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Username
Lisa Dobbs
Proposer First Name
Lisa
Proposer Email
ldobbs@masscec.com
Proposer Last Name
Dobbs
Proposer Company/Organization
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
Proposer Job Title
Program Manager
Proposed Session Description
Microgrids can offer a solution for building equitable climate resilience, if the design and deployment of the technology centers the communities most vulnerable to climate change.This panel will discuss innovative microgrid projects in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood and the City of Chelsea.These cloud-based microgrids were developed with meaningful community engagement & education, including addressing language barriers & building trust.Both projects are structured to allow community ownership
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Yes
Learning Objectives
Explore microgrids and virtual microgrids & the related clean energy landscape
Discuss the status of each project
Identify successful education, engagement, and empowerment strategies
Discuss potential for scalability for this innovative model
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
not that I'm aware of
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Presentation followed by facilitated discussion or breakout groups
Session Format Details
Presentation on the concept and projects, followed by Q&A or facilitated discussion

Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023

Comments about your speaker roster
The remainder of the speakers will need to be confirmed. We are proposing: Sarah Cullinan/Lisa Dobbs, MassCEC Elena Gonzalez, Climable Technical Director & RUN-GJC Coalition Partner Community representative from Chinatown or Chelsea - TBD
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
These projects are being highlighted in the NESEA magazine soon, so that can serve to spur interest building towards this session. and by this date there should be significant updates to the status of both of these projects so the presentation is expected to be exciting, compelling and informative.
Reviewer 1
Stuart, Stephen
Reviewer 2
Stuart, Stephen
Proposal #
228
Committee Decision
Being Considered

Presenters

Full Description
As the threat of climate change worsens, it will increasingly and disproportionately impact frontline communities such as low-income communities and communities of color. And as such the need for increased resilience for these communities is critical. Since there has been a recent push for deeper engagement with community-based organizations on the part of entities like state energy agencies to even out the distribution of benefits from resilience building, it is a good time to continue to catalyze this effort. This panel will explore the cloud-based/virtual microgrid concept and how it is being practically applied in two environmental justice communities in Massachusetts. These among the types of solutions that need to be scaled in order to increase opportunities for resiliency and achieve an equitable clean energy transition.