Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) and Michigan Energy Options (MEO) are excited to host an evening of information, conversation and refreshments with a focus on big-picture economics in a resource-constrained world.  Mr. Jim MacInnes, President & CEO of LEED-Certified Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa, will discuss his recent experience at the national Biophysical Economics (BPE) conference in Vermont.  He will be joined by MEC Energy Program Director David Gard who will report back on the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO) conference in Austin.

The event is free but space is limited. Please RSVP to ensure yourself a spot.

Feb. 4, 2013 4:30 - 6:30pm

Location: 405 Grove St., East Lansing, MI, 48823 (Map)

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator with the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him by email or Twitter.

The Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities (GLAA-C) is a three-year project that seeks to strengthen the science and decision-making for more effective urban adaptation to climate change in the Great Lakes region. The project, which is funded by the University of Michigan and Kresge Foundation and led by the University's Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute, teams researchers with city decision makers in five Great Lakes cities in order to identify adaptation needs, opportunities for action, and relative costs of response options to climate change. The programs developed for the five cities will include implementation steps which will be able to be universalized and replicated in other cities in the region. This conference call is an opportunity for Michigan communities to learn about GLAA-C and how it can be applied locally and regionally.

Join the conference call at 10am eastern Wednesday, January 16, by calling 734-794-6099 and using code 43720. Once the call begins you can view presentation slides here.

Luke Forrest is a Project Coordinator with the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him by email or Twitter.

The US EPA recently announced a new set of technical assistance tools available through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. The next round of applications will be accepted starting September 24. EPA is providing webinars 9/21 and 9/27 for communities interested in learning more.

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities provides quick, targeted technical assistance to selected local and/or tribal governments using a variety of tools that have demonstrated results and widespread application. The purpose of delivering these tools is to stimulate a discussion about growth and development and strengthen local capacity to implement sustainable approaches.

In 2013, EPA will select up to 44 communities for assistance. Each technical assistance project in a community will include:

• Public engagement, a one-day workshop that is open to the public.
• Direct consultation with relevant decision-makers.
• A memo outlining specific steps the community could take to implement the ideas generated during the site visit.

Technical assistance will be delivered by EPA staff and by four nonprofit organizations with extensive expertise in sustainable communities. These organizations—Forterra, Global Green USA, Project for Public Spaces, and Smart Growth America—have received grants from EPA to offer assistance using tools they have chosen.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him by email or Twitter.