2015 was a momentous year for the global climate movement: Pope Francis released an encyclical highlighting the grave implications of climate change, nearly a million people in 175 countries took to the streets during the People’s Climate March, and global leaders signed a landmark agreement to reduce carbon pollution at the Paris Climate Summit. Here at home President Obama released the final EPA Clean Power Plan Rule, blocked the Keystone XL Pipeline, and, in early 2016, called climate change the “greatest threat to future generations” in his final State of the Union address.

These important milestones—and many more like them that are yet to come—are only possible because of you; because of RE-AMP member organizations and your peers across the country and around the world. Thank you for all you accomplished in 2015 to advance our climate agenda and move us toward our goals!

RE-AMP strives to help you win even more. Of course we raise money to help ensure your work gets the support it deserves. But we also explore ways to make our collective impact greater, to help you collaborate more effectively, grow your political influence, and learn from each other. While this work can seem far removed from international climate deals or the success of the Clean Power Plan, we must remember that building stronger organizations with deeper connections across the region is essential for accelerating the global transition to clean energy. In fact, the climate movement depends on it for success.

This year your enthusiasm and continued investment in our regional capacity-building strategies have buoyed the Network to a new level, and at this time we’re proud to look back on 2015 and celebrate our:

• Effort to boost strategic thinking within the Network through two new programs;
• New approach to grantmaking through the Action Fund;
• Commitment to building a strong equity framework for the Network;
• New dashboard for tracking progress toward our shared goals;
• Increased capacity with the addition of new member organizations; and more.

We hope you read on, enjoy, and, as always, we look forward to working with you to build a stronger and more inclusive climate movement in the Midwest over the months and years to come.

Working Groups & Caucus Highlights

The Network’s working groups and caucuses had a tremendously successful year, and we’re delighted to be able to share some key highlights from each group below. Don’t forget to join the group pages on the Commons to receive updates and information on these groups’ upcoming activities.

Clean Energy Working Group

Rural Caucus Coordinator Stephanie Enloe, John-Michael Cross with Environmental and Energy Study Institute, and Dan Turner with Windustry connect at the joint Clean Energy Working Group and Rural Caucus meeting in Minneapolis.

Led by Duane Ninneman with the support of Sarina Otaibi, the Clean Energy Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Hosting an in-person meeting in Minneapolis in collaboration with the Rural Caucus, where Clean Energy Working Group members spent time rethinking working group goals and strategies.
• Laying the groundwork to pursue joint strategies with the Rural Caucus around rural electric cooperative work.
• Hosting Debbie Dooley, Board Member of the Tea Party Patriots and founder of the Green Tea Coalition and Conservatives For Energy Freedom, on a Clean Energy Working Group monthly call in an effort to bring in voices from outside of the Network.

Coal Working Group

Led by Nachy Kanfer with the support of Brad van Guilder, the Coal Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Adjusting and reaffirming the Coal Working Group’s written commitment to the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing and to avoiding new investment in natural gas.
• Welcoming several new member organizations as regular working group participants, including MI Air MI Health and the NAACP.
• Agreeing on new 2020 coal retirement goals that capture ongoing campaign work but set our sights on new outcomes too, especially in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Energy Efficiency Working Group

Led by Lola Schoenrich with the support of Trevor Drake, the Energy Efficiency Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Developing new 2020 objectives and 2016 strategies, including state-by-state and regional goals for both energy savings and Combined Heat and Power deployment.
• Completing a process to identify how to improve group calls, meetings, and engagement tools to add the most value to the membership.
• Providing $78,000 in funding to four projects through the Energy Efficiency Rapid Response Fund, including battling mandatory utility fee increases in Wisconsin and providing technical expertise to defend Michigan’s Energy Efficiency Resource Standard.
• Hosting a successful meeting focused on the Clean Power Plan in collaboration with the Global Warming Solutions Working Group, the Energy Foundation, and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Environmental Justice Caucus

Led by Antonio Lopez, Shalini Gupta and William Copeland, with the support of Brittany Anstead, the Environmental Justice Caucus highlights from 2015 include:

• Finalizing the 2015 Environmental Justice Caucus memorandum of understanding.
• Participating in the equity training for the RE-AMP Steering Committee and staff team.
• Obtaining funding, by way of re-granting, to support the work of Grassroots Environmental Justice organizations located in the Midwest.

