United Today, Stronger Tomorrow

1.5 Climate Group Presentation

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Winning On Climate

Who We Are

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Our Work

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Our States

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Agenda

• Founded at beginning of Covid Crisis - in partnership with Community Change

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• Test theories about organizing in crisis and opportunity.

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• Work with people from across the political spectrum.

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• Public health, mask mandates, COVID relief funding.

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• Pivoted to American Rescue Plan.

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• Pilot that was a successful proof of concept, now a long-term Mountain West and Upper Midwest/Plains Initiative.

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https://unitedtoday.org/

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Who We Are

• Hundreds of millions won for community priorities from ARP funding.

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• Increased community engagement, accountability and transparency at the county and local level in decision making.

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• Providing up-to-date info and guidance to rule-making for the WH and Agencies on how federal funds are implemented.

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• Trained hundreds of organizers and community leaders across our states.

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Who We Are

Accomplishments

(link to article)

Winning on Climate

• $15 million Just Transition Funding for Colorado Coal Communities.

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• $1 million in rural community projects + 5 Clean Water Projects in Western Rural Iowa.

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• $5 million in workforce development/pre-apprenticeship programs in Salt Lake County.

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• $25 million for Grid Modernization in Utah.

• Not enough trained workers
• Federal funding is complicated
• Rural areas need an economic development strategy
• Local regulations
• Existing institutions do not have enough power to set the agenda
• Opposition from both right and left to aspects of BIL & IRA
• Too many targets and timelines that are too long
• Without accomplishments to point to, it’s hard to electoralize

Winning On Climate

State of Play - Challenges

• Trillions of dollars
• Bipartisan support
• Stakeholder alignment
• Public support and interest
• Self-Interest of public and private sector
• Base-building and power building
• Electoralize (either way)

Winning On Climate

State of Play - Opportunities

• Climate movement just focused on green jobs
• Community opposition to local projects
• State and local government inaction
• Corporations not thinking long term
• Projects don’t get completed/ wrong projects get built
• Clawbacks from Feds

Winning On Climate

State of Play - Threats

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• Reaching new people across the political spectrum
• Educating people
• Meeting people where they are
• Providing people with a way to get involved
• Moving people up a ladder of engagement

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Core to Our Work

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3

4

Stakeholders 1-1’s

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Surveying and Message Testing

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Convene

Campaign Development

Implement

Our Work

Campaign Process

Good Jobs

Worker Rights

Local Hiring

Disenfranchised Communities

Community Priorities

Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Energy

Economic Development

Rural and Long Term

Our Work

Campaign Pillars

Immediate

< 1 Year

Short Term

< 1 - 3 Years

Our Work

Structure

Medium Terms

3-5 Years

Long Term

5+ Years

Campaign for a Prosperous,

Equitable & Sustainable Utah

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Steering Committee:

Utah Clean Energy, United Way of Salt Lake,

Operating Engineers Local 3, IBEW Local 354, United Association Local 140 (Plumbers and Pipefitters), Ironworkers Local 27

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UTST - Engaged:

4,492 people in the state

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Top Issues:

Clean Air, Clean Water, Rural Broadband

Our States

Utah - The Model for Our Work

Our States

Utah - The Model for Our Work

Potential Campaign Development

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Short Term:

Utah Public Utilities Commission & PacifiCorp - Win good jobs, local hiring, and emission reduction goals.

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Medium Term:

Clean and Healthy Schools - Win clean energy projects and indoor air pollution mitigation in targeted low-income and rural school districts.

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Long Term:

Community Energy Transition Campaign - Expedite transition to green hydrogen at Intermountain Power Plant.

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Leadership Team:

15 person Organizing Committee building in Flathead Region (Western MT)

Currently Conducting One-on-Ones with Stakeholders

UTST Base

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Engaged:

1,100

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Preliminary Issues:

Broadband deployment on tribal lands, equitable distribution of federal funds between Tribal and local governments, and transit and clean water/energy.

Our States

Montana

Leadership Team:

Currently Conducting One-on-Ones with Stakeholders

UTST Base of 2,566 people in the state

Top Issues:

Clean Water and Clean Energy

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Potential Campaign Development:

Omaha - Council Bluffs Street Car Campaign

Regional or Statewide Clean Water Campaign

NE Iowa Regional Campaign (Manufacturing/Clean Energy/Water)

Energy Transition Campaigns in Pott County

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Our States

Iowa

Administration & Agency Work

Ongoing meetings with WH, Domestic Policy Council

Meetings with Treasury rule making

Meetings with DOL - prevailing wage and apprenticeships

DOE - good jobs, local hiring, PLA’s

DOI - connecting Native communities to DOI for additional support

THANK YOU