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The document explores community ownership of clean energy infrastructure as a means to address socio-political and techno-economic barriers to deployment. It details various ownership models used in the US and Europe, including LLC direct ownership, partnership 'flips', and cooperatives, while highlighting the potential impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act's transferability and direct pay provisions.

The Great Lakes region is positioned for an industrial renaissance in clean energy, having seen over $40 billion in new investments since 2021. However, the report argues that the region faces significant constraints, including slow population growth, a migration of manufacturing to the US South, and uneven clean electricity deployment. To overcome these, RMI suggests that states prioritize industries where they have existing 'economic complexity' and related capabilities, such as EV batteries and low-carbon steel. The report highlights the importance of coordinating across state lines to share legislative best practices—such as the creation of green banks and competitiveness funds—and recommends a regional investment attraction strategy to draw foreign direct investment. It specifically praises Illinois and Minnesota as leaders in environmental justice and workforce development frameworks.

The Great Lakes region remains the heartland of US steelmaking, but its primary production assets face a critical transition to avoid becoming noncompetitive as global demand for low-emissions steel grows. While federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides significant funding and tax credits (such as 45V and 45Q), the report finds a lack of coordinated state-level industrial strategies. The document argues that the region must prioritize the adoption of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pathways—specifically those using renewable hydrogen or carbon capture—to maintain high-quality jobs and reduce local air pollution. Key bottlenecks include grid interconnection delays for renewable energy, the need for Class VI primacy for carbon sequestration, and a lack of steel-specific workforce retraining programs.

The Great Lakes region—comprising Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—is positioned to drive US aviation fuel targets due to its strong industrial networks and feedstock availability. While the region possesses significant strengths in ethanol supply chains and logistics, a policy gap analysis reveals that no state currently has a comprehensive, coordinated approach to SAF demand and supply. The brief argues that leveraging existing infrastructure, such as the O'Hare International Airport hub and the St. Lawrence Seaway, alongside federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, can catalyze a regional bioeconomy and reduce aviation emissions.

Analysis of 241 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2022 shows that fall temperatures have increased by an average of 2.4°F in 232 cities, with the most intense warming occurring in the Southwest. This trend is characterized by an increase in above-normal fall days, which prolongs risks related to heat-related illness, wildfires, and allergies, while increasing energy demand for cooling.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) argues that private equity ownership of rental housing increases risks to tenants, citing examples of steep rent hikes, inadequate maintenance, and abusive eviction practices by firms like CIM Group, The Blackstone Group, and Progress Residential. PESP recommends that the FHFA establish a public rental registry for beneficial owners, cap annual rent increases at 3%, mandate habitability standards, and codify tenant rights, including just-cause eviction and the right to organize.

REITs in the US control approximately 38.5 billion sq. ft. of solar-appropriate surface area, capable of generating over 25 percent of electricity used in US commercial buildings. While on-site solar is economically viable for 90 percent of the top 50 REITs by 2025, adoption is hindered by tax credit complexities, IRS recapture rules, and risks associated with tenant turnover and low energy intensity in industrial warehouses. Community solar is proposed as a solution to these barriers, offering additional tax credit bonuses of 10–20 percent when serving low- and moderate-income residents. Currently, only nine US states support rooftop community solar, though some leading REITs like Prologis, Lineage Logistics, Blackstone, Brookfield, and Hartz Mountain have already installed significant capacity.

The report argues that Progress Residential has extracted over $60 million in wealth from Hennepin County, specifically targeting starter homes in the historically Black neighborhood of North Minneapolis. This extraction occurred through home value appreciation and the collection of monthly rents, which prevented working-class families from building equity. The document also details systemic maintenance failures, high tenant fees, and the broader context of racial disinvestment in North Minneapolis.

Colorado faces a housing shortage requiring approximately 325,000 units to stabilize prices, which currently drives suburban sprawl and increases greenhouse gas emissions. The document proposes transit-oriented development (TOD) and 'missing middle housing' as solutions to reduce vehicle miles traveled and land consumption. Specifically, RMI estimates that upzoning and infilling along transit corridors in the Denver metro could reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled by 13% and greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2040.

The document details the presence of 88 coal ash dumpsites within two miles of the Great Lakes, consisting of 34 federally regulated and at least 54 unregulated legacy ponds and landfills. It highlights widespread groundwater contamination at these sites, noting that 91% of coal plants nationwide pollute groundwater above federal health standards. The report calls for the EPA to strengthen the 2015 Coal Ash Rule to eliminate exemptions for legacy sites and prohibit the use of coal ash as fill.

