Energy efficiency investments and their resulting energy savings drive financial benefits throughout the Midwest region. To spread these benefits, on February 7, 2018, MEEA will host the "Good EE Policy for Economic Growth Summit" in Chicago. This free summit, sponsored by E4theFuture and preceding the 2018 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference, will focus on the ways energy efficiency advocates develop sound policy to drive regional economic and job growth. Attendees will hear from a diverse set of advocacy and policymaker perspectives on the value of contractor and business-led advocacy, the economic impact of energy efficiency and how we leverage our collective efforts to inform and shape future EE policy in the Midwest.
You can still register for the free policy summit, or read on to learn more about the event.
Background & Context
On November 6, 2018, MEEA’s 13-state region will see a minimum of five new governors elected. Potentially, our region could see nine new governors, which will broadly impact public utility commission appointees and other regulatory staff. Energy efficiency advocates and professionals across the industry are taking an active role to identify the broad positive economic impacts that come from investing in energy efficiency programs across the region. So, how do we equip the next set of leaders with the necessary tools and information to ensure they make sound, impactful and positive decisions on energy efficiency policy? The answer lies in the discussions that will take place at our February 7 summit.
Summit Agenda
- 8:00-8:30am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
- 8:30-9:00am: Business Advocacy Creates Practical Policy Solutions
- 9:00-9:45am: The Regional Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency
- 9:45-10:00am: Break
- 10:00-10:30am: Crafting Policies that Drive, Enable and Expand Economic Growth
- 10:30-11:30am: 2018 Policymaker Turnover Impact and Opportunity
Business Advocacy Creates Practical Policy Solutions
This set of presentations will explore the importance of contractor and business advocacy efforts, drawing on specific Midwest state examples, and how these efforts drive the creation of practical EE policy solutions.
Panelists
- David Gard (Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association)
- Sarah Tyler (Ceres)
The Regional Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency
This set of presentations will review recent research identifying the magnitude of the Midwest’s EE workforce, the positive economic impacts beyond the clean energy economy and how to use this information to impact policymaker decision-making.
Panelists
- Audrey Bragg (E4TheFuture)
- Amalia Hicks (Cadmus)
Crafting Policies that Drive, Enable and Expand Economic Growth
This session will focus on the workforce development language of Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act, including the process of crafting effective policy, seeking feedback and participation of stakeholders and interested parties, any legislator education efforts and the plan for implementation.
Panelist
- Juliana Pino (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization)
2018 Policymaker Turnover Impact and Opportunity
This panel will provide a forward-looking discussion of ways in which we need to address candidate education and equipping the new policymakers/leaders with the information and tools they need to make effective energy efficiency decisions/policies. We will have heard about innovative advocacy approaches and resources that make the economic case for EE, and we'll explore the ways policies are developed to enable effective implementation of our collective goals.
Panelists
- Trish Demeter (Ohio Environmental Council)
- Mary Collins (American Jobs Project)
- Doug Scott (Great Plains Institute)
- JR Tolbert (Advanced Energy Economy)
Register Now
It's not too late to register for the free policy summit.
If you are otherwise interested in Midwest 2018 candidate education and/or economic impacts of energy efficiency, please contact Policy Manager Nick Dreher at ndreher@mwalliance.org.