GreenTown Climate & Equity

Where

Triton College
2000 5th Ave, River Grove, IL 60171

See map here

When

Thursday, June 22, 2023
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

GreenTown Climate & Equity is a zero-waste event.

Schedule at a glance

7:30am-8:30am Mayors and Elected Officials Breakfast

**By invitation only

8:00am-8:30am Registration and Check-In

8:30am-9:00am Welcome & Introductions

9:00am - 10:45am Morning Plenary & Keynote

10:45am-11:00am Break

11:00am-3:15pm Emerging Leaders Plenary Session

11:00am-12:00pm Breakout Session #1

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch

12:20pm-1:00pm Optional Tour #1

• US Conference of Mayors Press Conference

12:30pm-1:00pm Optional Tour #2

• Triton College Walking Tour

1:00pm-2:00pm Breakout Session #2

2:00pm-2:15pm Break

2:15pm-3:15pm Breakout Session #3

3:15pm-3:30pm Break

3:30pm - 4:30pm Closing Plenary

• 3:30 pm - Welcome

• 3:35 pm - Youth Address

• 3:50 pm - C4 Projects Overview

• 4:00 pm - Breakout Sessions: What priority initiatives does your community/ institution intend to work on? What support do you need?

• 4:25 pm - Group report

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Reception

C4 and Cook County Composting and Recycling: Engaging Schools and Municipal Governments

This session will discuss a model recently funded by the USDA Composting and Waste Reduction Grant Program, which includes working with municipal governments to develop food scrap collection programs for residents and implementing the Zero Waste Schools program in environmental justice communities. We will also showcase the efforts of the Cook County Solid Waste Department, including how the County is using its ARPA funding to drive waste diversion from landfills in West and South Suburban Cook County communities.

Moderator: Gary Cuneen, Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead

Speakers:

Katrina Thompson, Mayor, Village of Broadview

Jen Nelson, Senior Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead

Beck Brodsky, Zero Waste Schools Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead

Funding and Resources for Climate, Equity and Sustainability

This session will discuss the various federal, state and local funding options available for on-the-ground projects related to EVs, solar, workforce development, composting and more. Funding will include the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CPACE, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and more.

 Moderator: Judy Sheahan, US Conference of Mayors

Speakers:

Deb Kutska, Cook County

Chris Meister, Illinois Finance Authority

Jason Myers, Businesses Development - Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls Inc.

 Designing for the Future: How to Get to Net Zero

Around the Chicago area and beyond, architects and developers are designing for New Zero. In this session, learn about a 44-unit economically integrated building—7 Van Buren—going up on the edge of Oak Park and Chicago. Architects Nate Kipnis and Tom Bassett-Dilley will present case studies on residential, commercial and institutional net zero and passive structures.

Moderator: Gabriela Martin, Progam Director, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

Speakers:

David Pope, CEO, Oak Park Residence Corporation

Nate Kipnis, Principal, Kipnis Architecture and Planning

Tom Bassett-Dilley, Principal, Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects

Chris Lindgren, Park District of Oak Park

Megan Zach, Wight & Company

Connecting with Nature: Improving  Physical and Mental Health

Contact with nature offers a range of physical and mental health benefits. This session will discuss understanding how health and the outdoors are connected and the many benefits that interacting with nature provide.

Speakers:

Jan Arnold, Park District of Oak Park

John Harris, Principal, a5 Branding & Digital

Water: Safe, Affordable and Climate Effective

This session will cover multiple issues affecting our communities in relation to safe, affordable drink water. Learn about Elevate’s Water Affordability initiative, the work of the Alliance for Water Efficiency and projects addressing the water/energy nexus.

Moderator: Katrina Thompson, Mayor, Village of Broadview

Speakers:

Ron Burke, President and CEO, Alliance for Water Efficiency

Justin Keller, Strategist, Water Programs, Elevate

Food Waste Reduction and Food Recovery

GreenTown: Reducing Our Foodprint - Food loss and waste is interconnected with challenges like hunger, climate change, public health and economic growth. Hear a series of high-profile speakers and learn about why now is the time to move from awareness to action and recognize the value of food as medicine.

 Moderator: Jennifer Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead

Speakers:

Jennifer Herd, City of Chicago Department of Public Health

Jennifer Grenier, DNP, RN-BC, Director of Nursing, Rush Rehabilitation and Founder of the Surplus Project

Achieving Energy Equity & Advancing the Clean Energy Workforce

As the clean energy economy continues to experience a positive infusion of resources and opportunities it is essential for advocates and practitioners alike to advocate for equitable outcomes. The most vulnerable populations suffer from disproportionately higher energy burdens, while the market still lacks diversity within the workforce.

