Equitable Decarbonization of Buildings in the Midwest
In partnership with Fresh Energy
Date & Time:
Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 2:15 pm
Venue: American Swedish Institute
Cost: Free with registration
This panel will examine the critical role federal funding plays in shaping sustainable building practices and decarbonizing energy sources, with a focus on how these initiatives are implemented at both national and local levels. They will discuss strategies for sustainably building and retrofitting Minnesota’s infrastructure while navigating challenges with utility companies and funding sources. Together, this panel will delve into how to leverage federal funding and policy to create meaningful, equitable decarbonization in the Midwest and beyond.
About the Speakers
Shubha Muralidhara Harris serves as an Equity in Energy Policy Consultant for Fresh Energy and the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Shubha’s work focuses on the intersection of equity and affordability in dockets at the public utilities commissions in Minnesota and Michigan, in particular, ensuring the voices and needs of historically under-represented communities are included in energy decision-making.
Prior to joining Fresh Energy and ELPC, Shubha worked as a Regulatory Attorney for Xcel Energy, Minnesota’s largest investor-owned utility. While at Xcel Energy, Shubha represented the Company before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on a variety of dockets related to distribution, service quality, and performance-based ratemaking. Shubha also co-led the Equity Stakeholder Advisory Group, a consortium of approximately 40 community-based organizations formed to better understand the priorities of communities of color in the clean energy transition.
Shubha started her career in Teach for America and taught 7th grade in Patterson, New Jersey. From there, she worked for United State Senators Mark Dayton and Amy Klobuchar before going to law school. After law school, Shubha clerked on the United States District Court of Minnesota and at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She then worked for six years in private practice at Stinson Leonard Street and Jones Day. Shubha is married and has two daughters, ages 17 and 14. She is an avid yoga practitioner and loves to read.
Marnese Jackson is an Environmental and Climate Justice activist, advocate, trainer and educator from Pontiac, Michigan where she is a mother of two children London and Dawson. Marnese is the inaugural and first Black Woman Executive Director of Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition. Prior to her appointment, Marnese was the Co-Director of Equity and Community Engagement at Midwest BDC. Marnese was previously with Mothers Out Front in December 2018 as the Frontline Organizing Program Manager where she focused on building the base of Mothers in Frontline communities. During this time, Marnese was the staff liaison to US Climate Action Network, staff Equity Team and BIPOC Affinity Team member. Marnese also managed the Youth Global Climate Strike (2019) and Earth Day Live (2020). She is the former Midwest and Great Plain States Regional Organizer for the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program.
Marnese holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Public Relations, Communications, Journalism and African American Studies from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts Degree from Marygrove College in Social Justice. Marnese is on the board of USCAN, and a chairperson of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition. Marnese is a member of the 2020 Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Cohort and of the 350.org BIPOC Cohort member. Marnese was appointed in 2021 to Governor Whitmer’s Michigan Council on Climate Solutions. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Building Performance Institute and the Michigan Climate Action Network.
Elizabeth Turner believes resilient carbon-neutral architecture must be centered on equity and affordability and founded Precipitate in 2017 to accelerate change in the profession toward that goal. She is a 2020 recipient of the Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 recognizing her leadership in the transition to a clean energy economy. She coaches client project teams in energy efficiency as a Certified Passive House Consultant. She teaches sustainable community development and net positive architecture at the University of Minnesota. Elizabeth volunteers extensively with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota, previously serving on the Culture Change Leadership Team and co-chairing the Government Affairs Committee, advocating for public policy with a focus on equity and inclusion toward truly sustainable communities for all.
Moderator Aimee Witteman is Vice President of Network at Rewiring America, the leading electrification nonprofit focused on electrifying our homes, communities, and businesses. Aimee brings over two decades of experience guiding federal and state policy and grassroots campaign strategy to accelerate decarbonization.
Throughout her career, she has been drawn to public service and leading teams to carry out missions in the public good. She is nationally recognized for her multidimensional and collaborative approach, connecting people and ideas across sectors and disciplines, and acting as a trusted thought partner to CEOs, government and elected officials, and philanthropists.
Aimee served in the Biden Administration, supporting passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Previously, she worked extensively in regional and national climate philanthropy, including designing and leading the McKnight Foundation’s Midwest Climate & Energy program for a decade, as well as with the Energy Foundation, the Climate Imperative Foundation, and Invest in Our Future. A passionate and proud daughter of the Great Lakes, Aimee lives in Takoma Park with her family, goofy dog, and many bikes.