Midwest Carbon League

Chicago and Metroeast (St. Louis) Metro Areas

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Ongoing Task Force Projects

25Q1 Critical Infrastructure & Work Force

Chicago Clean Energy Workforce Week

February 2025-February 2026

12-month goal: Creating a responsive workforce ecosystem in Chicagoland centered around people, partnerships, and education/training to deliver measurable impact via a growing job pipeline. Including CEJA partners, this includes a database of jobs and workforce partners to make it easier to access resources at every level of the pipeline. This work will culminate in the Chicago Clean Energy Workforce Week in 2026Q2 to bring employers, workforce trainers, and future employees together for matching/development.

Current 90-day Sprint: Bring on and register key partners for the workforce week and in the ecosystem database.

Register for the workforce week here

25Q3 Grid Modernization

Interoperable Energy Pilots

July 2025-July 2026

12-month goal: Present and publicize a virtual pilot design for Auburn Gresham, Rockford, and Carbondale to deploy interoperable distributed energy resources, gas delivery, and workforce solutions. The design will leverage rebates and funding, target critical upgrades, and integrate alternative low-carbon sources to create a replicable model for Illinois communities.

Current 90-day Sprint: Convene key community stakeholders and utility partners in Auburn Gresham, Rockford, and Carbondale to prioritize needs, define best outcomes, and outline potential virtual pilot opportunities.

24Q4 Mobility & Clean Transportation

Clean Bus for All of Us

December 2024-December 2025

12-month goal: Partnering with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and ComEd, the Carbon League has identified three areas in South and West Chicago in need of improved bus access and electrification support. Using ESRI mapping tools, these areas were selected based on indicators such as limited existing bus access, lower income levels, poor health outcomes, employment accessibility, and low-income housing accessibility gathered from industry, city, state, county, and federal data. One corridor will be selected to launch the first phase of development with the support and leadership of area stakeholders. This work is part of a broader effort to enhance short-term ridership experience, encourage mid-term mode-shifting, and support long-term beneficial electrification in Chicago.

Current 90-day Sprint: Build support over the ranked target corridors with local alders, businesses, and community groups.

24Q3 Grid Modernization

Transparent Community Climate Dashboard

Ongoing deployment in communities through 2026

12-month goal: The "Transparent Community Climate Dashboard” seeks to create an interactive, visualized dashboard that tracks a community’s progress on climate, health, energy, and equity initiatives. The dashboard aims to provide transparent metrics that stakeholders, including public officials, private organizations, and community leaders, can use to monitor progress and accountability. It integrates real-time data to support collaborative decision-making and highlights successes and gaps in achieving the city's sustainability goals. This tool is a centerpiece of The Carbon League’s strategy to drive high-impact, measurable outcomes.

Current Operation: Deployment of the dashboard in Bronzeville and South Deering

25Q2: Building Decarb & Energy Efficiency

New Building Performance Standards Scoreboard

April 2024-April 2025

12-month goal: Centered on developing a stakeholder-informed building scoreboard and scorecard that measures health, wealth, and emissions impacts to accelerate the adoption of new Building Performance Standards (BPS) in Evanston, IL. This includes engaging community voices to ensure equitable input, identifying data sources and baselines, and aligning with city-wide climate and equity goals. Over the following 12 months, the Task Force aims to produce a replicable and transparent scoreboard model and case study to drive accountability and measurable progress in building decarbonization across Greater Chicago.

Current 90-day Sprint: Develop a model plan for compliance, scorecards, and scoreboard for 2 volunteer buildings in Evanston.

Donate to the Midwest Team

25Q2 Health, Prosperity & Resilience

Community Driven Collaboration Framework - East St. Louis

April 2025-April 2026

12-month goal: Building a collaborative framework for measurable progress in enhancing East St. Louis' health, prosperity, and resilience. This includes emphasizing the need for resident-driven clean energy initiatives, transformation of underutilized land into an Ameren clean energy industrial park, and tackling food insecurity through community-led efforts.

Current 90-day Sprint: Launch pilot programs and prepare for community day.

Maps and Reports

Meet the Midwest Team - Fellows and Support Staff

Meet the Team - Undergraduate Volunteers

  • Darya Dubinina

    Undergraduate Volunteer

    Northwestern University

    LinkedIn

  • Karo Harutyunyan

    Undergraduate Volunteer

    Northwestern University

    LinkedIn

  • Richard Kariuki

    Undergraduate Volunteer

    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    LinkedIn