Faith Caucus

Led by Susan Guy with the support of Sarah Webb, the Faith Caucus highlights from 2015 include:

• Hiring Susan Guy as the Faith Caucus Leader and Sarah Webb as the Faith Caucus Coordinator.
• Growing the number of active participants in the Faith Caucus through monthly calls and at an in-person meeting in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Meeting in Detroit.
• Securing funding for Climate Conversations through a regional proposal funded by the Global Warming Strategic Action Fund.

Global Warming Solutions Working Group

Led by Charles Griffith with the support of Mara Herman, the Global Warming Solutions Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Supporting states in their Clean Power Plan (CPP) campaign and communication planning.
• Providing members with resources to increase their technical understanding of the final CPP rule.
• Coordinating a MISO region-wide CPP meeting  in conjunction with the RE-AMP Energy Efficiency Working Group, the National Resources Defense Council, and the Energy Foundation. Participants found the content extremely helpful and were glad to have input from non-REAMP states, such as Missouri and Kansas, at the meeting.
• Facilitated the smooth transition of the working group leadership to Charles Griffith as the new working group leader and Mara Herman as new the working group new associate for 2016.

Local Solutions Working Group

Led by Satya Rhodes-Conway with the support of Katya Szabados, the Local Solutions Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Identifying overlapping areas of interest among members through the local solutions survey. This effort energized the working group’s year-end calls and narrowed the list of topics for focused discussion in 2016.
• Hosting a workshop led by several local government sustainability directors at the 2015 Annual Meeting.
• Witnessing the success of local solutions grantees who advanced the adoption of PACE ordinances in Michigan counties (and created a number of useful fact sheets); advanced renewable energy and energy efficiency for  municipalities in Illinois; and modeled a comprehensive clean energy vision for Duluth that can be replicated throughout cities in Minnesota and hopefully beyond.

Rural Caucus

Led by Stephanie Enloe, the Rural Caucus highlights from 2015 include:

• Engaging over two dozen Network members who have given their time and expertise to building momentum and capacity for the Rural Caucus.
• Identifying rural electric cooperatives as a key topic for engaging rural constituents in clean energy policy and programs. At the joint Rural Caucus and Clean Energy Working Group meeting in September, members learned about opportunities to engage co-ops, explore intersections between the work of the caucus and working group, and build relationships between Midwestern and National advocates interested in advancing clean energy in rural America.
• Hosting several webinars dedicated to member work around the Rural Energy for America Program, on-bill financing and EECLP (the USDA’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program), transmission development, and messaging to rural stakeholders.  These webinars can be located on the Rural Communities group page in the Commons.

Transportation Working Group

Led by Steve Hiniker with the support of Ashwat Narayanan, the Transportation Working Group highlights from 2015 include:

• Hosting a joint in-person meeting for the first time with Environmental Law & Policy Center’s annual Midwest transportation advocates summit. The meeting led to new collaboration, new relationships, and new RE-AMP memberships.
• Ongoing focus on inclusion, environmental justice, and equity. The working group is in the process of formally adopting equity goals through a process led by working group members.
• Hearing from several transportation experts on diverse issues including stopping highway expansion, parking policy, local advocacy for light rail, electric vehicle adoption strategies, transportation funding reform, legal strategies, and message framing.
• Assisting the Local Solutions Working Group during their development of transportation-related goals.

Youth Caucus

Don’t miss highlights from the Midwest Youth Climate Convergence captured in this video.

