City Climate Corner explores how small and mid-sized cities are tackling climate change and moving toward an equitable and sustainable future.
Co-hosted by Abby Finis and Larry Kraft
Click here to see the map where episodes have happened with local elected officials.
Episodes:
Crookston MN: Rural community energy transition
Crookston is a 7000+ person community in the northwest corner of Minnesota that has big ambitions to improve the life of its residents by leveraging the clean energy transition. We interview City Council Member Tim Lenard, Exec….
October 22nd, 2024 | 54:30 | E69
Equity in Energy
The negative impacts of the fossil-fuel based energy system and policies have disproportionately harmed and burdened low-income and BIPOC communities. As we transition to a clean energy economy, how do we make sure that what we…
September 13th, 2024 | 51:59 | E68
Youngstown OH: Electric bike share
YoGo BikeShare is launching a new e-bike micro-mobility platform in Youngstown, a city of about 60,000 in population. We interview YoGo President Ronnel Elkins and VP of Operations Corey Patrick, and learn about their vision, th…
June 4th, 2024 | 47:32 | E67
Maine: Heat Pumps Everywhere!
There’s a heat pump revolution happening in Maine. Already over 100,000 of the 600,000 homes in Maine have heat pumps, and their plan is to be over 300,000 by 2027. One out of every 14 heat pumps in the U.S. is going to Maine, …
MAY 7TH, 2024 | 52:29 | E66
Lincoln NE: Comprehensive Climate Action in the Heartland
Lincoln Nebraska may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of climate action, but maybe it should be. We interview Kim Morrow, Chief Sustainability Officer for Lincoln, about some exciting city programs, includ…
APRIL 4TH, 2024 | 45:55 | E65
Geothermal power & groundwater
There’s a lot of exciting things happening in the world of geothermal power. We explore geothermal in general and examine a novel approach leveraging groundwater to substantially reduce the footprint needed. We interview Darcy S…
MARCH 5TH, 2024 | 39:46 | E64
2023 Year in Review
Abby, Larry, and Isaiah review 2023 and talk about what’s coming in 2024.
JANUARY 31ST, 2024 | 19:03 | E63
Duluth MN: Cold Climate Action
On the shores of Lake Superior, Duluth has received publicity as a “climate proof city” though faces distinct challenges with its cold weather climate. With grants, they are pursuing exciting approaches to creating a geothermal…
DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 | 43:23 | E62
LaGrange GA: Attacking energy burden with SOUL
Groundswell’s exciting SOUL (Save On Utilities Long term) program is rolling out right now in LaGrange, GA. SOUL is a Pay As You Save model that reduces utility bills by improving home energy efficiency, without upfront costs. I…
DECEMBER 5TH, 2023 | 44:28 | E61
Morris MN: A Climate Smart Municipality
Morris is a small community in conservative western Minnesota that is doing groundbreaking sustainability work. Inspired by students at the University of MN Morris and a partnership with Saerbeck Germany as part of a unique “Cli…
OCTOBER 25TH, 2023 | 47:36 | E60
Boulder County CO: Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture can improve soil health and water quality, sequester carbon, and increase farmer profits. It has become a key part of Boulder County’s climate action. We interview Natural Capitalism Solutions President…
OCTOBER 3RD, 2023 | 01:01:13 | E59
Organizing Local Elected Officials
Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) empowers local elected officials and civic leaders to fight the climate crisis, with a special focus on lawmakers who are veterans. With leaders from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, EOP…
SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 | 51:15 | E58
Saerbeck Germany: Climate Community
Larry recently visited Saerbeck, a village in northwest Germany that has done incredible things with renewable energy, biogas, and now green hydrogen. We interview Martin Sammler, Manager of Saerbeck’s Climate Action Department,…
AUGUST 29TH, 2023 | 38:22 | E57
Wellness
With this summer of one climate disaster after another, Abby and Larry talk about how they deal with the depressing parts of climate change work, and especially, what gives them hope.
