Metropolitan Energy Center

1 Complete the Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment survey (available in English and Spanish). Each respondent who provides an email address will be entered in a drawing for a VISA gift card. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasHousing 2 Participate in a regional listening session. The final session of the listening tour will take place online and in person this Thursday, May 27 in Colby. 3 Visit the Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment webpage to learn more and spread the word. https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-statewide-housing-needs-a/ https://kansasreflector.com//how-every-kansan-can-help-so/

This summer Green Works in Kansas City is hosting an ECO Career Explorer Camp for urban middle school students. The program will be held at the Gorman Discovery Center at 47th and Troost, June 14-18. Visit their website to register today: https://www.greenworkskc.org/camp/

Attention residents who are passionate about climate action and want a resilient, equity-focused future for Kansas City! The KCMO Office of Environmental Quality is looking for two community organizers and an intern to support the development of the City's Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan through community engagement and empowerment. The positions are funded and locally hosted by the Office of Environmental Quality with physical office space at City Hall and flex...ible, remote work options. Visit the City’s Climate Consultant’s website for additional information and to apply by Wednesday, May 26: www.brendlegroup.com/open-positions/

There's still time to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Assistance (EA) Program! One-time primary heating bill payments are extended through May 31, 2021. For more information visit: https://mydss.mo.gov/energy-assistance Income requirements have been updated so you may be eligible now if you weren't in the past. In addition to income requirements, to qualify for LIHEAP you must:... Be responsible for paying home heating costs Have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, retirement accounts, or investments All household members must be a U.S. citizen or legally admitted for permanent residence

This past Thursday, MEC and 24/7 Travel Stores celebrated Kansas's first independently-owned DC Fast Charger in McPherson! MEC was able to secure funding for the new 100 kW EV infrastructure at the 24/7 Travel Stores fueling station. This station is key into filling in the EV infrastructure gap along the I-135 between I-35 and I-70! Congratulations to 24/7 Travel Stores! 24/7 Travel Stores

24-7 Travel Stores and Metropolitan Energy Center is proud to announce the installation of two retail DC fast chargers at their McPherson, Kansas location! The public is encouraged to join the ribbon cutting event on Thurs, May 6 at 1PM at 2203 East Kansas Ave, McPherson, Kansas.

Did you know that Evergy & Spire offer residential customers (homeowners and renters) in Missouri FREE energy-efficient upgrades to their homes? Join us this Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10:00 AM to learn about their Energy Savings Kit and other easy ways to save this winter season.

Over the past few months, Mid-America Regional Council & Climate Action KC have worked to develop a set of goals and actions that comprise the Climate Action Plan. During the month of November, community members are invited to provide feedback on these goals and actions before they are included in the final plan. There are several ways to provide your feedback: 1 Join a Zoom discussion (November 12-20) that works best with your calendar. Sign up for a discussion here: htt...ps://www.marc2.org/iEBMS/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx 2 Request a special meeting. For organizations or groups that would like to share their feedback in a separate online meeting email [email protected]. 3 Provide feedback on Mindmixer and see what others are saying. Sign in or sign up at climateactionkc.mindmixer.com. 4 Send an email to [email protected] with your feedback. Action plan documents and resources will be posted at marc.org/climateaction on November 9th. The Climate Action Plan Team will also set up special targeted meetings with equity stakeholders and sector experts in November.

Happy Weatherization (and National Candy Corn ) Day! The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces energy costs for households (homeowners and renters) by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. The past four decades WAP has helped lower home energy costs for more than seven million families and provided training and resources to states across the country to develop a skilled weatherization workforce. ... Visit the Kansas or Missouri WAP webpage to find contact information for the WAP provider in your region: Kansas: https://kshousingcorp.org/homeow/weatherization-assistance/ Missouri: https://energy.mo.gov/assistance-progra/liwap/service-areas