Led by Abby Fenton, the Youth Caucus highlights from 2015 include:

• Hosting the Midwest Youth Climate Convergence, which drew 100 of the most active youth climate leaders in the Midwest organizing around just solutions for fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment, resistance to tar sands pipeline expansion, and a just transition to a clean energy economy. Funds raised through registration and donations are currently being used to support youth work that emerged at the Convergence, including a new Midwest divestment network, tar sands organizing around the upcoming presidential debate in Milwaukee, and a solar street light installation in Highland Park, Detroit. Don’t miss the video recap here.
• Engaging over 100 high school and college students on in a youth lobby day and youth forum with Governor Dayton in coordination with the Minnesota Clean Energy & Jobs campaign. Youth advocates called for a 40% renewable energy standard in Minnesota by 2030.
• Successfully matching 22 participants through the 2014-15 Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program to share knowledge and support each other’s growth. By matching young climate leaders with veteran staff, this program aims to facilitate cross-generational learning and healthy mutual relationships that foster a more connected Network and a more effective Midwest climate movement. The 2015-16 program launched in October with 24 participants and a focus on building strong support for state tables.

Network-Wide Accomplishments

Building a strong equity framework

This year the Network took steps toward building a better equity framework for our work across the region. Members of the RE-AMP Steering Committee and staff team attended an equity training led by the BEA Initiative (Building Equity and Alignment for Impact) to deepen our common understanding of the equity implications of our work and to discuss how to begin implementing the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing, which were adopted by the Steering Committee earlier this year. We look forward to continuing this effort in 2016 with guidance from leaders within the Environmental Justice Caucus.

The Org Hub boosts our capacity for campaign excellence

Guest speaker Jeff Capella, with Resource Media, works with 2015 Campaign Excellence Conference attendees on campaign communications.

In 2015 the Organizing Hub continued its work to improve our effectiveness within advocacy campaigns by offering state-of-the-art tools, training opportunities, and capacity-building services. Notably, it hosted the first-ever communications excellence webinar series and produced the Badly Illustrated Guide to Setting Good Coalition Ground Rules, the Voter File FAQ , and Soulmates: How Secular and Faith Groups Can Go Beyond ‘Engagement’ to Become True Partners with RE-AMP Knowledge Manager Gail Francis. The Organizing Hub also brought back the Campaign Excellence Conference in addition to providing its other regular services. Stay tuned to the Organizing Hub page on the Commons for information about all the ways you can boost your own capacity for campaign excellence in 2016.

New programs increase our capacity for collaboration and strategic thinking

RE-AMP is a learning network, dedicated to creating a culture of information exchange and to providing opportunities to help members build a variety of skillsets. In 2015, we offered two programs to help increase the Network’s capacity for strategic thinking: Collaboration Muscles & Mindsets (M&M), and the RE-AMP Systems Thinking Academy. Twenty-six members participated in the M&M program, which was designed and facilitated by Eugene Eric Kim. Participants worked in pairs for sixteen weeks to develop their collaboration and leadership skills and build new habits for strategic thinking. The program’s final assessment showed that the cohort made clear progress toward adopting some of the productive mindsets we discussed at the 2015 annual meeting. Similarly, fifteen members attended the RE-AMP Academy, which was designed and facilitated by our Network Knowledge Manager Gail Francis to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of systems thinking. For three days, participants learned how to use common systems tools to explore complex situations in their own work. The cohort also worked together on a plan to improve strategic thinking across the Network. Stay tuned to the Commons for information about similar learning opportunities offered in 2016.

Midwest Energy News expands its reach—and joins the Institute for Nonprofit News

Thanks to a new grant from the MacArthur Foundation and continued leadership from Editor Ken Paulman, Midwest Energy News launched two new daily newsletters: Southeast Energy News and U.S. Energy News. We’re proud that the news site has expanded its reach across the country.

Also this year, Midwest Energy News was accepted as a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, joining 100 members like ProPublica and Mother Jones. Gaining access to this community has increased the impact of the reporting we have all come to rely on.

