Center For Earth Energy And Democracy

THE CENTER FOR EARTH, ENERGY & DEMOCRACY (CEED) WORKS TO ENSURE JUST AND EQUITABLE CLIMATE, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND RESEARCH. WE PROVIDE TOOLS AND INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND POLICY MAKERS IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE JUST CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

1- RESEARCH, POLICY, AND ADVOCACYCEED WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES, POLICY MAKERS AND RESEARCHERS, COMBINING TECHNICAL RESEARCH WITH A PRIORITY FOR UNDERSTANDING POLICY IMPACTS ON JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. AS PUBLIC DIALOGUE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE BECOMES MORE AND MORE "EXPERT DRIVEN," CEED IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SPACE FOR INCLUSIONARY AND INFORMED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SELF-GOVERNANCE. WE WORK TO HIGHLIGHT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY CONTROL. IN 2023, CEED CONDUCTED RESEARCH, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY BOTH IN THE MIDWEST AND NATIONALLY THROUGH THE EJNCF. CEED PLAYS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE EJNCF COALITION THROUGH CONVENING AND COORDINATING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COALITION IN AN ONGOING WAY. THE PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS IN 2023 WERE: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUSTICE40 (J40) INITIATIVE AND THE EJ INVESTMENTS IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) AND BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (IIJA) AND REDUCING LOCAL POLLUTION FROM THE POWER SECTOR IN EJ COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO J40 AND IRA IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDED DEVELOPING JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EJ SCORECARD, STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION ON THE DESIGN OF J40 PROGRAMS, DEVELOPING JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE BLOCK GRANTS PROGRAM, AND MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY IRA FUNDED PROGRAMS. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO REDUCING LOCAL POLLUTION FROM THE POWER SECTOR INCLUDED ADMINISTRATION OUTREACH TO INFORM THE DESIGN OF POWER PLANT CARBON POLLUTION STANDARDS SUCH THAT THE STANDARD MAXIMIZES BENEFITS TO EJ COMMUNITIES AND RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING A POLICY PRIMER EXPLAINING MANDATORY EMISSIONS REDUCTION (MER) POLICY. THE MER PRIMER WAS SHARED BROADLY WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, POLICY MAKERS, AND RESEARCHERS TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND MER AS AN INSTRUMENTAL APPROACH FOR REDUCING LOCAL POLLUTION FROM THE POWER SECTOR. 2- POPULAR EDUCATIONCEED CONDUCTS POPULAR EDUCATION WITHIN GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO ENGAGE IN THEIR OWN VOICE ON CRITICAL ENERGY, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PLANNING THAT AFFECT THEIR HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS. IN 2023, CEED DEVELOPED AND CONDUCTED POPULAR EDUCATION MATERIALS [FOR LOCAL EJ COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZERS, FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND MORE] THAT POSITIONS COMMUNITIES TO SHARE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT ADDRESS INJUSTICE AND ADVANCE ADVOCACY AND LIBERATION. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OFFERINGS TO OUR MIDWEST CONSTITUENCIES WHILE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL PARTNERS THROUGH THE EJNCF. CEED'S CURRICULUM IS ORGANIZED BY SERIES, INCLUDING THE POLLUTION SERIES, ENERGY SERIES, CLIMATE SERIES, NATURE SERIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERSECTIONALITY SERIES. EACH CONTAINS VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS RELATED TO THE SERIES' THEME; MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE FACILITATION GUIDES, OUTLINING AN ENTIRE LESSON PLAN FOR A WORKSHOP, OR SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS AN INFOGRAPHIC, A ZINE, A COLORING BOOK, A GRAPHIC STORY, OR A COOKBOOK. EXPANDED OFFERINGS INCLUDED CURRICULUM ON JUSTICE 40 AND EDUCATION MATERIALS ON THE IRA IMPLEMENTATION. THESE RESOURCES SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN UNDERSTANDING THESE COMPLICATED FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND HOW TO UTILIZE AVAILABLE FUNDING. CEED WORKED WITH ARTISTS TO CREATE VISUAL RESOURCES SUCH AS GEOGRAPHICALLY CUSTOMIZED ZINES TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE IRA.