Greetings Midwest BDC!
Happy Black History Month! Obviously, February is too short to contain such multitudes. All the same, it’s another chance to remember, question, and continue to make demands. To remember that The Environmental Justice Movement Is Rooted In Black History. To ask, How Long ‘til Black Future Month? as author N. K. Jemisin does. And to demand that renewable power grows Black power.
We heard you wanted a more accessible Coalition calendar! Honestly, so did we. Now, you can find upcoming working groups and events at midwestdecarb.org/calendar. You’ll still need the zoom links sent by staff and co-chairs—we don’t want to share everything with the world of gas companies and fossil fuel lobbyists—but for an easy overview of upcoming meeting times, it’s there to check!
We’d also love to feature the incredible work you and your organizations are doing at a future monthly meeting. To sign up for a Member Spotlight at an upcoming monthly meeting, please reply to this email or contact Marnese (jackson@fresh-energy.org).
Keep reading for news, resources, and a Training with Jacob for anyone who wants the 101 on decarbonization.
– Jacob, Marnese, Margaret, and Eric
COALITION CALENDAR
To view upcoming working group meetings and other Coalition events online, visit midwestdecarb.org/calendar.
February 2: Health Working Group
The Health Working Group meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 12pm Central / 1pm Eastern. To participate, please email Emma Hines.
February 3: AWHI Steering Committee
The Midwest Advanced Water Heating Initiative Steering Committee meetings the first Thursday of each month at 10-11am Central / 11am-12pm Eastern. To participate, please contact Jacob.
February 8: Affordable Housing/QAP Working Group
This group meets every third Tuesday at 3pm Central / 4pm Eastern. To participate please email Marnese.
February 9: Next monthly meeting
Our next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, February 9 at 2pm CST / 3pm EST. Send any agenda suggestions or additions to Marnese. If your announcement item will take more than 2-3 minutes, please get on the agenda ahead of time.
February 10: Governance Working Group Meeting
The Governance Working Group meets every other Thursday at 9am Central / 10am Eastern. To participate, please email Marnese.
February 16: Equity Working Group
This group meets every month on the third Tuesday at 12:30pm Central / 1:30pm Eastern for 90 minutes. To participate please email Marnese.
February 22: New Member Orientation
New member orientation is every 4th Tuesday of the month at 12pm Central / 1pm Eastern. Click here to register.
February 22: Michigan Building Decarbonization Coalition Meeting
This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 1pm Central / 2pm Eastern. For more information, please contact Charlotte Jameson with MI Environmental Council.
February 23: Federal Policy Working Group
Join us for the first meeting of this emerging working group, 12:30pm Central / 1:30pm Eastern. Register in advance for this meeting here.
February 24: Governance Working Group Meeting
9am Central / 10am Eastern. To participate, please email Marnese.
February 24: Building Decarbonization 101 Training
How is decarbonization different from efficiency? Why are buildings so important?
What’s all this about electrification? Join Midwest BDC and our Co-Director Jacob Serfling, Manager of Building Policy and Technology, for this overview of Building Decarbonization, and why it’s so critical to do well and to do equitably. Training is 90 minutes, Thursday, February 24, at Noon Central / 1pm Eastern. Register here: bit.ly/MWBDCDecarb101.
March 1: Affordable Housing/QAP Working Group
This group meets every third Tuesday at 3pm Central / 4pm Eastern. To participate please email Marnese.
March 2: Health Working Group
The Health Working Group meets monthly on the first Thursday at 1pm Central / 2pm Eastern. To participate, please email Emma Hines.
March 3: AWHI Steering Committee
The Midwest Advanced Water Heating Initiative Steering Committee meetings the first Thursday of each month at 10-11am Central / 11am-12pm Eastern. To participate, please contact Jacob.
For full details about all Coalition working groups, keep reading.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
February 3: Beyond Representation: Equity in climate and energy journalism
As news organizations focus more attention on environmental justice, what steps can they take to ensure they’re truly serving the communities they cover? In this virtual panel discussion from Fresh Energy and the Energy News Network, hear from journalists and advocates about what equity in climate and energy journalism should look like, and what steps news organizations can take to move in that direction.
