is actively welcoming new members,” indicating that the growth of the coalition itself is a measure of its success in building a strong partnership.
   • Implied Indicator: Enactment of favorable policies. The goal to “advocate for the policies and resources” and “influence federal and regional policy” implies that the number of supportive policies passed would be an indicator of the partnership’s effectiveness.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: entergy.com