What does the community of the future look like? Probably net zero, or even net positive. What does that mean? It means a community that makes as much (or more) energy than it uses. It’s not only possible, it’s happening!

Speakers 

• Aaron Gunderson—Executive Director, Passive House Massachusetts
• Meredith  Elbaum—Executive Director, US Green Building Council MA
• Michael Davis—Senior Program Officer for Lending and the Green Retrofit Initiative at Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Puja Vohra— Principal Consultant/Owner, Green Elements, LLC
• Cammy Peterson—Director of Clean Energy, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)

Come learn the basic concepts of net-zero communities, including the different net zero definitions (and why that is important to your work), as well as some of the challenges and opportunities around the building sector.

Get inspired by what is possible today and by what has been achieved by some communities and projects, and leave with the ability to assess what the current situation is in your community and how to take action towards net zero.

This roundtable discussion is co-sponsored by Mothers Out Front Massachusetts and Sierra Club Massachusetts. 

Please RSVP below. 

After two summits in the Worcester area in September and January, we are hosting our third Green Muni Action Summit! We heard from all of you at our last summit that you want to keep up the momentum to make a difference in your Muni. Join us on June 23 to do just that!

What: Green Muni Action Summit

When: June 23rd, 10 am to 4 pm

Where: Harvey Wheeler Community Center, Concord, MA (but please RSVP, so we know how many lunches we are serving)

Who: Climate advocates from Municipal Light Plant towns, Light board members, and Light Plant managers

Advocates from 29 Municipal Light Plant towns have attended our summits so far, and we've heard from experts, light board members, and grassroots advocates about what Munis do, how they can be more green, and how they fit into the Massachusetts system. We have also heard detailed information about successes from towns like Hingham, Concord, and Belmont.  For more information on Munis, visit our webpage here!

Featured Speaker: Karl Rábago, Pace Energy and Climate Center

Karl Rábago is currently the executive director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center at the Pace University School of Law. He is very familiar with running a Municipal Light Plant as he was previously the Vice President of Distributed Energy Services at Austin Energy, the municipal utility for the City of Austin. While there, he was well known for his innovative practices for renewable energy in a Muni. Additionally, "Karl has more than 25 years experience in energy and climate policy and markets. He is recognized as an innovator in electric utility regulatory issues relating to clean energy services and technologies. Karl serves as Chair of the Board of the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organization that works to advance voluntary clean energy markets. He also sits on the Board of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Karl also runs his own successful consulting practice, Rábago Energy LLC." 

Agenda 

10:00 Welcome and Introduction 

10:15 Report Back on Muni Successes and Commitments

11:00 Road Blocks and Learning Needs 

11:30 Concord Team Electrification Presentation with Sustainability Director

12:00 Start Lunch 

12:30 Karl Rabago Presentation and Q and A

2:00 Break and Mingle 

2:30 Peer Education 

3:30 Muni Report Card 

Lunch will be provided with a vegetarian option.

For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations please contact Oriana at orianareilly@massclimateaction.net or 412-735-2436. Two weeks advance notice of need for accommodations is requested.