OKT is updating the handouts in our 12-part Food Justice Series. We are going to share them here, one a week, over the next three months. If you can’t wait, feel free to view, download, share and print them from our Resources page.
Download a color pdf of this handout here or a printable version here.
Reposted from Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
As we stare down the barrel of the second polar vortex this year, I can’t help but fear the outcome of another bought of record low temps. Put this on top of ecosystem collapse, and rising sea level– I ask myself, what more can we do to dramatically reduce the Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere to save life as we know it. And with each week I act, I learn new challenges of the democratic system that block, obfuscate, and erode the channels for change at the pace needed to solve this epic disaster. This week DTE Energy was again at the center of a complicated labyrinth of destroying rapid climate solutions.
Few people know what the Michigan Public Service Commission is: a decision-making body at the State, composed of three gubernatorial appointees which establish rates, reliability, and choice for energy consumers. Beyond the statutory requirements of the renewable energy portfolio, they set rates for energy. And right now, DTE Energy is asking the MPSC for a near $900 million rate increase in a deeply problematic case in Lansing. As it’s proposed 1) the rate increase is regressive, so lowest income, lowest use customers will experience the highest rate increase– near 45% in just two years versus 9% of higher energy users; 2) cities will get slammed with a public lighting increase of near 30%; 3) DTE’s infrastructure investments will be concentrated in higher income and growing communities rather than comprehensive replacement of old infrastructure. Ethically, this is totally bankrupt. On all three points it basically says to Michigan’s cities, and to working poor, you should be punished for using less energy, and only wealthier communities deserve newer power infrastructure– even though deaths from down powerlines are higher in low-income communities. You can read between the lines here: expanding investment in wealthier communities has a higher payback, but doesn’t guarantee greater affordability or reliability for aged, low-income communities like Detroit, a classic equation of environmental racism.
And this is the whammy– DTE is stealing dreams of solar generation on homes by lowering the pricing they’ll pay you for generating a kWh of renewable energy, lengthening the payback period, essentially arguing solar producers need to pay rent to use wires we already paid to put up. Add insult to injury, a DTE Energy-backed special interest group called Michigan Energy Promise is spreading falsehoods and misinformation about solar. But guess what– solar could literally save lives. When we get extremely low temperatures like the coming polar vortex, the energy system is working OVERTIME. “Peaker plants” are pumping out the dirtiest energy on high to meet the demand. Peak energy is the most expensive kilowatt on the grid. Remember the emergency alert asking us all to turn the heat down? Arrg matee, batten down the hatches, the system is gonna… blow? Solar energy providers, who have invested above and beyond, are doing a public service to all by taking kilowatts off the overburdened system in extreme energy events without emitting additional nitrous oxides, particulate matter, ozone, or more additional vexing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Right when we should be expanding distributed solar exponentially, adopters of solar are being choked by the invisible hand of DTE, discouraging solar investments during real and serious crises.
How can we stop this huge jaggernaut that’s stomping on poor people and killing solar efforts? Maybe we can request a public hearing from MPSC? Nope. MPSC refused a request to host a local public hearing by Soulardarity, a non-profit in Highland Park [remember the city whose street lights were repossessed by DTE]. Wanna read the case? If you can find the rate case, let me know. If you find it, you might need to get that engineering, or law degree you never got– because the technical arrangement requires an advanced degree to interpret it. The Governor? Well. She doesn’t exactly have jurisdiction over the PSC. I know– we’ll go to the media. Last week environmental justice advocates took to the streets, and Michigan Radio reported on it. If you didn’t catch it, DTE lets ya know that it won’t be definitive, until its definitive– well, then you definitively can’t do anything about it. And then launched a media counter attack. The legislature? Good luck.
Environmental Justice begs us to excoriate the ways in which we can survive and co-create an equitable society– and this is not it. We must create just rates so that average folks afford energy, not punish struggling families for using less with regressive structures; proliferate solar energy on rooftops meaning direct revenue, money, for homes and schools and community centers all over Michigan, not price control and market manipulation; it means comprehensive climate action investment to build new forms of economic and community well-being, jobs, for everyone that doesn’t poison us and destroy the planet; it means creating and maintaining democratic channels for direct participation to develop and implement this vision and not starve it with closed chambers and market mechanisms.
To me the climate crisis is just as much a crisis of democracy because at the end of the day, if climate justice activists don’t have a say in the future, there simply will not be one.
Right now we are building power to lean in on DTE, the MPSC, and keep up with the issues coming up. If you’d like to sign up for the Work for Me, DTE Campaign, click here.
Access of West Michigan has again chosen Our Kitchen Table as a recipient of funds raised by the Walk for Good Food. OKT will use these funds to support our Southeast Area Farmers’ Market during its 2019 market season. Please consider supporting the Walk by joining team “OKT,” making a direct donation, or coming on board as one of OKT’s corporate walk sponsors.
