Southeast Sustainability Directors Network

It's difficult to think about Heat as the Southeast gets hit by Winter Storm Enzo, but with 2024 being the hottest year on record, following 2023's hottest year, there is work to do. Extreme temperatures are with us and all of our communities must be ready when the extremes arrive. SSDN proudly supported the work of the Federation of American Scientists and more than 60 organizations as they released this Heat Policy Agenda. SSDN has also been working with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and their Center for Heat Resilient Communities to support local governments creating Heat Resilience Strategies. So much is happening in the extreme temperature field with many incredible organizations and local governments working together to do important work. Stay warm this week, get ready for heat soon enough. Get involved! https://lnkd.in/eC9DKBhv

Proud to be partnering with Generation180 and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to spread the great news about how much we can all benefit from investing in clean energy. From solar panels to electric vehicles to induction ranges and beyond. Check out our website "Energy for All Y'all" and learn more. Clean energy is good for our future, our health, and our economy. https://lnkd.in/enxEnBAE https://lnkd.in/emGCv_d9

SSDN applauds Tennessee Valley Authority on the first draft of its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Since TVA’s IRP serves as a roadmap for its future planning, Executive Director Meg Jamison recently submitted feedback on the plan on behalf of more than 125 local governments we represent, including the four largest cities in Tennessee—Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville. Our suggestions include the following: * Support the achievement of TVA’s 2050 net-zero goals. * Enhance energy efficiency and demand-side management programs. * Address gas price volatility to stabilize energy costs. * Integrate Environmental Justice principles to ensure equitable outcomes for all communities. * Improve transparency and inclusivity in decision-making processes. The draft IRP offers a significant opportunity to align TVA’s strategies with local, state, and national sustainability and resilience priorities. SSDN and its member communities are committed to working with TVA to achieve a clean, equitable energy future for the Tennessee Valley. #Resilience #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Partnership #Equity

We're hiring an Accounts and Grants manager! Please share :) http://bit.ly/4fItHQj

The aftermath of any storm is life altering for those in its midst as well as for those of us out of the path watching what is happening in neighborhoods just like ours - to people we love and people we don’t even know. Our hearts are with every community dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and our prayers are with those in the path of Hurricane Milton.   Resilience is often defined as the ability for everyone in a community, business, family, etc. to survive, adapt, and thrive no matter what shocks (extreme events) and stressors (everyday challenges) it faces. The primary work of local governments is to reduce the stressors so that each community member has better resources and tools to deal with the shock(s). SSDN supports local governments working on sustainability and resilience and the need for that work is made even more evident during disasters. Their work is important and we are proud to be a part of all they do to make our neighborhoods resilient. Disasters are hard – hard to watch, hard to live through, hard to recover from. We encourage you to share resources and ways to support our neighbors, friends, communities and please check your sources to avoid spreading misinformation at this critical time. We’ve added details about how to help (or find help) in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina on our website (www.southeastsdn.org)   There is beauty after the disaster in watching the outpouring of love, financial support, aid, prayers, and so much more. We are in this together. The blog contains links from the following partners (THANK YOU!): FEMA  Waterkeeper Alliance  MountainTrue and their Waterkeeper groups Savannah Riverkeeper  St. Johns Riverkeeper  NC DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security Florida Division of Emergency Management

National Renewable Energy Laboratory has announced 25 successful applicants for their Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (#ETIPP), including Key West, FL. As NREL's Regional Partner for the Gulf Coast, Southeast Sustainability Directors Network will be working with Key West and NREL to complete and implement a Strategic Energy Plan for the city, focused on energy efficiency in city facilities, expanding renewable energy, and reducing transportation emissions. The city will also receive $50,000 as part of the program. This is the first year that ETIPP has been open to communities in the Southeast, and SSDN will be actively recruiting for applicants for the 2025 cohort. If you're an island community, coastal community within 50 miles of the Gulf or Atlantic Coast, or a federally recognized Tribe, and you're interested in learning more, please contact Jake Leech, Ph.D. (jake@southeastsdn.org). https://lnkd.in/ed--sdcd

The best part about growing SSDN's team is that we can take a stronger and broader leadership role in developing networks, gathering information, and bringing in resources to help our members and the communities they serve. September has already been busy, and our team has been focused on how we can better support members on equitable implementation of heat mitigation and resilience, water infrastructure and urban flooding, and the clean energy transition - to name a few. And we still have a week left in this month! Grateful to have such an incredible team!