Beating the Heat: Energy Equity in the Age of Climate Change (in-person)

Chicago’s infrastructure is famously beautiful with its diverse neighborhoods connected by an orderly street grid stretching out from the Loop to the suburbs. Yet the ways we’ve designed our communities in the past worsen the effects of today's changing climate by effectively transforming Chicago into a heat island.

While all communities suffer the effects of climate change, some suffer more than others. With heat waves occurring with greater frequency at greater intensities, energy grid improvements become necessary. The grid improvements mean energy is more expensive and when costs rise, lower-income populations face the biggest challenge. Between the increasing cost of energy and the disproportionate impact that historically disinvested neighborhoods experience, heat island and energy access become an equity issue.

So, how can we ensure that the necessary investments are made today, and made in a way that protects the populations most vulnerable to the effects of our changing climate?

Join ComEd and Metropolitan Planning Council on March 2nd for a lunch-hour event to explore the data and policy implications around energy equity. Together we’ll learn about a new Argonne climate adaptation study that predicts hotter and more humid weather for northern Illinois by 2050 and we’ll hear firsthand experiences with home retrofits and discuss the role green infrastructure can play in lessening the burden of those facing the harmful, and at times fatal, effects of the heat island in our changing climate. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees, and the event will be live-streamed for those joining virtually.

Speakers include:

• Michelle Blaise, Senior Vice President of Technical Services, ComEd
• Darlene Hightower (moderator), President & CEO, Metropolitan Planning Council
• Katanya Raby, Vice President of Planning & Development, Far South Community Development Corporation
• Rachel Scheu, Principal Director of Research & Innovation, Elevate
• Melissa Washington (keynote), Senior Vice President of Customer Operations & Chief Customer Officer, ComEd

Capacity for the in-person event is limited. Registration is free and required. Please note that this registration page is for the in-person event. To register for the virtual event, click here.