During this session a panel of clean energy leaders and practitioners will have an engaging discussion on the Justice 40 legislation, it’s intended impact on energy equity, economic empowerment in the clean energy marketplace, and program development and deployment.

Just Transition - The Emergence of Equitable Electrification

As we experience the emergence of new technology designed to usher in the utility of cleaner energy, it is important to identify and solve for the existential threats that adversely impacts the most vulnerable populations. It is important that we work to disrupt the status quo associated with early adoption.

During this session industry leaders will have meaningful dialogue to demystify the topic of electrification and provide access to resources that will assist in expediting broader adoption.

Solar Models, Incentives and Funding 101

This session will provide an overview of different solar financing and ownership models and state and federal programs to support. The session will address: a) What is an energy road map?; b) What state and federal resources/programs exist to support on-site solar?; c) What are the options for buying solar energy from off-site projects in Illinois, including projects that offer reduced-rate solar electricity for low-income residents; and d) How can C4 help communities and institutions to select the right options.

Moderator: Mark Burger, Seven Generations Ahead

Speakers:

Diana Vargas, Senior Account Executive, Ameresco

Chris Lindgren, Park District of Oak Park

Sarah Gyurina, Solstice

Tim Carlmark, Unity Solar

Technical Experts Roundtable

This roundtable will bring together experts from the private sector who are in the business of designing and implementing a variety of projects that achieve climate, equity and sustainability goals. Their expertise includes energy efficiency upgrades; renewable and solar energy on-site installations; community solar Power Purchase Agreements; workforce development and jobs; energy road map development; and greenhouse gas emissions inventory development and tracking.

Moderator: Calvin Cornish Jr., Johnson Controls Inc.

Speakers:

Art Burton, AMB Renewable Energy

Dan Curley, Ameresco

Sarah Gyurina, Solstice

Jenny Maltas, Veregy

Greening Chicago Metro Area Businesses

Oak Park will soon have Illinois’ first green dining hub courtesy of Takeout 25 and the Illinois Green Business Association. In this session, we will explore the green dining hub concept. We will also learn about how Sustain Evanston is working to green its local small business community and programs offered by Cook County to green businesses. Learn from new and existing programs on how to drive green business strategies in your community!

Moderator: John Harris, Principal, a5 Branding & Digital

Speakers:

Cara Pratt, Sustain Evanston

Ravi Parakkat, Takeout 25

Cassie Carroll, Illinois Green Business Association

 Mohammed Elahi, Deputy Director, Cook County Government

Transportation: The Emergence of the Electric Vehicle World

Revenue in the Electric Vehicles market is projected to reach $61.18 billion in 2023, and an annual growth rate of 22.79%. More than half of all car sales will be EVs by 2030. Learn about federal, state and utility-based resources for your community and steps for planning your community’s EV infrastructure.

Moderator: Sarah Edwards, Cook County

Speakers:

Scott Vogt, ComEd 

Jenny Maltas, Veregy

Aditi Desai, Voltpost

Active Transportation for Local Communities

Learn about a multi-community project supporting BIPOC and LMI communities with bike/ped/active transportation planning and local projects designed to increase the bikability and walkability of local communities. This session will also discuss additional multi-modal strategies including bike share programs, electric skooters and more.

Speakers:

Vickie Barrett, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

Benet Haller, Cook County Goverment

Electrification & Net Zero 101

What does it mean for a building to electrify or achieve net zero energy? This session will provide a brief overview of the current state of building electrification, technology applications, project considerations, workforce opportunities, and evolving financing landscape. A moderated panel discussion will dig into best practices and lessons learned from local projects, policies and programs and discuss the pathways to net zero energy through energy efficiency, electrification and renewable energy strategies. Participants will receive a Guide to Institutional Electrification.

Moderator:
Katie Kaluzny, Deputy Director, Illinois Green Alliance

Speakers:

Ajit Naik, Baumann Consulting

Maddie Liput, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Marcella Bondie Keenan, AICP, Village of Oak Park

Environmental and Economic Drivers of Health Disparities: The Influence of Climate Change

In this session, we will present a longitudinal spatial analysis that sheds light on the overlapping environmental and health risks in the western suburbs and communities of Cook County. We will also explore the intersections of food and environmental justice and how they can be utilized to promote equity in cancer and other health outcomes.

Moderator:  Darnell Johnson, Urban Efficiency Group

Speakers:

Katrina Thompson, Mayor, Village of Broadview

Dr. Theresa Chapple-McGruder, Director, Oak Park Department of Public Health

River Forest Sustainability Commission