In day two of the of the RECESS conference in Detroit, presented by Walker-Miller Energy Services, one of the largest African American and woman-owned energy efficiency companies in the country, and Real Times Media, a leading producer of news and programming for Black audiences, partnered to organize the Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit (RECESS23).
Monday marked the launch of the three-day conference, RECESS23 inaugural event, aimed to increase equitable access and resources for Black and Brown leaders in the clean energy industry.
RECESS23, subtitled the “Black and Brown Clean Energy Conference,” provided a unique platform for engagement, bringing together global thought leaders, policymakers, and disruptors in the field. The summit shed light on the crucial relationship between clean energy and social equity, while showcasing educational, career, and entrepreneurial opportunities for historically underserved communities.
Mayor Mike Duggan delivered the keynote address, Tuesday, on a segment focused on Powering the Path to a Decarbonized Detroit.
“We’re trying to build a different kind of city,” Mayor Duggan said. “A city where the people in the neighborhoods drive their own future. Where the neighbors get the jobs and make the environment a little bit better for the world.”
Mayor Duggan laid out his plan to convert Detroit’s municipal buildings completely to solar power as part of the city’s efforts to fight climate change. City government seeks to take 250 acres of solar panels across the city neighborhoods and with input for solar companies and residents. A decision could be made this fall.
In 2016, the City of Detroit became a national leader in urban solar power when it built a 10-acre solar site in the abandoned O’Shea Park at I-96 and Greenfield. Other portions of the park was renovated into a neighborhood playground.
The new solar power plan seeks to take lessons learned in 2016 and make Detroit again a leader in this space of clean energy power.
“This really is a resurgent and resilient city,” said Michael Nutter Former mayor, City of Philadelphia, in a panel discussion on Driving Equity in Decarbonizing Cities.
“There is so much innovation happening here, people across the nation are taking a second look at Detroit.” Nutter said.
Detroit is seen to be in a great geographical location and built with the labor skill and infrastructure of knowing how to transition and make things, a key recipe and focus on conversation in the clean energy space and the need for it to be an inclusive one.
“At the beginning of the pandemic we saw the automakers transition from building cars to building ventilators and saving lives,” said Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer, Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.
“I didn’t see that happening from any other state, so the talent that is here to build not just cars and trucks, but to build many things, you have the smartest minds to get that done here.”
Johnson touted Michigan’s access and proximity to fresh water, and testing around hydrogen, air quality, water quality and potential international partnerships with Canada added benefits to rally innovation in the decarbonization and renewable energy space.
Additional summit programs and discussions included a panel discussion on Radical Collaboration Across Divides with panelists Regina Strong, EJ Public Advocative, EGLE, Joi Harris, COO, DTE and Tremaine Phillips, Former. Commissioner, Third Coast Strategies
Other sessions included Empowering Entrepreneurs: Driving Inclusive Growth featuring panelists, Brett Issac, Founder & Chairman, Navajo Power, Laura Zapata, CEO & Co-Founder, Clearloop, Darren Riley, CEO, Just Air, and Kameale Terry, CEO, ChargerHelp!
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