Powering up through bold collaboration at the 2015 Annual Meeting

Network members Susan Guy, Nachy Kanfer, Sarah Webb, and Emily Van Dunk (left to right) consider network mindsets at the 2015 Annual Meeting.

Thanks to significant support and participation from 162 individual Network members and 92 member organizations, the 2015 Annual Meeting RE-AMP Recharge: Powering Up Through Bold Collaboration was a great success. Attendees explored what it will take to become effective enough to achieve our audacious goals and worked together to:  

• Amp up state-based collaboration in order to win more;
• Align strategies to tackle game-changing opportunities across the region; and,
• Learn from each other’s experiments with bold collaboration to strengthen the Network.

Keynote speakers included Mayor George Heartwell from the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who highlighted the city’s sustainability plan, and Peter Plastrik, author of Connecting to Change the World, who drew from his experience working with networks such as the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to share inspiring examples of bold collaboration.

From plenaries to small-group breakouts, the conversations we had not only helped us understand how to make our climate advocacy efforts more impactful, but also emphasized why the network model is powerful and puts us on the cutting edge of climate action. You can find a detailed summary of the 2015 meeting on the Annual Meeting resource page, as well as links to materials, presentations, notes, and photos.

Looking ahead, please save the date for our 2016 Annual Meeting to be held in Chicago on June 27th, 28th, and 29th.

Advocates tackle utility reform at the 2015 Power Sector Meeting

Nearly 100 individual Network members from 52 member organizations attended the two-day Power Sector meeting last March in Madison, Wisconsin. Through a series of presentations attendees sought to:

• Explore strategies for increasing equity and inclusion in state compliance plans
• Set shared metrics and goals for Power Sector working groups
• Understand the regulatory frameworks that drive current utility business models
• Understand how current utility business models are being disrupted
• Understand the pathways for change and the strategies to encourage change, and
• Begin developing coordinated state strategies to drive further change

The group made headway on all of the above through panel discussions, small-group breakouts, and some highly entertaining skits courtesy of Coal Working Group Leader Nachy Kanfer. Takeaways from each of these discussions, notes, and slide decks are available on the Power Sector page, where you will soon be able to find information about the 2016 Power Sector meeting.

40 Under 40 Recipients accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy

In coordination with its fifth anniversary, Midwest Energy News announced the 40 Under 40 award program to highlight emerging leaders throughout the region and their work to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy. Recipients were chosen from more than 250 nominations. See the award results here and note the individual Network members who were honored with the award: Kimberly Loewen, Sarah Wochos, John Farrell, Nicole Rom, Michelle Rosier, Tyler Huebner, and Nick Hylla. On behalf of the entire Network, we offer you many congratulations!

RE-AMP unveils a new dashboard to track progress against our goals

In late 2015 staff launched the new RE-AMP Dashboard, a tool that provides high-level metrics related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to the value propositions of the Network. Specifically, the dashboard tracks our progress toward achieving our goal of reducing GHG emissions 80% economy-wide by 2050, and it contains charts that show key indicators such as fuel sources for electric generation and vehicle miles traveled. It also shows how we are doing in terms of member participation in our working groups and caucuses, and how the funds available to members through the Global Warming Strategic Action Fund have been allocated in recent years. The data will be updated quarterly. For questions related to the dashboard, you can contact Knowledge Manager Gail Francis at gail@reamp.org.

Clean energy is a reality—and in 2015, we started talking about it

In 2014 and 2015, the Network invested in candidate education work that not only included public opinion research, but also the development of a clean energy message frame for the RE-AMP region in partnership with Climate Access. Over the last year, Climate Access Executive Director Cara Pike tailored the message frame by state and by issue area, and she joined working group calls to present her recommendations. Webinar recordings and slide decks from those trainings are available, and tip sheets have recently been created. You can find all of these resources on the Clean Energy Message Frame resource page on the Commons.