Who knew!? https://www.greencarreports.com//1130072_the-hummer-ev-isn

https://www.kansas.com///agriculture/article246553793.html

Did you know that several MEC staff members moonlight as professional bloggers? If you haven’t already, check out MEC’s blog where staff members regularly cover topics ranging from advice for purchasing an electric vehicle to the benefits of energy efficiency in schools. In our latest blog series, Energy Myths, David Albrecht, MEC staff member and Clean Cities Coordinator, helps readers get a better handle on the sources of energy in the U.S. and understand how it impacts our daily lives. https://buff.ly/2Tk4T97

Check out the Kansas Energy Program’s K-12 Energy Benchmarking Program, a no-cost, real-life, interactive STEM project, adaptable for students at any grade level. Visit the Kansas Energy Program's website for more information: https://kansasenergyprogram.org/k12benchmarking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXP8N3J7wyo&feature=youtu.be

Join the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities & St. Louis Regional Clean Cities coalitions for their Autogas Answers webinar on Oct. 20 at 10:30am CST. Fleet managers, government officials, environmental representatives, and propane industry experts will discuss how this domestic fuel can lower your fuel costs and reduce your carbon emissions immediately. Register today: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_B5jIqGjxSKGocZUoPkteqg

Happy National Energy Efficiency Day! Thank you for joining MEC the past few days to learn how we can save money, cut pollution, and create jobs. We would also like to thank the U.S. Senate and the below Kansas and Missouri communities for proclaiming October 7 as Energy Efficiency Day. This is a crucial step as we work as a region towards a brighter, cleaner, and healthier future for all. #EEDay2020 Kansas.gov - Kansas Government & Governor Laura Kelly... Kansas City Kansas Unified Government & Mayor David Alvey City of Roeland Park, KS & Mayor Mike Kelly City of Overland Park, Kansas Government & Mayor Carl Gerlach City of Kansas City, Mo. Government & Mayor Quinton Lucas MEC realizes this is only the beginning and for a more just world, we need to be the connection between potential and action - ensuring sustainable energy use and clean air are not reserved for a select few, but are commonplace.

The benefits of energy efficiency are undeniable it saves money, creates jobs, and can cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. However, as the country moves to a cleaner, more efficient energy system, renters and struggling families that live in older, less efficient homes often do not have access to lifesaving and cost-saving programs. Fortunately, cities and states across the U.S. are taking steps to address energy inequity through community-based, targeted effort...s to meet the needs of their residents but more work needs to be done. The below resources detail how policymakers can design programs and incentives to achieve equity through energy efficiency. #EEDay2020 This prof is shedding light on energy injustice and how to fix it: https://grist.org//this-prof-is-shedding-light-on-energy/ Maximizing impact of energy affordability assistance programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umLInODP1dg Combining Energy + Health Upgrades in Multifamily Housing: https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov//combinin Renew Missouri webinar, Maximizing Your Health Indoors: https://us02web.zoom.us//6ZQldO2qrjo3T4WSuASDA_J8W465KKysg EPA Resources for Creating Healthy, Sustainable, and Equitable Communities: https://www.epa.gov//resources-creating-healthy-sustainabl

Energy Efficiency Day is hosting a virtual roundtable, Energy Efficiency in the Time of COVID-19: How It Supports Recovery, this Wednesday, Oct. 7. Experts and policy leaders will highlight the benefits of energy efficiency, including how the sector can help put people back to work, drive economic recovery, reduce pollution, and alleviate the energy burdens of those most affected by the COVID-19 recession. The panel will also take audience questions. #EEDay2020 Register today: https://register.gotowebinar.com/regist/4622551802118238990

Energy efficiency not only saves money and cuts emissions, but historically, it has been a job-creation powerhouse. It employs more Americans than the entire fossil fuel industry in 41 states (including Kansas & Missouri) and the District of Columbia, and twice as many nationwide. By ramping up our efficiency efforts, we can sustain and create more quality, local jobs, increase America’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, and continue to move toward a sustainable future for all. #EEDay2020 *Images were taken from the 2019 Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report from E4TheFuture and the national, nonpartisan business group E2: https://e4thefuture.org/new-report-energy-efficiency-workf/