Community Solar and Energy Financing for a Just Transition

Presenter Information

Lynn Benander, Co-op Power
Ernesto Cruz, Co-op Power
Summer Sandoval, UPROSE

Location

Campus Center, Smith College

Start Date

5-10-2019 1:50 PM

End Date

5-10-2019 2:30 PM

Description

The climate crisis is here and calls for dramatic changes in our energy systems. Learn how tax equity flip model can support the development of community-owned solar energy, equity, and social resilience.

Comments

Lynn Benander is a community entrepreneur. She has managed Co-op Power since 2006 and previously managed the Cooperative Development Institute. She is focusing now on building community ownership of sustainable energy resources to create a more just and sustainable future. She partnered with Smith College to build a unique financing model that allows limited resources communities to own their own solar and she's supporting solar projects across the country. She has worked for many years to support the development of consumer, producer, worker-owned and other locally-owned businesses that meet basic needs for energy, food, and shelter.

Ernesto Cruz is a grassroots community organizer from Springfield, MA who has also worked in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a legislative aide.Through volunteering with local campaigns and organizations he learned about the needs of the community where he lived. He was advocating for democratic representation on local issues like climate change, police oversight and participatory budgeting in between taking on staff roles in local, state and federal elections. He is currently focused on community organizing and economic development at Co-op Power, helping to get more people involved in the process of building and owning clean community owned energy systems. He believes that engaging communities in economic development for renewable energy is the path towards a more equitable and sustainable environment for all.

Summer Sandoval is the Energy Democracy Coordinator at UPROSE, a community-based organization based in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. In this role, Summer support the organization’s renewable energy developments. Summer is passionate about equitable renewable energy solutions that support a Just Transition. Summer has a bachelor's in Environmental Science from New York University and a Master's of Science in Sustainable Environmental Systems at Pratt Institute.