If you or someone you know needs a place to escape the cold …
Alano Club of Kent County Club: Open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily 1020 College Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Dégagé Ministries: Open Monday through Saturday 7-11:30 a.m., 2-7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m.- 2 p.m., and 4-7:30 p.m. 144 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Exodus Place(men only): Open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. 322 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Gods Kitchen: Open Monday through Saturday 12:30-2 p.m., and Sunday from 2:30-4 p.m. 303 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
HQ: M 6-8 p for ages 20-24, M-TH 3:30-5:30 for ages 14-19, T/TH 12:30-2:30 for ages 20-24 320 State St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Guiding Light Works: varies based on temps 255 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Heartside Ministry: Open Monday through Friday 1-4 p.m. 54 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mel Trotter Ministries: Warming center open daily 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., shelter is open 4 pm – 7 am 225 Commerce Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Park Church: Open through Feb, Fridays, 10 a.m. -1:30 p.m. 10 E Park Pl NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Westminster Presbyterian Church: Open Monday through Tuesday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 47 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Peace Lutheran Church | 1225 12 Mile Rd NW, | 5 p.m. Tuesday to 12 p.m. Thursday. For a ride, call 616-887-9417.
For information, contact Jan Straight, Grand Rapids Citizens Climate Lobby Chapter.
The Sovengard, a local restaurant & brewery on the West Side of GR, will be transforming their biergarten this year in the style of the traditional Christmas markets (Julmarknad) of Scandinavia.
Local artists and makers under heated tents, fireside snacks and hot drinks, live music and a tree lighting are all in store. Enjoy a little hygge this season and warm up with some giving. A portion of proceeds from the day will be going to Access! This is a free, all ages event. Tree lighting will be at 5:30pm. Check the event out on Facebook.
Vote today!
The Grand Rapids Food Co-op is offering a Community Town Hall on Tuesday, October 30 at 6 pm at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries, at 618 Jefferson Ave SE. The Grand Rapids Food Co-op is a committed group of people from all walks of life who have been working together for the past four years to bring a community owned, full-service grocery store to central Grand Rapids, specifically to the part of town that has the least access to fresh, healthy, local and affordable food.
This Town Hall will provide participants with information about the food co-op including:
The event will also include a discussion session and the choice to join the co-op and become actively involved in creating and bringing this amazing store into being. This is truly a grassroots project to meet a deep need and empower our entire city.
So come on out to the Grand Rapids Food Co-op’s Community Town Hall at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries, at 618 Jefferson, SE. on Tuesday, October 30 at 6 pm. Refreshments will be included and the event is free and open to everyone.
LINC Academy for Social Transformation“LAST is a 3-day course that will be held on October 31, November 1 and November 2 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. We understand this is a significant time commitment, therefore, we offer a stipend of $250 for community residents who register for and attend all 3 sessions.” — Lyonel LaGrone, Jr., LINC Policy Liaison
L.A.S.T. is LINC’s capacity building tool to promote social change and seeks to create mid- and long-term impact through lasting transformational opportunities for residents, families, youth, business owners and nonprofit organizations in our communities.
For LINC, change is more than just the displacement of a condition or issue. It is about experiencing a true transformation, a social transformation. We believe in the idea of transformational leadership and the role it plays in creating better opportunities for all, empowering people through opportunity, and genuinely lifting up the voice of the community. This type of change is much needed to break the cycle of poverty, systemic gaps and social disparities that keep us from bettering our communities. We believe in every individual’s potential to be part of this process of change. A process which demands quality leadership.
In an academy fashion, L.A.S.T. offers a three-day core training titled “Leadership for Social Change” in which participants are equipped with skills and knowledge to help them obtain leadership roles and work to further promote social change and revitalization efforts in their neighborhoods. While trainings are available to organizations for a corporate fee, residents in our community will be offered incentives to attend. The session runs from 8:30am-5:30pm the first two days. On the third day we offer a unique opportunity for participants to attend a Grand Rapids City Commissions meeting, so the class runs from 1:00-5:00pm, after which we have dinner and then bus all participants to and from the meeting.
The curriculum is divided into four parts covering the following topics:
The training is typically offered quarterly at the LINC UP Gallery, 341 Hall St SE. Lunch and snacks will be provided on the first two class days, with snacks and dinner on the third.
If you are interested in registering call 616.451.9140.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 13 & 20; Nov. 3 and 10
LINC parking lot, Madison Ave.. SE just north of Hall
Saturday Oct. 27 at MLK Jr. Park
Here are five reasons why you might want to shop the market this week!
1. Fresh, local produce tastes better and is better for you. You get more flavor and nutrients when produce is picked when its ripe.
2. The market is helping to build community. And that builds people power.
3. Your purchase supports local growers.
4. Your purchase helps build an alternative to our broken food system.
5. It’s fun! Get outdoors, chat with neighbors, go home with good food.
Our Kitchen Table 