New photo archive provides access to hundreds of clean energy images

Through RE-AMP, members have free access to a variety of communications services, and in 2015 the Network negotiated a new license with photographer Dennis Schwartz for his clean energy images. Dennis has agreed to make hundreds of photos available for free to all Network member organizations for any non-commercial use as long as he is credited. Find out how to access the archive on the Photos resource page on the Commons, and for more information watch this short webinar recording.

New eBook Empowered shows how three cities take charge of their energy future

This fall we celebrated the release of a new Midwest Energy News e-book called Empowered: A Tale of Three Cities Taking Charge of Their Energy Future, by Bentham Paulos. Empowered describes how city officials and activists in Boulder, Minneapolis, and Madison are harnessing the opportunity of new technology, consumer empowerment, and the imperative to reduce emissions that cause global warming and are fighting back against entrenched utilities. Download your copy today to find out how these cities are taking charge of their energy future.

When you’re downloading Empowered, don’t forget that Closing the Cloud Factories, the first e-book published by Midwest Energy News, is now available in English and Spanish. The book chronicles the closure of Chicago’s Fisk and Crawford power plants, a groundbreaking victory in the environmental and social justice movements.

Members share new resources for strategic climate action

In 2015 Network members shared a wealth of resources across the Commons, from tools related to the Clean Power Plan to communications research to legal analysis of solar regulations and more. You can find them all in the 2015 Compendium of Resources. If you have any resources to contribute, simply add a comment to the file so everyone can see it. The Network is at its best when members share resources, learnings, insights, and more—and we hope you continue doing so in 2016!

Inside Philanthropy features RE-AMP funders for moving the needle in the Midwest

A recent article from Inside Philanthropy features Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Garfield Foundation for moving the needle on the climate fight in the Midwest region through their support of the RE-AMP Network.

RE-AMP Steering Committee establishes new approach to grantmaking

Historically, RE-AMP’s Global Warming Strategic Action Fund (Action Fund for short) supported the most promising opportunities for carbon emissions reductions in any given year through a process called Primetime. In 2015 the RE-AMP Steering Committee underwent an intensive assessment process to clarify its funding theory and define the purpose of the Action Fund.

The Action Fund is now focused on building the capacity of state tables to collaborate and build power in a more strategic and impactful manner and funding strategic opportunities for more immediate wins. Through this new approach, RE-AMP will be both a patient funder of building powerful collaborative capacity and a fast funder of opportunistic work. We believe that the Midwest climate and energy movement demands both.

For additional information about the new regranting approach, you can refer to the Global Warming Strategic Action Fund page on the Commons.

RE-AMP welcomes 18 new member organizations

Uzma Noormohamed (left) of the Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation, a new member organization as of 2014, and Ruth Johnson (right) of Transportation Riders United, a new member organization as of 2015, at this year’s annual meeting.

Over the last year, the RE-AMP Steering Committee and staff welcomed eighteen new member organizations, many of which have already become highly involved in Network activities. As we kick of another year of working group calls and in-person meetings, we encourage you to help us extend a warm welcome to the following groups and make an effort to introduce yourself. To the eighteen new members, welcome! We’re delighted to have you onboard.

As You Sow: Promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.

Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP): Advancing cost-effective and pragmatic air quality and climate policy through analysis, dialogue and education to reach a broad range of policy-makers and stakeholders worldwide.

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI): Promoting environmentally sustainable societies.

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA): Advocating and promoting policies, technologies, and practices that are environmentally and economically sustainable while partnering with key stakeholders to connect business, government, and communities to increase use of renewable energy technologies.

Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA): Promoting the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of education and advocacy.

iMatter: Elevating youth opinion and empowering youth to demand action that ends the climate crisis.

MI Air MI Health: Ensuring healthy air for all Michigan communities by assessing the health effects of air quality and advocating for the development, implementation, and enforcement of policies to address these issues, recognizing that clean air contributes to a healthy economy.

Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH): Addressing justice issues which impact our congregations and the community in which we live.  