AUGUST 16TH, 2023 | 21:23 | E56
Santa Monica CA: 3D Printed Bike Lanes
More and more we’re learning that protected bike lanes with physical separation from car traffic are the best at changing behavior and getting a lot more people to cycle. But they can be time consuming to construct. We interview…
AUGUST 2ND, 2023 | 45:27 | E55
Hopkins MN: Urban heat island
Though Hopkins is one of the smaller Minneapolis suburbs, it packs a big punch on climate action. We dig into two really innovative programs they’re doing on reducing the urban heat island effect and speeding deployment of clean…
JULY 19TH, 2023 | 49:32 | E54
Transportation Emissions and VMT
Transportation is now the #1 source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. While electrification is the most obvious emissions reduction strategy, it isn’t enough. We must reduce VMT, or vehicle miles travelled. We interview Ann…
JULY 5TH, 2023 | 39:17 | E53
Transformation in Minnesota
Minnesota recently finished a state legislative session for the ages. Democratic control of state government for the first time in a decade, combined with a historic budget surplus, led to the adoption of transformative investme…
JUNE 1ST, 2023 | 30:26 | E52
St Cloud MN: 100% Renewable for City Ops (& beyond)
In 2015 St. Cloud MN set a goal to get 75% of municipal operations electricity from renewable energy by 2035. Only five years later in 2020, emanating from work at their wastewater facility, they actually hit 100%. We interview…
MAY 18TH, 2023 | 50:48 | E51
Ann Arbor MI: Innovation in action
We revisit Ann Arbor, Michigan and their dynamic Sustainability & Innovations Director Missy Stults, to check in on their audacious plan to reach net zero by 2030. They are pushing the envelope in so many ways, from their taxpay…
MAY 3RD, 2023 | 40:31 | E50
Boise ID: Geothermal
We’re back to Boise Idaho to hear about the nation’s largest geothermal energy system and the big role it plays in heating the city. We again interview Director of Public Works, Steve Burgos, and Communications Manager Natalie M…
APRIL 18TH, 2023 | 41:08 | E49
Santa Fe County, NM: Conserve 30 percent by 2030
In December 2020 Santa Fe County adopted a resolution to conserve 30% of its land and water by 2030. We interview County Sustainability Manager Jacqueline Beam to understand how the resolution happened, what it means, and how it…
MARCH 21ST, 2023 | 41:15 | E48
2022 – Year in review
Abby and Larry review some of their highlights from the year’s episodes and share some big news about the podcast.
DECEMBER 27TH, 2022 | 13:46 | E47
Boise ID: Water Renewal in the High Desert
As Boise is in the high desert, water is increasingly a precious resource. In 2021 Boise voters approved a 20-year $570M bond for water renewal, including a major focus on recycling wastewater. We interview Director of Public Wo…
DECEMBER 13TH, 2022 | 50:40 | E46
Red Lake Nation and the Solar Bear
Solar energy’s direct benefits are well known. But Bob Blake, CEO of solar installation company Solar Bear, and Executive Director of Native Sun Community Power Development, has a much more expansive vision for the Red Lake Nati…
NOVEMBER 29TH, 2022 | 39:36 | E45
Freiburg: Green City
Beautiful urban forest — abundant green spaces — easy to get around without a car — and a commitment to climate protection. Freiburg seems to have it all. We interview Freiburg City Council Member Sophie Schwer and learn how…
NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022 | 46:39 | E44
The Inflation Reduction Act and Cities
The Inflation Reduction Act is a monumental and transformative piece of legislation. For the first time the federal government has passed a law that “meets the moment” and puts us within striking distance of reaching critical climate goals. We interview Dr. Pete Wyckoff, Sr. Policy Advisor for Climate Energy and the Environment in the Office of Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, one of the key legislative leaders on climate policy, to learn about how this legislation happened, and what’s in it for cities.
Resources
- National League of Cities information on IRA
- National Association of Counties Legislative Analysis of the IRA
- BlueGreen Alliance: A User Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act
- Fossil fuels and Inflation – Vox article
NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022 | 51:31 | E43
Heidelberg: Carbon Neutral District
Heidelberg is nearing completion of the Bahnstadt, one of the world’s largest carbon neutral districts. Built on a former brownfield site, this development includes passive-house construction, a combined heat and power station w…
OCTOBER 18TH, 2022 | 36:24 | E42
Solar United Neighbors: Solar “co-ops”
Will rooftop solar be the cornerstone of a modern clean energy system? We interview Anya Schoolman, executive director of Solar United Neighbors and learn how this growing organization is helping neighborhoods go solar around th…
OCTOBER 4TH, 2022 | 40:20 | E41
Rotterdam: Climate proofing a city
Rotterdam, and The Netherlands in general, have a long history of fighting water. But how are they adapting to climate change where they can have both too much and too little water? We interview Johan Verlinde, Program Manager f…
SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2022 | 40:50 | E40
Zoning for Solar
How do you make sure your city’s zoning isn’t unintentionally slowing down residential solar and ideally encouraging equitable solar development? And for communities with farmland or less developed areas, how do you proactively…
SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2022 | 43:38 | E39
Europe Cities Overview with ICLEI Europe
Building off of Abby’s recent sustainability tour of several European cities, we interview Holger Robrecht, Deputy Regional Director of Sustainable Resources, Climate and Resilience for ICLEI Europe. We learn some similarities a…
AUGUST 23RD, 2022 | 37:13 | E38
Making Solar Easy: Solsmart and IREC
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, right? Well, maybe there is in solar. Cities participating in the free Solsmart program have been shown to have almost 20% more solar installations than cities that don’t. We interview Ther…
AUGUST 9TH, 2022 | 35:48 | E37
Flagstaff AZ: The Case for Carbon Dioxide Removal
