Regenerating Lansing
Addressing historic harm from fossil generation by increasing justice through clean energy-based project-based learning, workforce development, and entrepreneurialism.
The Eckert Power Station is a 160-megawatt coal generator built by the Lansing Board of Water and Light in 1973. Though it was recently retired, the communities surrounding the facility have experienced adverse environmental, economic, and health impacts related to the emissions from burning fossil fuels. As shown in map below, the areas around the facility have been identified as Disadvantaged Communities. The members of these communities tend to live below the Asset-Limited Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) threshold, established by the United Way to recognize those with jobs who nonetheless struggle to afford basics household expenses and are largely People of Color. Regenerate Lansing was created to address these harms by employing regenerative approaches to increase justice and prosperity while reducing burdens on local disadvantaged communities.
https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#11.97/42.73178/-84.56479
The lead applicant for Regenerate Lansing, The Fledge, is a radically inclusive ideation and maker space, incubator, and accelerator on a mission to create opportunities to pursue happiness and address systemic racism through workforce development, entrepreneurialism, and access to clean energy and water and safe, affordable housing. The Regenerate Lansing coalition was assembled to build upon the existing impactful programing and reach of The Fledge to center clean energy project-based learning and career and business development that will inform and help prepare community members for opportunities in clean energy careers and increase understanding of how clean energy practices and technologies can be used to reduce energy burden. These items fit squarely within items 4 and 5 of the Justice40 goals to increase clean energy enterprise and contracting and increase clean energy jobs, pipelines, and training.
Initial coalition members include:
Greater Lansing Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: The GLHC will provide guidance and strategic input on content development based on the needs of the business community and partner with The Fledge to make those in search of career changes or support aware of the Regenerating Lansing programs.
Capital Area Michigan Works: CAMW will also provide input on content development based on workforce needs in the community and elevate opportunities for the workforce and entrepreneurial services provided through Regenerating Lansing.
Lansing Regional SmartZone: LRSZ is a cooperative effort with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to stimulate the growth of technology-based businesses in the Lansing Region and will be a key supporter with resources and feedback to make local businesses aware of the program.
T.A. Forsberg: T.A. Forsberg is local developer interested in investing in clean energy workforce by providing project-based opportunities to make building and development more sustainable and focused on creating a sense of community and belonging.
Elevated Engagement: Elevated engagement is an energy-focused consulting firm that works to build meaningful connections between policy makers and disadvantaged communities to further energy justice.
These partners are committed to improving the lives of residents harmed by fossil fuel based electricity generation. Each will play a role in outreach, development, and delivery of clean energy careers and opportunities to meet the needs of community members.
The outcome of Regenerating Lansing is intended to be holistic and address systemic harms and inequities for the communities impacted by the Eckert Power Station. As such, it will align with the Justice40 goals listed below with a particular focus on items 4 and 5:
- Decrease energy burden in disadvantaged communities (DACs).
- Decrease environmental exposure and burdens for DACs
- Increase parity in clean energy technology (e.g., solar, storage) access and adoption in DACs.
- Increase clean energy enterprise creation and contracting (MBE/DBE) in DACs.
- Increase clean energy jobs, job pipeline, and job training for individuals from DACs.
- Increase energy resiliency in DACs.
- Increase energy democracy in DACs.
The work will be accomplished through projected-based learning, workforce development, and entrepreneurship programs that are developed with partners with feedback from members of the community. Further, the coalition will utilize the development and delivery of these programs to share information about individual opportunities to reduce energy usage and energy burden.
The work of this coalition supports the restorative justice approach behind the Justice40 goals; to make whole those who have been subject to harm from the legacy energy system and historic injustice.
The Fledge is the lead applicant and will coordinate and facilitate the time, talents, treasures, and tools of other coalition members to expand the resources and reach of Regenerating Lansing. To follow on the work to prepare this submission, The Fledge will host a series of meetings for plan development that will include expansion of the coalition to additional organizations that include:
- Capital Area United Way
- City of Lansing
- Lansing Economic Area Partnership
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Lansing School District
- Michigan Mosaic Energy Co-op
Materials will be developed to support community outreach efforts and each member of the team and their organizations will be tasked with engagement with specific organization. Meetings will take place regularly to report on and refine the plan and resources needed to meet the coalition objectives.
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