National Audubon Society in Ohio: Conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

People for Community Recovery: Enhancing the quality of life for residents of polluted communities on the south side of Chicago.

RePower Madison: Transforming Madison into a national leader in clean energy with fair and affordable energy bills.

Science & Environmental Health Network (SEHN): Changing the “rules of the game” in science, medicine, and the law, so that future generations have the opportunity to inherit a livable planet.

Soulardarity: Building energy democracy in Highland Park, MI and its neighboring communities through community-based education, community organizing, and community-driven development of clean energy infrastructure.

Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office (SEMREO): Uniting cities around sustainable energy outcomes. 

Transportation for Michigan (Trans4M): Creating a stronger Michigan through transportation policy reform that will revitalize Michigan’s cities and towns, reconnect its people to opportunity, and spark a healthier economy.

Transportation Riders United (TRU): Improving and promoting public transit throughout Greater Detroit, as part of a balanced transportation network, in order to: restore urban vitality; ensure transportation equity; and improve quality of life.

U.S. PIRG Education Fund: Conducting research and public education on behalf of consumers and the public interest.

We Own It: Catalyzing citizen action for democracy, participation, and excellence in cooperatives, through member education and organizing.

New staff help RE-AMP ramp up

In 2015, the RE-AMP Steering Committee welcomed four new members to the staff team.

Sarah Webb now supports the Faith Caucus and brings years of experience with Iowa Interfaith Power & Light to the role. Before starting her position with RE-AMP, Sarah designed and ran the Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations program at over 400 congregations in Iowa and fifteen other states.

Katya Szabados now serves as our Local Solutions Working Group and also as outreach specialist at longtime member organization COWS. Katya previously worked for the Wisconsin State Environmental Research Center and served on a Greater Wisconsin Committee as an advocate for progressive public policy in Wisconsin.

Mara Herman joins the RE-AMP staff team as the Global Warming Solutions Working Group Associate after earning her Masters in Public Health and from Michigan State University. She has also worked as a research assistant for Michigan State University’s College of Nursing, promoting active and healthy lifestyles to adolescents statewide.

Brittany Anstead is now coordinating our Environmental Justice Caucus and also serves as the East Michigan Environmental Action Council’s Climate Justice Coordinator. She recently completed her Masters of Science in Natural Resources and Environment and previously worked on tribal energy issues at the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy.

The RE-AMP Steering Committee and staff are thrilled to welcome Sarah, Katya, and Brittany to the team and look forward to working with them throughout the year ahead!

New voices join the RE-AMP Steering Committee

Thanks again to all of you who voted in the RE-AMP Steering Committee elections in early March 2015. With 93 member organizations voting—76% of the voting membership—Network members demonstrated strong participation and engagement. Based on 2015 election results, recent changes, and appointments the new steering committee members include: Charles Griffith, Satya Rhodes Conway, Susan Guy, and Antonio Lopez. A full list of current steering committee members can be found on the Staff & Steering Committee page on the Commons.   The next round of Steering Committee elections will take place in mid-2016, around the time of the Annual Meeting.  There will be elections for one at-large member and a few WG leaders.  More information will be available closer to the election, probably in May or early June.

Commons improvements help us make meaningful online connections

In response to your requests, this year we added a “personal statement” field to Commons profile pages. You can use the personal statement to share information about a current project or passion, to describe expertise you can offer to other Network members, or to simply share something about your work experience. We invite you to be creative!

More importantly, please take two minutes to complete your Commons profile right now. You can do so by hovering your cursor over your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen and clicking on “Edit My Profile.” Doing so will significantly increase our ability to communicate across the Network.

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With another year of strategic climate action behind us 2016 holds significant promise for building a broader and even more effective climate movement in the Midwest—and we feel honored to continue collaborating with you. As always, you can contact the RE-AMP Community Manager, Jessica Conrad, at jessica@reamp.org for suggestions on how to get engaged.