Driven by community members, in 2020 Flagstaff declared a climate emergency and adopted an aggressive goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. We interview Flagstaff Climate Analyst Ramon Alatorre and learn how that goal led the city…
JULY 26TH, 2022 | 40:22 | E36
Winneshiek IA: Local Clean Energy Superpower
You wouldn’t expect a clean energy revolution to be emanating from a small county in northeastern Iowa. Yet, Winneshiek County has something like 10X the solar per capita deployments compared to the rest of Iowa, has one of the…
JULY 12TH, 2022 | 48:46 | E35
Rerelease of Tempe AZ: Resilience to Extreme Heat
We’re on a mid-summer break, and are re-releasing the Tempe AZ episode from a few months ago, in recognition of the extreme heat being seen in many parts of the US. We’ll be back with new content next week. Extreme heat is now…
JULY 5TH, 2022 | 44:49 | E34
Fort Collins CO: People-Centered Climate Action
Having met their initial goal of 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (from a 2005 baseline), officials in Fort Collins, Colorado, realized they needed to do something transformational to hit their next goal of 80%…
JUNE 21ST, 2022 | 42:36 | E33
City Climate Corner goes to Europe – preview
Larry interviews Abby about her trip to Europe that is happening as the episode releases. We talk about what she hopes to learn from visits with officials in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Bremen, Heidelberg, and Freiburg in Germ…
MAY 24TH, 2022 | 15:25 | E31
Contra Costa CA: SMART Housing & Conservative City Climate Progress
Though near the Bay Area, Contra Costa County has very different political dynamics when it comes to climate change. And yet a group of organizations are collaborating to get climate action language into cities’ general plans an…
MAY 10TH, 2022 | 36:15 | E30
Indigenous Climate Leadership: Quinault Nation & The National Congress of American Indians
The Quinault Nation is on the front line of impacts from climate change, having experienced a dramatic drop in their blueback salmon fishery, as well as rising sea levels forcing the relocation of one of their two main villages. We interview Fawn Sharp, the Vice-President and former President of the Quinault Nation in Taholah Washington, and the 23rd President of The National Congress of American Indians. We hear her story of how local impacts have driven her to lead state, national, and international action on climate change.
Resources
- Quinault Nation website
- Taholah Village Relocation Master Plan
- National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) website
- NCAI Climate Action Task Force
- Washington Climate Commitment Act
APRIL 26TH, 2022 | 36:56 | E29
Microgrids: Fremont and Menlo Park CA
What are microgrids and how can they save money, reduce air pollution and provide carbon-free power and backup power? We interview Rachel DiFranco, Fremont’s Sustainability Manager about the trail they blazed five years ago when they installed microgrids on three fire stations. And we’re joined by Menlo Park Council Member Cecilia Taylor and Menlo Spark Executive Director Diane Bailey, to talk about how they are integrating a microgrid into the rebuild of a Menlo Park community center.
APRIL 12TH, 2022 | 43:35 | E28
Tempe AZ: Resilience to Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is now commonplace in Tempe, with 100 days per year over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 days a year over 110. And those numbers are increasing. We interview Dr. Braden Kay, Tempe’s Director of Sustainability, to learn how Tempe’s is adapting while trying to change its built environment to reduce the urban heat island effect.
MARCH 29TH, 2022 | 44:05 | E27
The Importance of Storytelling
Climate change discussion is often filled with science, data, and graphs. But to move people, organizations, and governments to action requires emotional connections and empathy. It requires storytelling. We interview Jothsna Harris, founder of Change Narrative, who is dedicated to building capacity in the climate justice movement through the power of stories. Please listen here.
MARCH 15TH, 2022 | 39:33 | E26
Honolulu and Maui sue Big Oil
In March, 2020, inspired by a small city in California, Honolulu sued 8 oil companies for their role in causing local climate change damages. A few months later Maui County did the same. We interview some of the key people involved to learn how it happened, why they did it, and what they expect to gain from it. Our guests are the former Mayor of Honolulu, Kirk Caldwell, Maui County Council Member Kelly Takaya King, and Alyssa Johl, Legal Director for the Center for Climate Integrity.. Please listen here.
MARCH 1ST, 2022 | 47:38 | E25
Keene NH: Small City, Big Climate Punch
Keene, population 23K, has been leading on climate action for over two decades. While their first formal action was in 2000, they’ve since done a Climate Action Plan, Climate Adaptation Plan, and now a Sustainable Energy Plan. We interview Mayor George Hansel and Planner Mari Brunner, to learn about the powerful alliance of citizens, elected officials, and staff that has pushed Keene forward. Please listen here.
FEBRUARY 15TH, 2022 | 39:33 | E24
Columbia MO: One Stop Shop City
Columbia Missouri is a “One Stop Shop” city, with their own utilities in electricity, water, solid waste, stormwater, and sewer. We interview Office of Sustainability Manager Eric Hempel and explore how their electric utility is an integral part of Columbia’s climate goals. We also learn about a Habitat for Humanity net zero home project that has had a wide-ranging impact. Plus, hear from Larry about 15+ MN cities declaring a climate emergency at the same time. Please listen here.
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022 | 37:36 | E23
ICLEI and the Race to Zero (Carbon)
ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, has been helping local governments with climate action for three decades. Learn how they’re evolving with some exciting new tools, cohorts, and programs. And hear how the Race to Zero is showing cities that it’s possible to cut carbon emissions 60% in 8 years. We interview Executive Director Angie Fyfe, Sr. Program Officer Kale Roberts, and Zero Carbon Cities Advisor Josh Radoff.
JANUARY 19TH, 2022 | 44:50 | E22
For 2021 Climate Corner Podcasts please go HERE