Among the panelists will be Midwest BDC Co-Director Marnese Jackson. Click here for details and registration. The event is free, at 12pm Central / 1pm Eastern.
February 7: Climate Challenge Justice40 Capacity Building Fund (J40 Fund) Webinar
Kapwa Consulting, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, is excited to announce the Climate Challenge Justice40 Capacity Building Fund (J40 Fund). The purpose of the J40 Fund is to support community-based organizations to engage and partner with their local government to advance community-led projects that align with the Justice40 Initiative. Contract amounts are estimated to be up to $30,000. This will be done on a rolling basis until the pool of funds is depleted. Register for the informational Webinar, February 7 at Noon Central / 1pm Eastern. Learn more about the fund here.
February 8: Overextended: It’s Time to Rethink Subsidized Gas Line Extensions
Join RMI at 3pm Central / 4pm Eastern for a webinar sharing highlights from the recent report, Overextended. We’ll discuss what gas line extension allowances are, the historical rationale behind these policies, why those rationales no longer hold, and how policies can shift moving forward. Register here.
February 28: Comments Due on Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for proposed energy conservation standards for manufactured housing. Read more and submit comments here.
Coalition Calendar
Stay up to date with Coalition meetings and relevant events here: midwestdecarb.org/calendar/.
“Codes and Stretch Codes” is now “Local Building Codes and Standards”
In addition to the new working groups announced last month, the building codes working group will be re-launching with an expanded focus as the “Local Building Codes and Standards Working Group”. In addition to baseline building codes, we will now be exploring building performance standards, all-electric new construction requirements, and other potential local government levers for decarbonizing buildings. More details to come at the February monthly meeting, but for now contact Jacob Serfling (serfling@fresh-energy.org) if you are interested in participating in this group.
Job Openings
- Michigan Environmental Council: Policy Staffer, Urban Land Use & Infrastructure
- GAIA: US & Canada Regional Director
- Green Living Science: Community Engagement Coordinator
- Greenlining Institute: Senior Legal Counsel for Energy Equity; Program Manager for Energy Equity; Federal Strategy, Senior Program Manager; Program Coordinator for Economic Equity; and more!
- NBI: Director – Leadership and Market Development Program
- Green Latinos: Water Equity and Ocean Program Advocate
- RMI: Manager – Carbon-Free Buildings & Center for Climate-Aligned Finance, Associate – Carbon Free Electricity, Program Coordinator – Carbon-Free Buildings, and more!
- DOE: Clean Energy Corps
- City of Minneapolis: Senior Policy Aide, Climate and Public Health
RESOURCES
Study: Quantifying Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Water Heaters, Lebel, Lu, Speizer, Finnegan, Jackson, April 6, 2020
Study: Methane and NOx Emissions from Natural Gas Stoves, Cooktops, and Ovens in Residential Homes, Lebel, Finnegan, Ouyang, Jackson, January 27, 2022
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
Original Equipment Manufacturers Developing Heat Pumps for Cold Climates, AC Heating Refrigeration News, January 5, 2022
Iowans don’t want carbon pipelines – here’s why, Bleeding Heartland, January 10, 2022
The next front in fighting climate change: your home, CNN opinion, January 10, 2022
Bronx Apartment Fire Disaster Shows Why Energy Efficiency Isn’t Just a Climate Issue, Gizmodo, January 10, 2022
We’re still expanding the natural gas system — and there’s a good chance you’re paying for it, Canary Media, January 11, 2022
‘We have a lot to lose’: 16 Minnesota cities declare climate emergency, urge legislative action, Star Tribune, January 19, 2022
Settlement Agreement between DTE and Advocates Delivers Energy Efficiency Funds to the Most Vulnerable Families, Sierra Club, January 20, 2022
Sen. Markey pitches bill to increase home heating aid, pointing to a critical need in Berkshire County, The Berkshire Eagle, January 21, 2022
Biden launches green buildings partnership with states, cities, The Hill, January 22, 2022
Old-Fashioned, Inefficient Light Bulbs Live On at the Nation’s Dollar Stores, New York Times, January 23, 2022
Updating Michigan energy rules on new homes faces pushback from builders, Bridge Michigan, January 24, 2022
Gas stoves leak climate-warming methane even when they’re off, NPR, January 27, 2022
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