The Powerful Conversations Tour: Building an empowered community ready to direct our energy future

Learn how to help grow a socially just local economy through community-based energy systems!

Come listen, learn, ask, and share with climate justice activists from Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light and MN 350 as we harness the energy from the Peoples Climate March and focus it toward taking action locally at a pivotal moment for Minneapolis preparing for the October 6th public hearing.

5:30 PM – Enjoy an optional $12 dinner buffet (10% of Gandhi Mahal’s earnings this night will go to support Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light)

6:15 PM – 8:15 PM The Powerful Conversations Tour: An interactive teach-in facilitated by Timothy DenHerder Thomas articulating economic, & political dynamics of our energy utility system as well as a formula on how to get to 100% renewable energy.

8:15 PM Join action teams to help Minneapolis achieve its Climate Action Plan goals and build statewide networks to empower more local control for Clean, Local, Equitable, Affordable and Reliable energy.

OPPORTUNITY

Community members have organized the last two years in Minneapolis for greater local control and benefit over our energy system. As a result of this mobilization on October 6th, the Health, Environment and Community Engagement Committee on City Council will be holding a public hearing on forming an innovative, first in the nation city-utility partnership. This partnership provides us a much needed vehicle to hold Xcel and Centerpoint accountable to helping the city achieve its Climate Action Plan goals of 10% of electricity from local and directly purchased renewable energy by 2025. 

STRATEGY

Success in Minneapolis will inspire a boldly strategic organizing for climate justice in additional in additional cities across the nation that have 80% by 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. By doing so, we will empower local governments into a political force to contest utilities' monopoly control over energy management over which energy technologies get deployed. As Statewide organizations, MN 350 and MN IPL can help weave networks across Minnesota to build this movement for community power.

MOBILIZATION

The Minneapolis city-utility partnership will only be as good as the external pressure it receives. We are providing this two-hour teach-in to build a deeper base of effective advocates.