Wednesday, June 12 at 11:00 a.m.
A topical presentation paired with a panel conversation aimed at charting a course forward.
Unlocking the GGRF Money Vault
At $27 billion, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is the single largest climate program of the IRA outside of tax credits and includes three streams of funding: National Clean Investment Fund ($14 billion), Clean Communities Investment Accelerator ($6 billion) and Solar for All ($7 billion). For as many billions of dollars there are in the pot, there are just as many questions, ranging from how to deploy the funds to how the funding should be coordinated to how marginalized communities will be centered. This session will provide a deep dive into operational plans for the GGRF. Panelists and on-the-ground partners will shine a light on how organizations have begun to grapple with questions and unknowns.
Keynote
Dale Bryk, Director of State & Regional Policy, Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program
Facilitator
Claire Cowan, Managing Director of Service Development, Slipstream
Panelists
Sadie McKeown, President, The Community Preservation Corporation
Jamal Lewis, Director of Implementation Learning and Integration, Rewiring America
Nicole Sonderegger, Vice President of Climate and Environmental Programs, Opportunity Finance Network
Course-Correcting Decarbonization: Why CBOs are the Missing Piece
Both energy efficiency and building decarbonization serve vital roles in the clean energy transition. To transition in a just and equitable manner, benefits should go beyond energy savings to include reduced energy cost burden, safe homes and buildings, local community investment, improved public health, sustained economic growth with good paying jobs, and opportunities to undo past injustices. Prioritizing marginalized communities in all aspects of the design, strategy, and engagement around programs will ensure a meaningful approach to realizing these benefits for all. In this session, community outreach leaders and community-based organizations will discuss the important considerations and potential pitfalls of community-level decarbonization efforts.
Keynote
Meishka Mitchell, CEO, Emerald Cities Collaborative
Facilitator
Patrice Suggs McFarlin, Vice President of Compliance, SEEL
Panelists
Isella Ramirez, Director of Community Engagement & Capacity Building, Hester Street
Sarah Salem, Director of Community Engagement, WE Act for Environmental Justice, Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (TCTAC)