The report finds that if all 177 States adopting California's standards implement the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, U.S. emissions could be reduced by 1,310 million metric tons of CO2e by 2050. This adoption would lead to three-quarters of U.S. cars being electric vehicles (EVs) by 2050, creating nearly 300,000 jobs and saving households an average of $238 annually. The analysis emphasizes that while the IRA provides near-term incentives, the ACC II mandate is necessary for long-term electrification goals. Case studies for Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York highlight significant state-level benefits, including substantial reductions in asthma attacks and premature deaths, particularly in communities of color.

The report examines the implementation of the Section 45V hydrogen production tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act. It argues that loose guidance on emissions accounting could lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions and create an industry reliant on subsidies. The authors propose a framework based on three principles: additionality (requiring new clean energy sources), deliverability (requiring local, physically deliverable power), and time-matching (requiring hourly alignment of production and generation). Financial analysis of test sites in Texas, Minnesota, and Houston suggests that projects adhering to these strict standards remain profitable, particularly in regions with high wind and solar resource quality.

The report documents a pattern of exploitative practices by Progress Residential, including high eviction rates, neglect of home maintenance, and the imposition of exorbitant fees. It highlights the company's rapid expansion in the U.S. South and its role in the National Rental Home Council (NRHC), arguing that these corporate landlords prioritize profit over tenant well-being and contribute to the racial wealth gap by limiting homeownership opportunities.

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth to provide efficient heating and cooling with zero direct emissions. While installation costs are higher than fossil fuel alternatives, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and rebates that can reduce these costs by up to 50%. In the U.S. Midwest, GHPs can reduce emissions by 85-90% compared to gas or propane furnaces and use approximately 80% less energy annually. The document highlights 'networked geothermal' systems for campuses and neighborhoods as a way to achieve over 500% efficiency and lower individual costs through economies of scale.

The letter details systemic labor abuses at Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI), including the illegal employment of over 100 children in hazardous roles and a high rate of severe workplace injuries. It argues that Blackstone's financial management—extracting $430 million in dividends while increasing PSSI's debt by $530 million—contributes to these risks. The signatories demand a meeting to discuss risk management and the implementation of ten specific worker protections, including living wages and safe working conditions.

The report demonstrates that implementing five core policies—clean electricity standards, zero-emission vehicle standards, clean building equipment standards, industrial efficiency and emissions standards, and methane detection and capture standards—can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors find that these policies not only reduce emissions but also drive job growth, increase GDP, and prevent premature deaths by reducing air pollutants. The analysis highlights that while state emissions profiles vary—with Louisiana dominated by industry and New Mexico by methane from oil and gas—these five policies provide a consistent framework for decarbonization.

The report identifies 41 federal laws enacted since 2017 that support climate adaptation, noting a shift from disaster recovery toward pre-disaster mitigation. It highlights the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the National Defense Authorization Act in integrating resilience, while also noting the use of nature-based solutions through conservation laws. The author argues that despite these bipartisan advancements, the U.S. still lacks a cohesive, coordinated federal strategy to address the increasing frequency and cost of climate-related disasters.

The briefing outlines three primary pathways for climate action in the U.S. Midwest: transportation decarbonization through clean car and fuel standards, power sector decarbonization via 100% clean energy standards, and industrial decarbonization using hydrogen and carbon capture and sequestration. It highlights existing state-level commitments in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, and emphasizes the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act in providing the necessary financial incentives for these transitions.

The report identifies 1,135 private equity-backed healthcare deals in 2023, noting a decline from 2021 peaks due to high interest rates and labor shortages. While outpatient care, dental care, and medtech were the most active subsectors, the report warns that the private equity model of short-term profit and high debt leads to cost-cutting and bankruptcies, as seen with Envision Healthcare and GenesisCare. It recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger reviews to protect healthcare quality and access.

In 2023, private equity dealmaking in US healthcare continued a two-year decline from its 2021 peak, driven by high interest rates and labor shortages. Despite this, the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) identified 1,135 unique deals, with add-on acquisitions comprising 64% of activity. Outpatient care, dental care, health IT, and medtech were the most active subsectors. The report highlights that high debt loads associated with private equity ownership led to several major bankruptcies in 2023, including Envision Healthcare and GenesisCare. PESP argues that the pursuit of short-term returns often results in cost-cutting that harms care quality and recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger review processes to include all private equity-backed healthcare transactions.