About

RE-AMP is an engaged and active network of nonprofits and foundations working on climate change and energy policy in an eight-state region in the upper Midwest. This ambitious project is aimed at transforming the upper Midwest energy sector into a model of clean, efficient and safe energy use, while reducing global warming pollution economy-wide 80% by 2050.

Member organizations form the backbone of RE-AMP. The network of member organizations elects a steering committee, which guides the policy formation, fundraising, and evaluation of the system as a whole. Member organizations can get involved by participating in one of five working groups that provide a platform for networking, strategy development, and fundraising.

RE-AMP’S STRUCTURE: WORKING GROUPS AND SHARED RESOURCES

Working Groups

There are five working groups in RE-AMP. A working group is a bunch of advocates that get together to network, learn, fundraise, and share strategies on one of the critical goals of RE-AMP. The working groups of RE-AMP and their stated priorities are:

Clean Energy:

• Increase renewable electricity by 1-1.5% of total electricity demand per year in the eight-state RE-AMP region.
• Expand transmission capacity for wind power to the levels necessary to achieve RE- AMP ’s renewable electricity targets.
• Establish collaborative mechanisms that encourage other technology innovation projects that put the Midwest in the forefront of clean energy development, including innovations to store wind and solar energy, develop advanced bioenergy systems, and sequester carbon.

Coal:

• Prevent construction of new coal power plants that emit global warming pollutants
• Replace existing fleet of coal plants with carbon-neutral generation technologies

Energy Efficiency:

• Achieve the statewide energy efficiency standards  of 2% annually by adopting policies that require utilities to reduce use by at least 2% annually for electricity, and at least 1.5% annually for natural gas.
• Keep state residential energy and commercial energy building codes current with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)  and ASHRAE 90.1 2007 edition and subsequent upgrades.

Global Warming Solutions:

• Establish policies in the Upper Midwest and Great Plains that will achieve an 80% reduction of global warming gasses by 2050 through development and execution of a robust and effective Midwest multi-state global warming campaign.

Transportation:

• Improve vehicle efficiency.
• Lower the carbon content of transportation fuels.
• Reduce demand for motor vehicle transportation.
• Reduce carbon emissions from freight via technology and/or mode switching.

Network-wide resources

RE-AMP provides many resources for members in line with collaboration, learning as a network, and media training. Below are descriptions of our four core resources. 

The Media Center:

The Media Center consists of four media professionals housed at Fresh Energy in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Media Center provides a wide range of research-based messaging advice, media relations training, logistical support and on-the-spot practical advice – free of charge – to RE-AMP member organizations. They also produce Midwest Energy News, a website that tracks tracks energy issues throughout the Midwest.

The Commons:

The Commons at is RE-AMP’s “town square” community website. It is a secure online community that provides an area for advocates to collaborate on shared documents, have open communications, keep track of the most recent happenings in the RE-AMP community, and participate in network-wide webinars. RE-AMP member organization staff are eligible to join the RE-AMP Commons.

Global Warming Strategic Action Fund (GWSAF):

The RE-AMP Global Warming Strategic Action Fund (GWSAF) is a non-endowed pooled set of foundation-donated funds managed by a committee made up of RE-AMP’s Working Group Leaders and representatives of contributing foundations.  The GWSAF supports projects focused on ally development, energy efficiency, clean energy, transportation, state and regional global warming policy solutions, and other state level priorities. Its mission is to deliver needed funds to amplify positive trends, address strategic gaps, or otherwise strengthen or advance network goals.

Learning & Progress:

Incorporated into the Commons is a tool that is designed to take a broad view of work being done across the network in order to glean valuable information that can help us improve our strategies, tactics, and even our goals.

For more information about RE-AMP, please contact Elizabeth Wheeler, RE-AMP Coordinator.